Blood in poop? What could it mean?

[etwahl]

There was a little bit of blood in her poop just now, although her diarrhea has gone away. the ped said that he wasn't concerned about her diarrhea unless there was blood, but the ped's office is closed. I'm on hold to speak to a nurse for after hours.

Any ideas? Should I be concerned? It was just a miniscule amount of blood, but want to make sure I don't need to panic just yet.

Tammy,
Mom to Lauren Genevieve
03/12/2003

[brubeck]

I had the same thing with my son when he was about a month old. I freaked out! Fortunately I was collected enough to bring him into the doctor's office.

Turns out he was just straining to poop (all babies do it at about this age: it's what causes a lot of 'colic') and there was a small tear. It went away in 36 hours. However just in case I went dairy free (I was BF-ing) in case it was a lactose issue. After 2 weeks I went back on dairy and there was no problem again.

So to make a long story short, it might be nothing, but take her to the doctor to make sure. Talk to the advice nurse to see how urgent she thinks it is.

[spu]

My friend's baby had blood in her poop too and after a bunch of tests - and even switching from breastmilk to a bunch of different formulas, it turned out to be something in the mom's diet so she had to go off dairy, soy, wheat, nuts, etc. for a while and that cleared it up. Once the baby got a little bigger, she could gradually introduce these foods back into her diet. She was able to continue breastfeeding and everything worked out just fine.

Are you breastfeeding? I remember one time I had a little blood in some pumped milk - I think I had the pump turned up too high and it irritated my nipple's - so until the irritation finally went away, the LCs said any blood that the baby might ingest would just pass through the stools.

Good luck and keep us posted.

susan

twin girls 7.20.02
charlotte & else

[etwahl]

i am bfing. it was literally a miniscule amount - almost didn't notice it, there was so little. it hasn't reappeared, so I'm not too concerned just yet. if it happens again i will take her back to the dr.

i've already cut out dairy, nuts, shellfish, but haven't cut out wheat or soy yet. really hoping i don't have to, since that's about all i'm surviving on right now.

Tammy,
Mom to Lauren Genevieve
03/12/2003

[etwahl]

I had to take her to the emergency room today. The blood continued for three days. They said she has an anal fissure. They said it was due to the diaper rash, although the diaper rash isn't all that bad, so I'm not sure I believe them. I'm going back to the ped tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest to see what he says, because I'm really unimpressed by the Emergency Room.

Tammy,
Mom to Lauren Genevieve
03/12/2003

[Momof3Labs]

Tammy,

The more I read about Lauren, the more I wonder if she is reacting to something in your diet (that you haven't eliminated yet). Here is a link to Martha Sears' elimination diet - just something for you to look at and think about. A LC might be able to help you pinpoint her sensitivity, too.

http://askdrsears.com/html/4/T041200.asp

And here is some general information on food allergies:

http://askdrsears.com/html/4/T041800.asp

Good luck - I hope that things get better for her soon!

[egoldber]

I agree. It is sounding more and more like a severe allergy to SOMETHING. You've eliminated so much from your diet, but it could also be an environmental factor. I would start talking to your ped about a referral to a pediatric allergist.

Good luck!

[candybomiller]

Tammy,
I don't have anything to add, I just wanted to tell you that I hope everything gets figured out soon. Does Lauren seem to be in any pain? Sorry that the emergency room wasn't more help, I know how incredibly frustrating that is. We had a situation like that when they told us that the rash all over ds's body was due to a food allergy. My ped laughed his @$$ off when I told him that. Turns out Matt had something that sounds like sclerosis, but I can't remember the name.
Good luck and give Lauren a big hug!

Candy
Mommy to Matthew Nicholas
5/22/02

[brubeck]

The anal fissure is exactly what my son had, but it went away pretty quickly. He also had a little diaper rash at that time.

It seems like this is lasting way longer than his though. Can't they tell you anything else to do?

[etwahl]

I called the ped this morning. He wants to see me Wed morning. He is going to examine her and then wants to send her to a GI specialist. I had suggested an allergist and a nutritionist (for me) but he says the gi specialist should come first. It's so frustrating. her diaper rash (if you can even call it that) is so minimal because I coat her in triple paste ever diaper change. it's just a teensy bit red around her anus. Poor little thing. She just cries all the time and seems in so much pain. I wish I could do something to ease her pain. That would certainly ease mine!

Tammy,
Mom to Lauren Genevieve
03/12/2003

[candybomiller]

Tammy,

I don't know your thoughts on this, but have you thought at all about trying Lauren on formula? If it is something in your diet, then you would know if the problem went away when she was on formula. We had to try this when my lactation consultant thought Matt had a lactose allergy. Turns out we just weren't burping him well enough.

Just an idea.

Candy
Mommy to Matthew Nicholas
5/22/02