Warning: this post is going to be graphic. I can’t write a post about Luke’s digestive issues without going into details about his stools. I figured if I’m going to talk about his stools, I might as well include pictures (which I’ve taken to show his doctors). I know when I was googling “blood in baby stool” I wanted to come across some pictures. I hope these will help others who are searching, wondering if what they are seeing in their baby’s diapers is normal.
You’ve been warned. If you’re squeamish about this kind of thing, feel free to stop reading and come back on Wednesday when I’ll be posting a new dinner recipe for a meatless burger.
If you’re still reading, you must be interested in what’s been going on with my little man. He’s been diagnosed with MSPI, which stands for Milk Soy Protein Intolerance. This means that his immature digestive system has trouble breaking down the proteins in milk and soy. It does not mean he is lactose intolerant or that he is necessarily allergic to anything (although he may be, it’s too early to tell).
We’ve been lucky in that many babies with MSPI cry all the time or are extremely fussy. Luke’s never been that way. The main way we knew there was a problem was through his irregular stools. Normal breastfed baby stools are mostly yellow, sometimes seedy, with a watery or creamy consistency. Luke’s dirty diapers have always been slimy and full of mucus.
Green stools is another indicator. (Occasional green diapers can be normal, but early on his were consistently green. I don’t have any pictures of his early green stools.)
Occasionally they are specked with blood, both black and red.
He was also extremely congested early on in his life, a sign of a dairy sensitivity.
Another symptom is erratic sleep patterns. Luke can easily go from an angel sleeper to a nightmare with no rhyme or reason. Over time I’ve noticed a correlation with blood in his stool and his most mucus-y diapers to his worst sleep. Whatever is going on in there to cause the irregular stools must not feel great and therefore causes sleep disruptions.
The only way to “treat” MSPI is to eliminate the culprits from my diet (since I’m breast feeding). At 8 weeks I eliminated all dairy. It takes at least a month (probably more) for all dairy to be out of your system, so it was a waiting game. The only improvement I saw was his congestion cleared up, but his stools remained the same.
At 12 weeks there was still a lot of mucus in his diapers and also visible blood, so the next step was to eliminate soy. After this his diapers turned from mostly green to mostly yellow and his projectile spitting up stopped (I didn’t know if that was related or not and still can’t be sure). The mucus and blood were still present in his stools.
This is when his pediatrician referred us to gastroenterologist. By the time we got in, Luke was 19 weeks and I’d been off of dairy for 11 weeks. The doctor still thought, however, that dairy was in my system and causing the problems. He said I could have unknowingly eaten hidden dairy. This is true, but highly unlikely given my diet. I don’t eat a lot of processed foods, which is where hidden dairy lurks. He advised me to either switch to a hypoallergenic formula or wait and hope Luke outgrows the intolerance by 9 months.
I took Luke back to his pediatrician and she said it’d be worthwhile to cut out more foods that could be causing him problems. I then cut out wheat, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts. After two weeks his diapers were still full of mucus, but I hadn’t seen any visible blood in that time. I decided to start adding back in foods to see what the reaction would be. I added back in eggs first, and there was no change.
A week later, I added back in peanuts and tree nuts. I’m not sure why I did these at the same time; I should have done one at a time. Within days, I saw visible blood again. I can’t be sure if they were the cause, but I decided to cut them out again. I put in a call to the pediatrician and she advised me that although it could be the peanuts or nuts, wheat also takes at least a month to get out of your system, so the wheat could still be the cause.
After 6 weeks of eliminating wheat, Luke’s stools finally started to look normal. They were consistently yellow, more creamy, and without visible blood.
We had two weeks of normal-looking stools. This was the good news. The bad news was it took me eating a diet free of dairy, soy, wheat, tree nuts (except coconut), and peanuts to get there.
After 2 solid weeks of good diapers, we decided to start solids (a few weeks earlier than we planned at 5.5 months old) Details about that are a whole different post, but I will give an overview as it relates to his digestive issues. We started with yellow squash. The first two days there was no mucus or blood in his stool–they stayed the same. On the third day there was still no mucus, but there was a small amount of blood. It seems the solid food, even the very small amount, was difficult for his digestive tract to handle.
The next day I accidentally used almond-coconut milk in my oatmeal. I’d been using coconut milk and for some reason just grabbed the wrong box. Later that day, I was so hungry (snacking is the most difficult on this restrictive diet) and figured I’d already had almonds that day so I might as well go all-out and I had a banana bread Larabar, which has almonds. Later that night, his stools were back to mucus-y. I couldn’t believe how quickly they changed his stool consistency. That was on Wednesday and his stools have been full of mucus ever since. I guess it will be a while before I can have almonds. 🙁 I am just waiting for them to work their way out of my system (should be less than a week) in hopes that his diapers go back to normal.
