Why is newborns poop black

Why does my newborn have black poop? For more on poop, see our slideshow. Image courtesy of Together With Baby. Suggested Reads. The scoop on poop. Turn on more accessible mode. Turn off more accessible mode. Skip Ribbon Commands.

Skip to main content. Turn off Animations. Turn on Animations. Our Sponsors Log in Register. Log in Register. Ages and Stages. In babies that are vigorous with good muscle tone and respiratory effort, this suctioning does not appear to make a difference and is no longer recommended. It's now recommended that medical professionals who can provide intubation and suction be present when meconium-stained amniotic fluid is noted prior to birth.

When meconium is very thick and detected before or early on during labor, a procedure known as amnioinfusion is sometimes recommended. In this procedure, a sterile saline solution is injected into the uterus in order to dilute the meconium. The majority of babies will have meconium stools within the first day of life, which slowly becomes less tarry and thick over the first week of life.

While these stools are often messy and difficult to clean, applying a small amount of vaseline or ointment to your baby's bottom will make subsequent diaper changing much easier. The failure to pass meconium in the first 24 hours may be a sign of a medical condition such as an intestinal obstruction, and your pediatrician should be contacted. More commonly, babies pass their first meconium stool prior to birth resulting in meconium staining. On its own, this is not serious, especially if a baby only passes "light" meconium.

If the meconium is thick and a baby is distressed at birth, however, suction and possibly amnioinfusion is recommended to reduce the chance that the baby will breathe in the meconium and develop meconium aspiration syndrome. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Front Microbiol. DOI: Number , March Neonatal resuscitation: evolving strategies.

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I Accept Show Purposes. Many parents swear that normal-colored baby poop that looks a bit looser than usual is a sign of teething due to all that swallowed drool. Be sure to call your doctor if poop is watery and lasts more than a day, as it could be a sign of infection. Check with your pediatrician for confirmation and a treatment plan. Similar to most red poop, orange baby poop is likely linked to something your baby has eaten: specifically, a fruit or vegetable with beta carotene.

Another potential cause for orange baby poop is medication. Some antibiotics and antacids contain the ingredient aluminum hydroxide, which can turn poop orange. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. Your Guide to Newborn Poop Colors.