23 Mar 2023 | 6 min Read
Sudeshna Chakravarti
Author | 799 Articles
Your baby’s stool has a typical appearance due to their formula, or milk-only diet. This may make it difficult to understand if your baby’s poop is normal, or something to call your doctor about. One such instance is noticing mucus in baby poop. While in some cases, the appearance of mucus in their stool is considered a part of the natural digestive process, other times it could indicate an underlying medical condition or infection.
So is mucus in your baby’s stool a cause for concern and does it require immediate medical attention? Read on to find out.
Mucus is a jelly-like, natural secretion produced by the mucous cells present across the gastrointestinal tract. It offers lubrication within the intestine and works as a barrier between the epithelial cells and bacteria that line the insides of the intestines.
When secretions from the other parts of the body, such as saliva and snot reach the gastrointestinal tract, they combine with the mucus secreted in the digestive system. This mucus travels with the waste produced by the intestines and is eventually excreted as poop.
Thus, noticing a small amount of mucus in poop is considered normal, and a part of the body’s regular function.
Knowing how to identify mucus in your little one’s everyday stools can help you determine whether it is normal, or indicates an underlying medical condition. We discuss more details on this in the next section.
You can try observing the following signs while trying to identify mucus in your baby’s stool.
Keep in mind that your baby’s stool will not appear if the amount of mucus in their stool is normal. It is when the mucus is in excess or accompanied by other symptoms that it becomes an indicator of a problem.
This is a genetic ailment that causes several symptoms like diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and excess white-coloured mucus in poop. If your baby has this condition, they may consistently produce excess mucus in their poop.
This genetic disorder leads to the excess accumulation of mucus in the digestive system and lungs. Infants who suffer from cystic fibrosis may excrete more mucus as compared to other babies.
A condition where a section of the intestine folds and collapses on itself, creating a ring-like blockage. It is common among infants between the ages of five to nine months. Babies who have this condition may excrete mucus-ridden and jelly-like stools.
These are small growths that emerge from the inner lining of the gastrointestinal tract. They often lead to mucus and rectal bleeding in stools. Bowel polyps in babies and toddlers are better known as juvenile polyps.
If your baby has allergies or food intolerance, they may excrete mucus in their stool. This generally happens because of inflammation in their intestine due to indigestion from an allergic food.
The following signs of mucus in your baby’s stool could indicate an underlying problem.
Your healthcare provider will perform the following tests to determine if the presence of mucus in baby poop is a cause of concern.
Normal amounts of mucus in baby poop do not require medical treatment. But excess mucus accompanied by other symptoms may need management. Your doctor may take the following steps to treat excess mucus in your little one’s stool.
Oftentimes, the apperance of mucus in baby poop is due to their exclusive breastmilk or formula-only diet. However, excess mucus in their poop, accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever and stomach ache may indicate an underlying infection or medical condition.
Hence, if you notice any abnormalities, make an appointment with your child’s paediatrician for timely diagnosis and treatment. Depending on your baby’s condition, the doctor may recommend medications or suggest diet changes to alleviate their symptoms.
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