Advice Required - nappy related possible TMI

**Clementine** · 23-05-2012, 07:56pm

Ophelia has had what I would describe as diarrhea for the past week.

I originally thought it was teething because she was showing all the classic signs (really sore bum, excess dribble etc).

Now, in the last couple of days she's woken up with explosive poo both mornings at about 5am, it's completely wet all her bedding etc and is mostly watery.

She's also got lots of mucus in it and it's really rancid smelling. She seems perfectly fine in herself, lots of smiles, not overly tired, still going to bed as normal, no crying etc etc.

I phoned NHS direct tonight as she just had two more explosions when we were about to bath her.

The nurse rang me back and basically said she thinks Ophelia now has a malabsorption and that she needs to drink probiotic yoghurts to get some good bugs back into her gut.

She also said that I'm not feeding her enough (she has 7 ounces of milk every 3-4 hours) but she also said she's not going long enough between feeds? And she said hungry babies can develop diarrhea if they don't eat enough.

I feel awful now, I'm going to take her to the GP in the morning but have I starved my baby and given her malabsorption?

**claireh** · 23-05-2012, 08:19pm

I think NHS direct are talking poppycock!

I would put money on it being teething. The rancid runny rappers were a big sign in my two. The smell is very distinctive and quite acidic/acrid smelling and seem to turn the skin on their bums bright red straight away.

Feeding your baby every 3/4 hours is plenty. Your daughter is normally alert, happy, active? If yes, then I would be sure you were feeding her perfectly.

By all means go to see your gp tomorrow to double check but honestly I'm sure Ophelia is just grand and will probably pop a tooth out fairly soon.

**Tigerstripes** · 23-05-2012, 08:44pm

Originally Posted by claireh

I think NHS direct are talking poppycock!

I would put money on it being teething. The rancid runny rappers were a big sign in my two. The smell is very distinctive and quite acidic/acrid smelling and seem to turn the skin on their bums bright red straight away.

Feeding your baby every 3/4 hours is plenty. Your daughter is normally alert, happy, active? If yes, then I would be sure you were feeding her perfectly.

By all means go to see your gp tomorrow to double check but honestly I'm sure Ophelia is just grand and will probably pop a tooth out fairly soon.

I agree with all of this completely, sounds like every tooth Ethan has had come through

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**jamsplat** · 23-05-2012, 09:03pm

I'd put money on teething as well, I doubt she'd be happy if she was starving and had malabsorbtion

**Mrs B** · 23-05-2012, 09:12pm

Mine never had particularly bad nappies when teething, but the mucous and runny stools sounds like a tummy bug to me. So long as she is hydrated (and that feed pattern and amount sounds fine to me) then it should pass. But do take her to the GP for a quick check - am sure you haven't caused her to have a problem though.

**Bert2e** · 23-05-2012, 09:31pm

I think teething too - the runnyness, acrid smell and mucus. As for feeding her too often - rubbish

Sounds totally normal to me.

**Clementine** · 23-05-2012, 09:32pm

Thanks girls, think I'll just get her checked out anyway, to be on the safe side, unless she improves overnight. She's so happy I can't help thinking if she was in pain or ill she'd let me know, same as if she was hungry?

I didn't understand about feeding her too often either? I thought 3-4 was maximum for her age?

Also - as we're not weaning yet I was horrified when she suggested probiotic yoghurt - but is this ok for a 5 and a half month old?

**Bert2e** · 23-05-2012, 09:40pm

I'd hold off the yoghurt as I really don't think she needs it.

**parkejm** · 23-05-2012, 09:54pm

There are so many D&V bugs around at the moment, my two have had it & both nurseries say there's a lot around. I'd have thought it was that. The starving/malabsorption thing is a bit

to me tbh

I'd definitely get her checked out though in case she's a bit dehydrated. Hope she's better soon x

**Dr Spouse** · 23-05-2012, 09:57pm

As she's nearly 6 months a bit of yoghurt should be fine (but won't you struggle to find plain, full fat probiotic yoghurt? They mostly seem to be sugary low fat that I've seen).

But vv watery poo is warning for a tummy bug I'd say - and those amounts and timings sound perfectly ok, unless you read the formula box which is mad.
Could be nothing or teething but you could just pop to the GP to be sure.

**parkejm** · 24-05-2012, 03:57pm

Just wondered how she is today and if you got a Drs appt. With the weather being so warm and O losing lots of fluids, i hope you are managing to keep her hydrated :fingerscrossed;

**Sam** · 24-05-2012, 04:17pm

Definitely sounds like teething, how is she now?

**Clementine** · 24-05-2012, 04:30pm

Hi girls,

Thanks for the replies. We went to the docs this morning first thing. Luckily we had to wait for 20mins and in that time she went for a poo so doc took a sample, results in a week.

As it was pure mucus she thought it was probably more of an infection than teething but said everything I'd said pointed to teething at first.

She didn't really understand the advice from NHS direct and said she didn't think they were supposed to give such pointed advice over the phone.

She also didn't think she was dehydrated (did all the checks) but could possibly get that way with the weather like it is. She just advised to continue to feed as normal and perhaps introduce some water but favour milk over it.

I'm glad she managed to get the sample, I keep thinking maybe she's built up an intolerance to the lactose in the milk or something but I would have thought that would have happened straight away?

Feeling a lot better now, just knackered from all the night wakings. We've had no power in the house since 7am (just came back on) so we managed to have a lovely long sleep together this afternoon.