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Having a child means that you will need to be very careful. And as much as you think and take care of every aspect of your life, it is inevitable that a problem will happen from time to time.
Cases like the flu , minor accidents and allergies are quite common, although they cause a lot of concern in mothers and fathers. But one thing that can generate a lot of panic in those who have never witnessed it is blood in the baby’s feces.
This phenomenon tends to make parents really terrified and afraid of what it might be. But before you panic, it is always important to know what it can be, what are the possible causes and the real level of severity of this problem. And that is why today’s text deals with exactly that subject: What to do when you find blood in the baby’s feces?
Is it normal for blood to appear in the baby’s feces?
You can’t say that this is normal and healthy, because it is not. But at the same time, it is also not the most unusual thing to happen , as blood in the baby’s stool can have several causes. But for your mind to be calm and also for the baby’s health to be assured, the best way out is to visit a doctor in this situation.
Problems can vary in different ways, if the blood appeared only once or several times, what is the amount of blood, if the baby complains about some pain, among several other variables that can point to many causes.
Possible Causes of Blood in Baby’s Stool
As we just said, the blood in the baby’s stool can have many causes, the main ones being:
- Fissure in the anus
- Food allergy
- Rotavirus Vaccine
- Baking
Anus Fissure
It usually happens when the baby begins to be introduced to a more solid diet. This makes your stool stiffer and, consequently, also becomes more difficult to be expelled by the baby’s body, causing bleeding to happen from time to time.
In such cases, you can get your baby to hydrate better to help evacuate. In a few days the bleeding should stop, but if it doesn’t, you can see a doctor to see if there are any other problems.
Food allergy
It may happen that the baby is allergic to some food, it usually happens with cow’s milk , more specifically to the protein that that food consumes. Many babies are diagnosed with this allergy before 6 months of age.
When this occurs, your body can produce a reaction that causes blood to pass through your stool. In this case, all food containing cow’s milk must disappear from its diet and, if the baby is still breastfeeding, it must also disappear from the mother’s diet, since this protein can be passed into breast milk. Within a few days, the baby’s stool should return to normal.
Rotavirus Vaccine
It is necessary to pay attention to the side effects that this type of vaccine causes. The blood in the baby’s stool can last up to 90 days and it is necessary to see a doctor if you notice that the bleeding is very heavy.
Baking
Incredibly, the appearance of blood in the baby’s stool can also be something as simple as diaper rash that can end up getting stronger and causing small bleeds to occur.
In that case, you can check and apply an ointment for a few days to make the rash better. These are usually the simplest cases and the easiest to resolve.
ATTENTION: It is important to remember that only a doctor can pinpoint the exact cause of this happening to your baby specifically, so it is always important to visit a pediatrician before giving your child any medication.
Should I be concerned?
Although many mothers and fathers are extremely concerned when they find blood in the baby’s feces, most cases are not an emergency and can be treated simply and even over time.
Still, it is impossible for a mother not to be really worried about her child in such a situation, especially when it comes to bleeding. So it is also important to warn about the dangers that the blood in the baby’s stool can signal.
In severe cases, there may be internal bleeding in some part of the child’s digestive system, usually in the intestine, which can cause some suffering. You may be suspicious of this if bloody stools are accompanied by vomiting, abdominal swelling and fever.
In order to make the definitive diagnosis, some tests are necessary, such as abdominal radiography. A doctor will determine whether the case is serious or not, and may even indicate surgery for the baby.
Worry and even panic are common when something out of the ordinary happens to our children, especially when it comes to a baby. But it is necessary to remain calm both to show tranquility to the child and to better understand the situation and assess what is the best attitude to be taken.
Although there are extreme cases as we mentioned here, most of the times when a mother finds blood in the baby’s feces it is because of a mild problem that can be solved in a few days. So stay calm and never stop wanting to know more about babies’ health. This is good for you and, consequently, also for your child.
See Also: Diaper Allergy – Why Does It Occur?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
