Being a nurse, I am constantly examining Gracie's poops!! :shock: I can't help it, it is something that was drilled in my head as a student years ago. But anyway, I know that most of the poop concerns I have seen on the forum have been constipation issues. Gracie will be 14 months old tomorrow and she very rarely has formed stools. Most of the time, they are very smelly :smt103 They are different colors depending on her food intake but are usually runny to pasty. But she is very regular. Any other moms with this issue or is Gracie just out of the norm??

Quick update: She is doing great since I put her back on the Prevacid daily. She wasn't ready for the weaning yet.

Also: just curious. Is anyone else on the boards from Virginia??
I'll stop rambling now.

I am a poop inspector too!!! :oops: It sounds like Nathan has the same problem... His poops are goopy, never formed, STINK, and vary day to day with what they look like. I get really nervous when I am about to open his diaper, because I never know what to expect!

Because of his interesting poops, I have been doing a bit of stool research. I read that Prevacid can cause stools to be looser. Also, stool is green (or the color of the food they ate) as it starts to pass through the intestines, but turns brown and should solidify during the latter part of the "journey". For some babies, the stool passes too quickly through the intestines, leading to mushier, colorful poops. This probably doesn't apply to your LO, but formula type can also effect poop consistency and color (Good Start, for example).

I think that is what could be happening with my LO.

Sorry about the stinky stools... I relate! :lol:

I get really nervous when I am about to open his diaper, because I never know what to expect!

Too funny but true!! We are the same way except that sometimes he has very formed stools as well, but it is probably the rice in the formula.

Yep, we never have a dull moment with stools here, either as my middle son has suffered from bowel problems for nearly 2 years now. We have seen virtually everything slide, explode, slip, trickle, spew, and crawl out of him in that time.

Pasty stools are formed, correct? Describe "pasty". Like mashed potatoes? That would be formed. Runny stools would be the problem, but it can be dependant on fluid intake as well. If they alternate, look to what she had in terms of water content prior (ie: lots of watermelon or other fluid filled fruits or veggies, extra fluids, etc.) Is there any solid stool in the runny ones? Increased water content can make the stools seem runnier, but should still leave some solid or semi solid parts.

The smell in the stool, is it a "metallic smell"? How does it smell? Prevacid left us with goopy green and wretched smelling stools for Iain, so it could be that if she has just developed the stools since begining the drug.

Does she strain at all during BMs? Bear in mind that although she is regular, she could still be constipated. Run off stools bring some wicked and ugly diapers. Does she ever have a solid stool? How long has it been since she has had a solid stool? And, is she trying a variety of new foods lately?

Leigh

I meant to change my words a little in my last post. Her poops are not watery but they never seem even close to being formed. Does that make sense? I have inspected so much, I don't even know what they look like now :lol:

Ya'll take it easy.

Watery would indicate diarrhea for sure, but does not dismiss the fact that they sound very yucky indeed! My tricks are to start a food and stool log for every day, include the fluids. Often you can see patterns emerging with the stools in relationship to what was intaken that day or prior. Also, my personal favourite is to bag up the offending poop and haul it off to your ped for inspection. If they back up and open the window (mine did!) then you are likely to get some help. It is a wonderful way to get the attention of the ped.

It does start to make you wonder what is "normal" sometimes. We have had chernobyl diapers from my middle son for nearly 2 years now and the only way I even remember what is normal is when I change my youngest son.

Leigh

Okay, I guess I have to admit that I'm a "poop inspector" too!! And with the 2 of them I get to do it frequently!!! :shock: :shock: :lol: :lol:
Stephen's poop is always on the "mushy" side. Mind you, he's not on any meds except for the gripe water-yeeha!! They are seldom formed.. and he's on soilds now.