I think my 4 mo. old son is DETOXING!

[Pennypower]

WARNING! If you don't want to hear about baby stools DON'T READ THIS THREAD!:D :D
I know it sounds weird, but here's the deal. I have been raw for 15 days. I went 100% right away (with a few slips). Anyway, before I went raw, my nursing baby was only pooping ONCE A WEEK. The doctors assured me this was normal so I havn't worried much, but I wondered if my diet change would help him go more often.
And help him it DID!
About 4 days ago he started going everyday.
Yesterday and today he went about 5 TIMES A DAY!
It HAS to be my diet! Once a week to 5 times a day is a huge difference.
Either he's detoxing himself because my breastmilk is cleaner,
OR he's getting toxins from my milk and pooping them out,
OR he's just finally getting enouph good stuff to make him poop!
Whatever it is, I'm glad he's been pooping!:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Conscious Midwife]

Ummm

As a mother of 5

4-5 poops per day for a breast fed baby of a mother who is well hydrated sounds NORMAL.

Fruits and veggies are hydrating you well, may cause gas for both but glad to here you are nourishing both of you:)

[Pennypower]

Yeah I know that's normal. I am just suprised about the drastic change. Actually they say that normally a baby of his age goes only once a day or once every other day. But anyway this has to be good. Elimination is always good!:o :o :o

[juliebove]

Pooping once a week? That doesn't sound normal at all! My daughter pooped several times a day until that one ill fated time we gave her the soy formula. Then she became constipated. I was breast feeding but not producing enough milk, most likely due to a thyroid problem. We also didn't realize that she had food allergies and no matter what kind of formula we gave her, she reacted badly to it.

[monkeyboy]

xxxxxxxxxx

[3kidsmommy]

Okay, have been a lurker until now. Had to register so I can respond. I breastfed my 3 kids until they were past 2. Was on a vegetarian diet. At 4 mos. they did poop quite a bit. However, not 5 times a day! The once a week was weird too. I would worry that 5 times a day would dehydrate baby and loose valuable nutrients. If I remember correctly, breast milk is made best with lots of fats. Please check with baby's pediatrian on this. Maybe you can do 50/50? 50 percent raw and the other vegan?

[domestic goddess]

Pooping 4 or 5 times a day *IS* normal!!! Especially for a breastfed baby! I bf all 3 of my children and they all pooped multiple times a day particularly when they were exclusively bf. Unless your baby has a fever and diareah, or pooping MASSIVE amounts 5x a day I am sure he/she is ok. Just remember to stay hydrated and keep baby hydrated(feeding on demand)! :D It is possible that your baby was constipated, only pooping once a week (now THAT is not normal) and in a day or so baby WON'T be pooping 5x but maybe only 1-3x. I'd give it a few days. Does your baby seem unhappy? Gassy? If it ain't broke...


ETA: Adults are supposed to poop after every meal (not RIGHT after, but ykwim) so if a bf baby is pooping 5x a day and eating at least that many times....sounds about right to me.

[dreamrawalwz]

Once a week is NOT normal and multiple times a day seems how it should be.

[kiropa]

honestly, every child is different.

i breastfed all 3 of my daughters.

dd#1 definitely pooped several times a day. 3-5 was DEFINITELY the norm. and she is/was healthy as an ox.

dd#2 once went 11 days without pooping (as a newborn). and she was exclusively breastfed. ped assured me that this was within normal range. i was worried. she was miserable. she finally settled in at 1-3 times/week & this was normal for her.

dd#3, gosh -- i can't actually remember. i'm guessing she went 1-3 times/day (still does actually).

so -- my thoughts are this: the change in habit might concern me. what are the poops like? are they water-y (a la diarrhea)? how is baby's mood?

is he/she pooping 5 times in a row or throughout the day?

i DO think mom's diet affects baby -- but not as quick & drastic as you describe.

i think a call to your pediatrician might not be a bad idea -- just to see their thoughts.

kim

[Pennypower]

Well actually, I just took him to the pediatritian and mentioned to her that he went from once a week to at least once a day. She didn't seem concerned.
He doesn't seem unhappy, and he only did the 5 times throughout the day thing for 2 days. Now it seems to be slowing down.
When it was just once a week, it was still soft. Not hard so not constipation. It just seemed like he would hold it and go all at once.
He was a little sick (congested) last week so maybe he was pooping the rest out. Although he never had a fever, they tend to "poop it out" at the end of a cold or flu.
Anyway, whatever happened, it whipped him back into a once a day pattern. I feel better about that. I also think my change of diet has to be affecting him, but in a good way.
I'm not going off raw onto 50%. Eating cooked food doesn't help the quality of my breastmilk. Eating a variety of good quality raw food does.
So I am going to keep plugging away........:p :p :p

[Tinacampy]

Watch your baby for cues of dehydration if you are concerned - dry lips, dry tongue, no tears, less wet diapers. Again, this is only if you're concerned. I would think that lots of poopy diapers, as long as they're not diarrhea, is not something to worry about.

My daughter (now 19 months and weaned) went through a phase where she pooped less, but most of the time, it was almost every time she ate!

[Pennypower]

Dehydration, that's a good point.....I'll be watching:eek:

[klomasius]

Babies are so different with their pooping regimes.

Can't remember how often my son pooed, but it was at least once a day and he was breastfed for 12 months.

If I were in the same situation, I'd let the paediatrician know what's happening (which you've done), and keep an eye on broad indicators of health (as well as the signs of dehydration someone else mentioned), like weight gain per week, head/height circumference when compared to the average baby of the same age etc. All the general indicators checked regularly by your health professional.

