Is it normal for a newborn to poop while eating?

Many things happen to newborns that adults do not understand. And because most newborns are the apple of their parents' eyes, any small problem will make parents extremely worried. Many parents will encounter such a strange phenomenon, that is, newborns like to eat and poop at the same time, so parents will worry whether there is something wrong with the baby's body. Is this phenomenon normal?

In fact, mothers don’t need to worry at all. This is a very normal physiological phenomenon. Doctors usually call it: gastrocolic reflex.

After we eat, the stomach will be filled and expanded, the peristalsis of the colon will increase a lot, and the contents of the colon will be sent into the rectum, causing a defecation reflex. This is the gastrocolic reflex, which is usually most obvious within 15 minutes after eating. Some studies have also found that for some babies, simply rubbing their lips and sucking can speed up colon motility.

On the other hand, the baby's cerebral cortex is not fully developed, and the ability to control defecation is insufficient, so it is easy for it to have a bowel movement while eating, or to have a bowel movement soon after eating.

Of course, you don’t have to worry that if your baby has poop while eating, it means that the food is coming out before it is digested. British doctors have conducted experiments and found that it takes an average of 33 hours for children to eat and excrete food. When a baby is breastfed, the time it takes to excrete breast milk will be shorter, but it is impossible for him to excrete it immediately after taking it in.

When the baby grows up a little, his nervous system will be more mature, and with proper bowel training, he will gradually develop regular bowel habits.

Generally, we recommend changing the baby's diaper before feeding, which can help reduce milk spillage. In addition, wearing a clean diaper will make the baby more comfortable when feeding. But if the mother finds that the child often defecates while eating, then she can wait for a while after eating before changing the food. What to do specifically depends on the situation at the time (whether the diaper is full or not). The decision is in your hands!

The baby's anal sphincter control ability is not yet perfect and is relaxed. When the baby farts, the feces accumulated in the anus may be brought out with the fart due to the effect of airflow. Moreover, breastfed babies have loose stools, so it is easier for them to fart with small amounts of stool. This generally does not happen to formula-fed babies.

Mothers can observe this way: as long as the baby's diet and mental state are good and there is no diarrhea, it is normal for farting with poop.

Regarding diarrhea, remember that you cannot assume that it is diarrhea just because the stool is loose (breastfed babies' stools are loose). You should take some probiotics to regulate your body. The criteria for judgment should be "thinning of stool" and "increased frequency". If your baby has diarrhea, you should consider whether it is indigestion or infection.