We’ve decided to hold back on any more solids until his next doctor’s appointment this week. We’ll see what she advises. I can tell that the road to feeding Luke is going to be filled with twists and turns and will most likely not be easy any time soon.
I breastfed Meghan until she was 2 and assumed that I’d do the same with Luke. At this point I am just taking it one month at a time. I love breastfeeding and think it’s hands down the best nutrition you can provide for your child, but eating such a restrictive diet has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
At this point I am just praying that Luke with outgrow his food sensitivities and be able to eat a normal, non-restrictive diet one day. Breast feeding a baby with MSPI is a crazy journey, but I’m grateful I’ve been able to continue to provide Luke with the nourishment of breast milk despite the challenges.
Curious about how this journey continued with Luke? Here’s an update at how things are going with breastfeeding with MSPI at 15 months!
Thank you for responding. I did not see where I could email you about this…I asked if you supplemented formula while trying to eliminate things from your diet. Well, yesterday I took my 4.5 month old some to dr after noticing mucus and tiny specks of blood in poop…she told me to give him formula for two weeks while I start elimination diet…but I am like you and nursed my oldest until 18 months and planned on nursing him as long as he wants to nurse. I know the dr is saying for only two weeks but I feel like it may upset his GI tract more to introduce something totally different. I am really confused. I feel like breast milk is best for him but also want him to be healthy. He has grown exceptionally well so far…he was born weighing 5 lbs 12oz and he weighs 12 lbs 2 oz now…but I’m the last week while trying to figure this out he only gained 1 oz and dr was concerned…but he did have a virus that he was getting over too…I was wondering if you could offer any advice. He is a very happy baby, sleeps great and was gaining well…only symptoms have been slight ezcema (not really blisters or anything), mucus poop, and tiny bits of blood in poop (sometimes i wouldn’t even see it if I wasn’t looking for it)…
I actually brought up the idea to my son’s doctor about supplementing for a few weeks while I went on an elimination diet, but she was hesitant to recommend it. She said many babies with sensitive digestive systems do even worse on formula, even the special kind. She also said that if babies are older they will often refuse the formula all together because it tastes awful. So clearly my son’s doctor had an opposite opinion of yours. I’m not a doctor and haven’t met your baby so I can’t tell you what to do, but I would get a second opinion.
I am going through something similar with my son who is now 4.5 months…I was just wondering if you ever had to supplement with a hypoallergenic formula WHILE eliminating the things from your diet? Then resuming breastfeeding once 2 weeks of elimination diet???
No, I didn’t. I talked to his doctor about that, but she suggested I don’t.
This can be helpful
http://www.health-e-learning.com/articles/Lactose.pdf
To be short – large amounts of sugars/high carb in mother’s diet can affect on lactose amount in milk. This leads to very similar symptoms as with food intolerance. Even more – these two issues are often connected.
For example large bowl of rice can be considered as “rice intolerance” issue and in the same time it’s a big amount of blood sugar(and hence mother’s milk lactose amount increase)
Hello everyone!
I have 2 questions for you
1. Did someone try to investigate the FSPI reason with blood tests? Like milk intolerance test and etc instead of guessing for weeks/months?
2. Did someone get disallowance from pediatrician for regular vaccine cause of mucus/bloody stool?
Thanks in advance.
Thank tou so much for this post. I came across it through Google. The pediatrians kept saying it’s just a cold. I knew it was something more. My baby boy had an exema out break at 3 weeks. Then at 4 weeks he caught a cold and his diaper have been mucousy ever since (now 10 weeks). I feel horrible that my diet has been causing him this pain yet relieved that we may have figured out the problem. I feel overwhelmed by what I need to eliminate. Do I do it on my own or would the doctors be able to guide me on how to figure out what his allergies are.
Thank you so very much!
There are no tests at this age that will accurately tell you about allergies or especially not food sensitivities, unfortunately. Doing an elimination diet is your best bet. You can do one food at a time and see if each one helps, or eliminate a lot at once and then add them back in one at a time. Dairy and soy are the most common problems at this age, but both can take a long time before you will see a difference.
Hello!
Exactly same story here! Baby with laryngomalacia also!
I’ve cut down on dairy, all types of nuts, eggs and fish! 2 weeks without blood but a lot of mucus is still present. Colour and consistency changes but similar to your pictures…
Digestive specialist sais is benign and it will resolve with time and maturation… Not to worry, but is is quite hard!
All the support from Spain!
