First of all, according to relevant children’s health standards, a normal baby’s feces is generally yellow, golden yellow or yellow-green, and has a sesame paste, ointment or soft strip-like texture. This article will assist baby caregivers in dealing with a variety of problems, among which stool problems are very common. Among all kinds of stool problems, mucus stool is very common.
What is Mucus Stool
Mucus in baby stool can be a surprising sight for parents, but it’s not always a cause for alarm. Mucus is a jelly-like substance that helps keep the intestines lubricated. However, when it appears visibly in a baby’s diaper, it may signal an underlying issue that needs attention.
Common causes of mucus in baby stool include minor infections, teething, food sensitivities, or an immature digestive system. During teething, babies tend to swallow more saliva, which can result in mucus-filled stool. In breastfed infants, a change in the mother’s diet—especially dairy—can also trigger mucus due to food sensitivities.
Viral or bacterial infections like gastroenteritis are another possible cause, often accompanied by other symptoms like fever, irritability, or diarrhea. If mucus persists or is accompanied by blood, lethargy, or a high fever, it may indicate a more serious concern like a milk protein allergy or gastrointestinal inflammation.
Where does mucus come from?
The mucus in stool mainly comes from the intestinal mucosa of the intestine .
Under normal circumstances, the intestinal mucosa secretes a small amount of mucus to lubricate and protect the intestines. However, when the intestines are stimulated (such as allergies, infections, inflammation, etc.), the intestinal mucosa will secrete more mucus.
Based on this, the following reasons may cause the intestinal mucosa to secrete more mucus.
Cause 1. Overfeeding
If the baby eats too much, it will increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and cause digestive dysfunction. The intestinal mucosa will secrete too much mucus to protect the intestines.
Cause 2. Intestinal infection
Viruses, bacteria and other intestinal infections can also cause mucus in babies’ stools. For example, after rotavirus infection, babies may have mucus in their stools as well as fever, diarrhea, vomiting and other accompanying symptoms. Once you suspect your baby’s intestinal infection, you should immediately collect stool samples for medical examination.
Reason 3. Allergy
According to the Infant Allergy Prevention Guide, when babies are allergic to certain foods or substances, they may also have mucus in their stools. For infants and young children, common allergens include: milk protein, eggs, seafood, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, etc. This is because allergies can cause damage to the intestinal mucosa, resulting in mucus in the stool.
Cause 4. Intestinal inflammation
Relevant medical standards point out that intestinal inflammation may also cause mucus in the baby’s stool, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease . In addition to mucus in the stool, these diseases may also be accompanied by abdominal pain, blood in the stool and other symptoms.
So, what to do mothers ?
Observe the accompanying symptoms
Carefully observe the baby’s symptoms to see if the baby has fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc. in addition to mucus in the stool, and whether the baby’s mental state and appetite are normal. If the baby is “fine”, you can closely observe the next bowel movement.
On the contrary, if you find that your baby’s symptoms persist or worsen, or if serious symptoms such as high fever, frequent vomiting, bloody stools, etc. appear, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Adjust your diet
Situation 1: For breastfed babies, remind the mother to pay attention to diet and avoid spicy, greasy, and irritating foods.
Case 2: For babies who are bottle-fed, you may consider switching to hypoallergenic formula milk (hydrolyzed formula) under the doctor’s advice.
Situation 3: For babies who are adding complementary foods, avoid ingredients that may cause allergies in the baby.
Do not take probiotics at random!
When we don’t know what causes the baby’s mucus stool, blindly taking probiotics may mask the condition and delay diagnosis.
In addition to mucus stools, babies may also encounter foamy stools, milk curd stools, etc.
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