Green, Mucus Filled Poops?

[Mom2AlexandLiz]

DD is two months. At three weeks of age, her yellow, seedy breastfed stools changed to green. I asked her pediatrician about it, and he told me that green was in the healthy range for her. I was a bit upset by him dismissing the change, because at the same time her poop turned green, she started vomiting (sometimes projectile), spitting up a ton, and crying seemingly nonstop. He prescribed her Zantac for acid reflux, which didn't work, so he then prescribed her Prilosec, which she is currently still on. A little while later, her poops started to become filled with mucus. I called the pediatrician's office and the nurse asked me if there was any blood in her diaper. Sure enough, when I inspected closely, I found tiny specs of red blood. I brought her in that day and the pediatrician (not our typical pediatrician, because he wasn't available that day), suggested a dairy allergy. I went off dairy that day and noticed within several days that she hardly vomited anymore. A week off of dairy, her stools were still green and full of mucus with the occasional diaper with blood, so I went off of soy. She became even less fussy. I also went off of peanut butter because she had a mucus filled diaper one day after eating some. I then went off of eggs because about two hours after eating eggs, she had the worst diaper I had seen, with a hunter green glob of mucus. She continued having diaper like that for a day and a half and was miserable, crying constantly. It has now been several days since off of eggs and her stools are finally a yellow-brownish color, but they still have mucus (although no visible blood). At this point, I am unsure about whether I should take wheat out of my diet or not, since her stools are finally starting to improve. I'm unsure how long it takes for the mucus to go away once the culprits are removed from ones diet. Does anyone know this? I am determined to figure out what it is, because I am so tired of seeing my baby in pain. I spoke to the pediatrician last week about DD when I brought my son in for an appointment, and he told me that we would have to discuss the option of formula. I was devastated to hear that. He also told me that he is not concerned about the green stool or the mucus, but the blood. It really confused me to hear that, I mean, doesn't green mean it's going through the system too fast and mucus mean irritation? How is that ok? We don't have the money to work with a lactation consultant, so I am on my own with this. DD is definitely making progress, being less fussy and having better stools, but the mucus in them bothers me. She is also pooping less, which I think is a good sign. She was going 12 or more times a day! Yesterday, she only went five times. She also had really bad baby acne, which cleared up and she currently has cradle cap. She has her two month appointment this Friday, and I am unsure as to whether or not to request to be referred to a pediatric GI or allergist or not. Ok, TIA and sorry that I wrote a book!

[mamafish9]

Mama, you are making so much progress! Here are my thoughts.

First, find a new ped, you are getting awful, awful advice from your current one, both on allergies and breastfeeding.

It sounds like you have taken out a lot of foods that were bothering your daughter, and you may have a few more. The other top intolerances would be gluten & corn, so I would try those two next. Maybe give a couple more days to make sure the mucous isn't clearing up, but then try pulling those two.

Also take a good look at supplements you are taking (or post them here so we can help you) - those are frequent sources of hidden diary, soy, and corn.

[Deir]

Welcome to the world of being on your own! I have found that drs and most LC's are so dismissive of food allergy/intolerance problems. It sounds like you are really making progress though! I don't have any advice since I am just embarking on my own ED adventure.

[lil_miss_understood]

Originally Posted by mamafish9

Mama, you are making so much progress! Here are my thoughts.

First, find a new ped, you are getting awful, awful advice from your current one, both on allergies and breastfeeding.

It sounds like you have taken out a lot of foods that were bothering your daughter, and you may have a few more. The other top intolerances would be gluten & corn, so I would try those two next. Maybe give a couple more days to make sure the mucous isn't clearing up, but then try pulling those two.

Also take a good look at supplements you are taking (or post them here so we can help you) - those are frequent sources of hidden diary, soy, and corn.

You truly are doing an amazing job! Way to go!
The only things I have to add are:
Are you keeping a food diary?
And it took about a week for DS2's poops to return to "normal" after his worst mucousy poop. There was significant improvement before that, but it was about a week to get him back to "baseline".

[Mom2AlexandLiz]

Thanks for the support, ladies! I really need it. I totally agree about pediatricians and LCs not being good about allergies and just dismissing them. It's really disheartening not to have support from them.
In good news, DD did the best she has ever done in four weeks today! She was like a different baby. She was so happy! I'm used to constant crying, so I was absolutely joyous seeing her content. What I don't understand is that her poops turned a very pale green (greenish yellow) today, but she acted the best she's acted in weeks today as well. I guess I'll have to see how it goes.
I've been thinking about taking wheat out, but DH wants me to wait a little bit to see if she keeps getting better so that we don't get confused. If she keeps getting mucus filled stools, then I'll remove wheat. I never really thought about corn, but I'll definitely keep on eye on her for that as well.
What I am worried about is keeping my supply up. I was a vegetarian before this, so technically now I am a vegan. I've been working hard to ensure that I get the calories, fat and protein I need to be able to breastfeed. I also take a multivitamin, nutritional yeast for B12, and a calcium supplement. As long as I maintain calories, my supply should be alright, correct? I'm nervous to do such an extreme diet, but I haven't eaten meat since I was 6, so I am really hesitant to do so now. Thanks again ladies, it's really nice to have a place where I have support.

[LisamommyRN]

I'm right here with you!

My LO is 16 weeks, I first saw blood at 5.5 weeks, and last saw it about 5 weeks ago- I guess he was 11 weeks old then. But we still have mucous stools. I wish I could tell you whether it was because I'm still eating a trigger, or because it just takes a long time to heal, but I just don't know yet.

Don't be bullied into formula. You don't even know that it would help, and it's darn expensive!

I had supply issues at first, too. I encouraged DS to nurse frequently for a week or so, and I squeezed in a few pumping sessions between feeds, and after the kids went to bed, and that helped, some. When I added avocados and oatmeal to my diet I got back to normal. I eat (seriously) a whole avocado. Every single day. And I drink water like crazy. And try not to stress to much. But anyway, I was able to maintain supply in the end.

Good luck, keep us posted, and keep up the good work. Your LO's are lucky to have you for their mama!

[luckymamaoftwo]

Holy cow..I could have written your post. And in fact, I have posted on here a few times with the exact same questions regarding my 4 month old DS. The only difference we have to your babe's symptoms is that I haven't noticed any blood in his diapers. Mucus, green, fussy...all of that the same. I just want to say that I'm here too and I think it's great to be "surrounded" by so many amazingly dedicated mamas who are incredibly helpful. Doctors, LC's haven't been helpful for us either, and I really don't understand why they dismiss the food allergy/intolerance suspicions.

In a fit of desperation (and suggestions by others including our pedi) I actually went to the store yesterday and purchased some gentle ease formula for my babe, but it's sitting on the counter, still sealed and I'm determined to keep it that way. You hang in there, too.

[luckymamaoftwo]

Oh, also wanted to say that DS has been on Zantac since around 4 weeks of age. Just switched him to omperazole last week. Do our babes even have reflux that needs treatment or are their symptoms a result of food intolerance? Aaah...