Hope you are doing great
Thank you, Nerea! Luke did outgrow all of his intolerances and can now eat everything! 🙂
Hi,
My son is 6 months old. His nappies pretty much replicate those photos above and have done more or less since day one. To start with he had pyloric stenosis and was operated on at 3 weeks. I hoped that he would start having normal nappies and stop being sick but sadly this did not happen. He had reflux but thankfully this is mostly managed with ranitidine. I have spoke to countless gp’s and paediatricians about the mucus and high water content of his stools but none seem bothered. He never seems to be particularly in too much discomfort and is a happy boy but still the nappies! I do not have dairy or wheat in my diet and eat gluten free porridge oats with rice milk for breakfast. I guess my question is “what on earth do you eat??” I’m underweight as it is and worry about my milk supply because of having such a limited diet. I am also starting to ween him but at present he really does not seem interested and turns his nose up at all food I give him.
Here’s a post showing what I ate while on this diet. I hope this helps! https://happyhealthymama.com/2012/10/what-this-breastfeeding-mama-eats-in-a-day.html
I have found this article to be really helpful and the testimonials are incredible for MSPI babies and more. https://www.corehealthproducts.com/answers-for-infant-reflux/
Thanks so much for sharing!
Where does the last diaper photo pictured in your blog fall? Was it considered “normal”?
Yes, that was the normal diaper. At least as close to normal as my son’s stools ever got!
Thank you so much for this blog. My son is formula fed. He started having really dark green mucusy stools that tested positive for blood presumably due to a milk protein allergy. He was switched to a hypoallergenic formula. I switched him to Alimentum ready to feed on a Saturday afternoon and by Sunday morning he had perfect yellow, peanut butter consistency poops. I then started on the powder version because that’s what WIC would pay for and his poops started looking like the last one you have pictured. Yesterday I purchased another bottle of the ready to feed to see if it makes a difference, but I was concerned about the consistency of the new stools. Thanks for your response. It’s good to know it’s nothing I need to fret over.
Thank you so much for writing this and including the photos. I saw blood in my 4 month olds diaper and immediately freaked out until I read your story. I’m so sorry you had to go through that with Luke but it gives me insight on how to manage it with my baby.
That’s why I wrote this post! Glad it’s helped you.
I can’t thank you enough for your post, especially the diaper pics. For weeks I’ve been thinking I’m crazy…our doctor and advice nurse keep saying green stool is ok and that breastfed babies have saliva in their stool. But, I never thought my sons diapers were right…trust your instinct!
Although we are going to get an expert opinion, I am possitive my son has MSPI and I have been working on an elimination diet for weeks now. Thank you again for putting your story out there!
You’re welcome Kate! Good luck with the journey; I hope your baby finds relief soon.
Hi there
It’s comforting when you feel that’s you aren’t alone. My DD has Allergic colitis and she is breastfeeding since she was 6 weeks and she is 6 months and ten days. The blood stoped at 5.5 months and the GI prof gave us grean light to start solids. He advised us to let her what ever I eat I’m off diary egg gluten beef fish citus nuts chocolate and soya. he also adviced us to introduce the potato and rice together and meet in the second week. I followed that and unfortunately the blood is back again and a rash developed around her mouth. Seeing that blood again put me into tears as I thought I will never see it any more. May I know how did you introduce the solids and was their obstacles in the beginning?? Regards
I started solids very slowly with simple vegetables and fruits. I started at 5 1/2 months but his system didn’t seem ready so I waited a few more weeks before I tried again. I didn’t do any grains for a while. From what I’ve read, any grains can be very hard on their systems, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the rice that caused the blood. I’m so sorry you are dealing with this! I know how hard it can be. The good news is that my little one can now eat a regular diet–so there is hope! 🙂
Thanks a lot for your advice. I wish that day when she is better is soon as its really frustrating to see your beloved baby having this troubles.
I know this is an old post, but just wanted to comment in case it helps someone. My boy had green poop starting at 5 weeks. I tried the whole allergen food elimination diet, but nothing helped. I finally figured out when he started daycare at 12 weeks that it was my morning coffee causing the green poop! I was so surprised, because after so much research I never once read this could cause green poop. I realized it was the coffee, since once I started taking him to daycare I had my coffee after I fed him, and then there was a long enough break to where it was no longer in my system when I fed again. Anyhow, I ended up breastfeeding until he turned 2 with no other issues, and thankfully not having to restrict my diet. Now I know for the next time!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot… Ur blog with the pics were xtrmly helpful… My baby was facing same problem n now after reading ur post I can identify the culprit in my diet…. Thanks once again
You’re welcome! 🙂
Thank you so much for going into such detail and posting pictures of the soiled diapers. It’s a real eye opener for me. My son is 2 months old and has been having strange poop from the get go. I think he’s only had normal, yellow, thick, creamy (sounds like I’m describing ice cream! ;-P) stools for a couple of weeks. Shall eliminate all dairy from my diet and see if it helps. Poor baby has been given antibiotics 3 times cos paed thought it was an infection. These photos look just like the ones we took of DS’s poo. Thanks again <3
Oh poor baby–I’ll bet those antibiotics really wiped out his good bacteria. 🙁 I would find him a good dairy and soy free probiotic if he isn’t on one already!
