What is the cause of diarrhea in newborns? Find out the cause and deal with it

Diarrhea is a common phenomenon in newborns. It is mostly caused by improper feeding or physiological loose stools. This phenomenon may also occur if the baby has a cold. If none of these reasons are the cause, it may also be because the baby is allergic to milk powder.

1. Improper feeding

Feeding newborns with milk powder that is too concentrated, inappropriate, sugar added to milk powder, too cold milk, or adding starchy foods such as rice paste too early can easily lead to food accumulation in newborns, causing diarrhea in babies.

Symptoms: Diarrhea, frothy stools that are sour or rotten, sometimes mixed with indigestion particles and mucus. Often accompanied by vomiting and crying.

Countermeasure: Correct unscientific feeding methods. If symptoms do not improve, go to the hospital for treatment.

2. Suffering from a cold

When babies have a cold, they often have diarrhea symptoms. Therefore, as long as the culprit of diarrhea - the cold - is cured, the diarrhea will naturally heal. If you are worried that your baby may become dehydrated, you should give him oral rehydration fluids as appropriate.

Symptoms: cold, diarrhea

Countermeasures: Intensify treatment of colds and prevent dehydration.

3. Physiological loose stools

There are also obvious differences in stool characteristics with different feeding methods. When a baby shows symptoms of "diarrhea" such as frequent bowel movements and loose stools, it may not be possible to conclude that the baby has "diarrhea." For example, a breastfed newborn may defecate up to 7 to 8 times a day, or even 10 to 12 times. The stool is usually thin. If the baby is in good spirits, eats well, and has normal weight gain, there is no need to worry. Of course, for babies who are bottle-fed, if they defecate more than 5 times a day, or if there is mucus like snot in their stool, or if it contains a lot of water, they should seek expert examination and treatment in time.

Symptoms: Breastfed newborns have more frequent, looser, and yellower stools every day. The baby is in good spirits, eating normally, and gaining weight normally.

Countermeasures: Feed the baby reasonably, strengthen care, and pay attention to changes in the baby's spirit, appetite, and weight. Generally, no special treatment is required. If true diarrhea is suspected, the following causes should be considered or prompt specialist treatment should be sought.

4. Milk powder allergy

2 to 7 out of 100 babies are allergic to milk powder protein, and this symptom often occurs in babies aged 2 to 3 months. Newborns with hereditary allergies are more likely to develop allergic symptoms to milk powder protein.

Symptoms: Refractory, non-infectious diarrhea for more than 2 weeks after feeding with milk or milk powder. The stool may be mixed with mucus and blood, accompanied by skin eczema, urticaria, asthma and other symptoms.

Countermeasure: Feed the newborn with special milk powder according to the doctor's prescription.