Generality
The first faeces of the newborn are called meconium ; it is a material with a black-greenish complexion, odorless and rather viscous, the result of what the young organism swallowed during prenatal life (amniotic fluid, cellular residues, urine, etc.).
Problems in the Expulsion of Meconium
When this does not happen we speak of meconium ileum, which represents the very first sign of cystic fibrosis, as well as of Hirschsprung's disease (or congenital megacolon).
More than 90% of normal infants and less than 10% of children with Hirschprung's disease emit meconium within the first 24 hours of life.
In other cases it can happen that the meconium is emitted before or during the birth, with the risk of inhalation and consequent meconium aspiration pneumonia after 24 - 48 hours (more probable eventuality when the birth regards children born post-term).
I did it in the First Week
In the days following the birth the faeces of the healthy newborn assume transitional characteristics and as such are composed of meconium mixed with food residues.
At the end of the first week the faeces of the breastfed newborn are distinguished by the following peculiarities:
- egg yellow, sometimes greenish with white lumps;
- texture and lumpy appearance;
- smell a little acid.
Evacuation frequency and faeces alteration
In this period the newborn emits its feces with a frequency of 1/5 times during the day, often at the end of the feeding, while after the first / second month the frequency of evacuations tends to be reduced to one or two daily episodes.
It may happen that the newborn emits its faeces only every two or three days; this occurrence must not however cause excessive alarmism. Rather, according to the indications provided by the pediatrician, when this pseudo-constipation causes suffering and irritation it can be resolved with a microsupposta of glycerine or with appropriate microclisms available in the pharmacy. On the other hand, the emission of liquid faeces, in numbers and quantities significantly higher than the norm, should be of greater concern; we also remind that alterations of the alvo associated with a rectal temperature equal to or greater than 38 ° C justify the immediate request for a pediatric consultation or for medical assistance.
Alve alterations can also occur in the eventual passage from maternal milk to artificial milk, which is usually followed by a reduction in the frequency of evacuations, with more consistent neonatal faeces, also supported by the change in intestinal flora.