hello Myrea, so glad I’ve read your blog. the pictures really helped! its exactly what my LO has.
its been more than a month doing an elimination diet (I only eat apples, pears, chicken, turkey, lamb, rice, potatoes, sweet potato and zucchini, coconut milk and water) . Im starving and see no changes at all. moucousy with strikes of blood.
we tried giving him a week of neocate, prescribed by his GI, but he refused the bottle and we couldn’t make that challenge. It is so frustrating!! he looks like he is doing so well, gaining weight, he wakes up crying after all his naps though, may be something bothers him and wakes up..
Im afraid I’m not getting the calcium my body needs for my supply, Im thinking of adding leafy greens to the diet as you did and some dates. so many moms have told that their lo was allergic to rice and chicken? Im cutting off that too and see where it gets me.
I have a question, how about beverages? did you take coffee, tea? something? I really miss my morning coffee and my yerba mate in the evenings. which do you think can be a safe drink?
what kind of seeds did you take? sesame, pumpkin, flaxseed?
sorry for all the questions and information all in once. desperate mama here!!
Viviana
I continued to drink coffee (black)–about 1 cup a day while I was breastfeeding. I’m not sure what yerba mate is. It’s hard to say what your LO will tolerate since every baby is so different. That’s what makes this so challenging! I feel your pain. YES–definitely add leafy greens to your diet! Keep up with the elimination diet and hopefully you’ll see some relief soon. It can take a while to get the dairy, soy, and wheat out of YOUR system, and then longer for baby’s system to clear. It’s hard when you don’t see results right away, I know. Best of luck!!
I found your blog post as I was searching to determine what different stools mean. I found it very helpful. My baby has no diagnosis but during my breastfeeding I have had to stay off dairy, soy,wheat, and corn. There might be other stuff too I forget. No tests have been performed but my baby did so much better after those changes. Now on solids some of the problems remain and I get all kinds of critical remarks from others about his not eating those before mentioned foods. So far he does no do great with them. Just makes me feel a little better and that perhaps things will get better
Heather
I hope it does get better for you! Hang in there, mama!
Hi, your blog is very helpful as we are dealing with similar issues. Our baby boy is only 4 months this week and we are trying to narrow down what is causing the mucus and blood in his stool for several weeks now. I was wondering what was the onset in your case? We got first bloody diaper week after his first vaccination. Our doctor keep assuring me that it is no correlation but we didn’t have any issue before that. I could eat whatever I wanted (except onion, garlic and lemon). I’m just a bit concern now (with second dose coming) if it will get worse.
Thanks for sharing!
Petra
Did you have mucus the whole time and then blood showed up, or it all changed after the vaccination? Luke had mucus in his stools pretty much from day #1. His stools were never normal. The blood showed up later, but I think it was because the damage was being done to his system and once enough damage was done, the blood showed up. I can’t say for sure, but I didn’t notice a correlation between the blood and his vaccines.
What do you eat if you have cut out all these things? I am struggling trying to figure out what to eat.
Check out this post for some ideas: https://happyhealthymama.com/2012/10/what-this-breastfeeding-mama-eats-in-a-day.html
Hi, I came across your website as I came across a picture of Luke’s poo which looks just let my 9 week old daughter Syke’s poo so I followed the link. I am currently on a dairy free diet but there is still a lot of mucus in my little girls poo. I am EBF too. I Breastfed my first till he was 2 years old with no problems but with my second, it is very hard going as I feel that I am making her ill. The longer this goes on the more it looks like she has intolerances. I am so glad I came across your website. I have been taken pictures to show the paediatrician. Skye seen a GP yesterday as she has been screaming bless her when she goes to the toilet and new there is also dark dots in it. The GP told me it is normal for colic babies to have lots of mucus? I will feel more assured when I speak to the paediatrician
I have heard that colic babies have a lot of mucus. I have to wonder if the colic is BECAUSE of the food intolerances, but isn’t always diagnosed. I don’t know that I’d feel comfortable with the conclusion that it’s normal. Good luck to you!