Green Mucusy Poo for a full week

[francesmama]

I know that there was another green poo thread but decided to post my own.

Here's the situation:
DD is 5 months, exclusively breastfed.
Never had a green poo before, now every poo for a week has been green.
There is a lot of mucus, once she had a poo that was only mucus (clear) or the stool is very watery, but always green.
Stooling pattern has changed from once a day to 8 to 10 times a day.
Stool smells FOUL and sour.
DD is happy and seems well and does not seem dehydrated.
I have no signs of an overactive letdown nor any reason to believe this is a milk imbalance situation.

GP is unconcerned ... but I am! Any thoughts?

Laura

[kismetbaby]

I'd say classic signs of food intolerance (we dealt with the same thing). Dairy is the most common culprit. So I know it sucks for you, but I'd eliminate ALL dairy (read food labels carefully, lots of hidden whey and casein in things). For a minimum of 2 weeks (although 4 weeks if even better) and see if things improve. If not then it might be another food. Did you eat anything new/unusual lately?

It took about 4 weeks to see real improvement in my DS, although within 2 weeks things were certainly better. And now if I accidentally get some dairy I can see the effect very clearly, but it can be hard to tell before you get all the dairy protein out of your system. Other culprits are soy, and eggs. Dr. Sears book has some good info about the top allergens.

Of course it is possible that it is just a virus passing through her system. . .

[francesmama]

Thanks. This was really what I was hoping wasn't the problem but I guess I should give it a go. Is is odd that an intolerance would show up now at 5 months? My diet hasn't changed any.

[kismetbaby]

It does seem a little late to me (I'm no expert mind you), my DS issues started at about 8 weeks. I was told then that it can take a while for the irritation of the intestinal tract to build up and lead to the symptoms.

But again, it is possible its a virus passing through or even teething can sometimes cause intestinal symptoms.

[pumpkinhead]

It sounds like a virus to me. My babies had green poos due to food intolerances as well as hind/foremilk imbalances and they never, ever, smelled sour.

Has she had any solids at all? Is it possible that someone may have given her a taste of something without you knowing?

[francesmama]

No, no solids yet and I'm certain no one has given her anything.

Supposing it is a virus, isn't a week a long time? Would you expect her to have cleared it through her system by now?

[pumpkinhead]

Viruses tend to last a week to 10 days on average. Has she had any other symptoms? Any runny nose at all? Any day at all that she was out of sorts in the slightest?

[francesmama]

No other symptoms, no runny nose... perhaps more cranky/fussy.

I know that "otherwise well and gaining" are the most important indicators that this is OK but I have to say that it is really, really disconcerting.

[strawberryprincess]

are you absolutely certain it is isn't fore/hindmilk imbalance?? that really sounds like the most likeliest thing to me. have you tried nursing longer on each side...or several times of one side before switching to the other? If it were my baby, i would try to make certain that baby is getting enough hindmilk before doing an elimination diet.