Diarrhea should i breastfeed

Here are some of the general causes of diarrhea for all babies along with some causes related to breastfeeding and formula-feeding. Regardless of the type of feeding, diarrhea can develop in any child for a number of reasons. Along with the general causes above, breastfed babies can develop diarrhea for any number of reasons. Here's an overview of the most common reasons. Along with the general causes above, newborns and infants who drink infant formula can develop diarrhea from allergies and other issues.

When a baby has diarrhea, fluids leave the body. If the baby loses more fluids than he takes in through feedings, he can become dehydrated. Dehydration in newborns and young children can happen very quickly. Here's an overview of signs of dehydration to keep an eye out for. Treating diarrhea in babies is centered around keeping the baby hydrated.

If the diarrhea is mild, you can often manage it yourself at home. The most important thing you can do to treat diarrhea in infants is to continue to feed your baby. Breastfeed or offer the bottle more frequently while your child has loose stools to provide extra fluids. You should not stop feedings to try to rest your child's stomach. A baby can become dehydrated very quickly without feedings, especially if the baby is losing fluids through diarrhea. If you're breastfeeding and your child is taking feedings well, you do not need to give your child an oral rehydration fluid such as Pedialyte unless the doctor instructs you to do so.

Breast milk contains the fluids and nutrition your baby needs to replace what she's losing through diarrhea. There are also antibodies in your breast milk that help your baby fight off infection and disease. If you are bottle feeding, do not dilute infant formula or breast milk to give your child extra water. Feed your child as you always would. You should only give your child additional fluids such as Pedialyte if your doctor recommends it. The doctor may order an antibiotic for your child if the diarrhea is due to an illness or infection.

In the meantime, avoid giving your child over-the-counter medication for diarrhea. Soiled diapers can irritate your baby's skin and cause a diaper rash, so change wet and dirty diapers often. Try to keep your baby's diaper area as clean and dry as possible. Using a diaper ointment after each change can be soothing and add a protective barrier to your child's skin.

Be sure to wash your hands after each diaper change to prevent the spread of germs. Keep an eye out for the signs of dehydration listed above. Severe diarrhea that leads to dehydration may require treatment with intravenous IV fluids in the hospital. Depending on the cause of diarrhea, it can be contagious and spread to others in your family. So, wash your hands after changing your child's diaper or using the bathroom, and remind other family members to do the same.

Diarrhea can be dangerous for newborns and young children because it can lead to dehydration and weight loss. An occasional loose poop is not usually a problem. However, if you see two or more watery bowel movements, your baby may have diarrhea.

Call your baby's doctor right away if:. Diarrhea is so common that in children under five years old there are up to 35 million cases of diarrhea each year in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and approximately 1. Babies and young children can experience an episode of diarrhea about twice a year. It affects children who take infant formula, those who breastfeed, and babies who take a combination of breast milk and infant formula. Although, there are some differences.

Studies show that breastfed babies get diarrhea less often than formula-fed babies. Plus, when a baby is breastfeeding , there's limited exposure to organisms in food and water that can cause stomach infections and diarrhea.

The more a baby breastfeeds, the more protection he receives. Exclusive breastfeeding is better than partial breastfeeding , and partial breastfeeding protects better than full formula feeding.

It's natural to worry about your newborn or infant. And, a baby's bowel movements can certainly be a part of that, especially for new moms. Normal bowel motions of a breastfed baby are sometimes mistaken for diarrhoea by adults unfamiliar with breastfed babies. It is normal for exclusively breastfed babies to have frequent mustard-yellow occasionally green bowel motions. Exclusively breastfed babies have bowel motions that are often liquid with a few curds.

Frequent soft bowel motions show that a young baby is getting enough breastmilk. Once over the age of about 6 weeks, babies vary in the frequency with which they have bowel motions. Some still have frequent daily bowel motions while other babies have a bowel motion once every 7—14 days.

For this reason, breastfed babies are four times less likely to develop diarrhoea associated with gastroenteritis than formula-fed babies. Whenever a baby is unwell, it is important to seek medical advice. Breastfeeding helps prevent gastroenteritis and also helps a baby to recover.

Frequent breastfeeds will help ensure that any fluid lost from diarrhoea or vomiting will be replaced. The length of the breastfeeds is not important. Breastmilk will also continue to provide essential nutrients that are easy for a baby to absorb. When a mother is unwell, it is important to seek medical advice. She needs to get as much rest as possible, to leave chores to others, to maintain personal hygiene and to keep up her fluids.

Whenever you're in doubt or have concerns about your health or your child's health, you should contact your healthcare provider. Breastfeeding can help protect your baby from getting sick, but it cannot completely prevent illness.

At some point, your child may get an ear infection, catch a cold, or develop an upset stomach. When this happens, the best thing you can do for your child is to continue to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding helps children when they are sick because:. Depending on the illness and the child, you may see a change in your breastfeeding routine when your child is sick. A sick child may need more comfort and want to breastfeed more often or stay at the breast for a longer time at each feeding. Or, your child may not feel well, sleep more , and breastfeed less.

There are different tips and concerns when you are breastfeeding a baby with different types of illnesses. If your baby has a cold and a stuffy nose, but she can still breastfeed OK, you don't have to do anything to treat her stuffy nose. However, a stuffy nose can often make breastfeeding more difficult.

Since infants breathe through their nose, it can be frustrating for the baby as she tries to nurse and breathe at the same the time. If your child is fussy at the breast and not breastfeeding well, you can try to ease the nasal congestion to make breastfeeding more comfortable for her with these tips.

Do not give your baby any over-the-counter medication without first consulting the doctor. If your baby continues to have a difficult time breastfeeding, contact your pediatrician. An ear infection can be painful, especially during breastfeeding. Your baby may only breastfeed for a short time at each feeding.

So it's important to breastfeed often. You may need to pump or express milk between feedings to relieve breast engorgement and keep up your milk supply. Notify your pediatrician if you suspect your child has an ear infection. The doctor may want to prescribe an antibiotic. Gastrointestinal illness is less common in breastfed babies, but it can happen.

Vomiting and diarrhea can be very dangerous in infancy since they can lead to dehydration. However, breast milk helps fight diarrhea. It is easily digested and more likely to stay down when your baby is sick.

Therefore, if your child has a stomach bug, be sure to breastfeed frequently to replace the fluids your child is losing and keep your baby hydrated. If your child has a little cold but is still breastfeeding well, you can continue to monitor her.

However, if you're ever concerned about your baby you should feel comfortable consulting the doctor. You should also call your baby's doctor if:.