Does your baby have diarrhea? (Diarrhea) Don't worry, let's be aware of this!

When you become a new mother or father, it's normal to be worried and curious about every little thing about your baby. Especially when you see what's in your baby's diaper. 'Oh, is he having diarrhea? Is this color, this liquid consistency normal?' You must have thought a thousand times. Actually, babies' poop is not like adults'. So today, let's talk about this baby's diarrhea, or the medical term for it is diarrhea.

Even though you say you're hungry, what is this really?

Simply put, colic means that your baby's poop is much more liquid than usual, more like water . It's true that babies' poop is usually a little thinner than adults' poop. But if you suddenly notice a difference, like it's more liquid than usual, and the number of diapers you're changing per day has suddenly increased, it could be colic.

Doctors usually don't consider it a big deal if your baby has diarrhea once or twice. It can happen when you introduce a new food to your baby. But if your baby has diarrhea more than three times a day, it could be a diarrheal illness . This means that your baby is having diarrhea due to an infection. But don't worry, most of these infections are temporary.

How do you recognize this from a baby's nappy?

It can be difficult for new parents to understand what is normal for their baby's gums, so it's important to be aware of these things.

• If you are breastfeeding your baby: During the first week of life, your baby will poop about three to four times a day. They will be yellow, bone-like, and a little watery. This is normal and not a sign of indigestion. After that, they will have poop that is the consistency of applesauce until they are 4-6 months old.
• If you are feeding your baby formula: Their poop will be a bit thick and pasty from birth.

If the discharge is more liquid than normal, it could be a sign of a bowel movement. Another easy clue is that the poop that comes out of the diaper usually cannot be contained and will even leak out.

How do you measure the severity of this?

The more wet diapers you change per day, the more serious the condition can become. Doctors use a scale like this to measure the severity of this.

The most important thing is that as the number of bowel movements increases, the baby's body loses a lot of water and salts, increasing the risk of dehydration.

Why is my baby so fussy?

The main and most common cause of stomach upset in babies is viral gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the intestines caused by a viral infection . This is what we call "stomach upset" or "stomach flu." Although many types of viruses can cause this, norovirus and rotavirus are the main culprits.

Other common reasons are:

• Bacterial infections such as Salmonella or E. coli.
• Parasitic infections such as Giardiasis, which are common, especially in daycare centers with young children.
• As a side effect of antibiotics given for another illness.

Other symptoms may accompany these infections. Sometimes, vomiting can be accompanied by nausea, which can be "up and down." Fever and loss of appetite are also seen.

If you have diarrhea for more than two weeks? - Does that mean Chronic Diarrhea?

Most of the time, diarrhea gets better within a few days, up to two weeks at most. We call that acute diarrhea . But some babies have diarrhea that lasts for more than two weeks. This condition is called chronic diarrhea .

This could be due to a problem with the baby's digestive system. For example, a condition where the intestines are unable to absorb nutrients properly (`Malabsorption`). To accurately diagnose such conditions, you should definitely see a pediatrician and get tested. Some of the things that can cause Chronic Diarrhea are:

• Intolerance to cow's milk or soy proteins: Some types of formula contain these. If your baby's body has difficulty digesting these, they can cause stomach upset.
• Celiac disease: An overreaction of the body's immune system to the protein gluten.
• Cystic Fibrosis (CF): This is a genetic disease that damages the pancreas and prevents it from producing enzymes needed to digest food.
• Short bowel syndrome: A condition in which part of a baby's small intestine is absent from birth.
• Congenital diarrheas and enteropathies (CODEs): These are very rare, genetic conditions.

What can I do at home?

It's sad to say this, but there's no magic bullet that can stop diarrhea overnight. Most often, this condition is caused by a viral infection, and you have to wait until it runs its course. It can usually last between 5 and 14 days. But the worst part is only in the first two days.

But there are things you can do at home to make your baby comfortable and prevent dehydration:

• Give fluids regularly: Continue to give breast milk or formula. You may need to give more fluids than usual to replace the fluid your baby loses.
• Continue solid foods: If your baby has started solid foods, continue to give them. Starchy foods like rice, porridge, potatoes, and sweet potatoes are best because they are easy for the stomach to digest.
• Prevent diaper rash: After each diaper change, wash your baby's bottom thoroughly with lukewarm water, pat dry with a clean cloth, and pat dry thoroughly. This can help reduce the risk of diaper rash.

What are the best times to see a doctor?

This part is very important. It is essential to pay attention to the baby's condition.

If any of these signs of dehydration are present, do not wait and immediately take your baby to the nearest hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU). If necessary, doctors will administer saline (IV fluids) through a vein to restore the baby's body's lost water content.

Baby has diarrhea, Diarrhea in babies, Stomach ache, Diarrhea, Dehydration, Rotavirus, Baby health