I wouldn't worry too much if your baby seems happy and healthy and your health professional isn't worried.

[SchoolOfRAWk]

While 4 to 5 movements a day is fine when nursing, I would have to mention that it is never advised to go 100% raw from a cooked diet and detoxing your body while nursing. That has been said many times and is probably very wise advice. That said, I am glad that there don't seem to be any major problems in your situation - but I would eat plenty of fats so as to not detox the body too fast. You will still detox, which is controversial while nursing, but fats will slow it down somewhat. But definitely find a new doctor: once a week is NOT good, and it is wacked that they would say it is.

[Sheryl]

This has been said before... I just thought I'd say it more clearly. He's NORMALIZING!! *grin* Once a week is scary! Multiple times a day is much more normal.

[Pennypower]

Well actually, I read on the Le Leche League website and some other very reputable ones that once a week IS normal for a baby his age. It doesn't happen a lot but it does happen and is nothing too much to worry about. There is a whole range of "normal" pooping patterns for babies. Although this may be the case, I still would prefer him to go about once a day, which is what he's been doing for a couple days now. So now it's kind of a mute point anyway. All is very well.

As far as detoxing into my breastmilk, yes it is controversal, but I have been keeping watch and other than the pooping thing, havn't had any problems with it. Many people have switched to raw while nursing and with great success.

I will say though, that although I would LOVE to be 100% raw I no longer am. I am now high raw vegan, eating some cooked potatoes, some brown rice, and some (trader joes) sprouted grain breads(no flour). I added these things into my diet because I did notice a drop in milk supply. I needed to increase my calorie intake and it is definately solving the problem. I am going to try to find ways to increase my supply with nut milks and greens, then maybe if that works I can go back to %100.

I know it is a concern for some to detox while breastfeeding, but IMHO it is not that big of a deal. I would rather my son get the best quality breastmilk he can get, and I think my body knows better than to dump toxins into my bm.

When moms get sick with a cold or something, doctors tell them to nurse through it, because they say that the body will not likely pass viruses through bm, and that the bm is so full of antioxidants that the baby could fight it very well even if a virus did get through. Why would it be any different with detox? It's pretty much the same thing.

One more thing.....I REALLY believe in the benefits of being 100% raw. When people tell me that I shouldn't be 100% raw while nursing, or to put more emphasis in detox than the QUALITY of my bm as a result of being raw, then I wonder if they even subscribe to the notion that 100% raw is BEST! If it's not best for my baby, then wouldn't it not be best for you and me?
Just a thought.
Penny;) ;) ;)

[Pennypower]

Sheryl, I agree. He's normalizing. I really don't think he was detoxing.
Thank God I discovered raw, or he may have gone on like that for who knows how long.:(

[SchoolOfRAWk]

Actually, your diet is optimum, as many even Dr. Gabriel Cousens agree. About 80% raw and the rest whole food cooked vegan is incredibly healthy and tends to work better for most long term than 100% raw.

[cinnamongirl]

Since adding raw fruits to my 6 month old daughter's diet she went from 2 very hard to pass very dehydrated poops a day to 2-3 really easy to pass messy poops and she seems much happier! I'm thinking it's because your so well hydrated now! Good work Mom!! My dd is breastfed and supplemented with fresh raw goat's milk. We adopted her and I need to supplement. I didn't notice any detoxing on her part when I went 100% overenight. She nurses about 4 times a day. But as you know you can tell alot about how baby is feeling from their pooping so it's good your keeping an eye on it.:)

[mamaP]

Great job with the nursing--I loved nursing our son(sniffle)in any case do you take a B12 supplement? (I never know how to ask this with out sounding like a ninny-) I have been researching alot and wondered what others chose to do (we work working on another baby) For what it is worth DS was a HUGE pooooooopper and he is super fine, not to mention he will try anything I offer him due to the diversity of my diet when nursing. My friends are so amazed...your baby is getting such a great taste of the healthy world through your milk--way to go!
Respectfully MamaP

[Pennypower]

My dd is breastfed and supplemented with fresh raw goat's milk. We adopted her and I need to supplement. I didn't notice any detoxing on her part when I went 100% overenight. She nurses about 4 times a day. But as you know you can tell alot about how baby is feeling from their pooping so it's good your keeping an eye on it.:)

Wow, congragulations on the adoption! How did you start nursing her? Were you previously nursing and still had a milk supply? Or did your body just kick in because it knew you were trying to breastfeed? I always wondered about that. I think it is so wonderful that you are nursing her. She is so blessed to have you!

[Pennypower]

Great job with the nursing--I loved nursing our son(sniffle)in any case do you take a B12 supplement? (I never know how to ask this with out sounding like a ninny-) I have been researching alot and wondered what others chose to do (we work working on another baby) For what it is worth DS was a HUGE pooooooopper and he is super fine, not to mention he will try anything I offer him due to the diversity of my diet when nursing. My friends are so amazed...your baby is getting such a great taste of the healthy world through your milk--way to go!
Respectfully MamaP

About that B12, I started taking B Complex last week, but then I got a chance to sit and talk with Mary Ann Shearer (she's an internationally known author on eating natural foods) and she said it is totally not necessary. She said in cultures where they eat a strickly plant based diet there is no vit B deficiency whatsoever! It's only in cultures where they eat a lot of protein where there is a deficiancy. How ironic! She said we should learn from the cow and eat the grass, not eat the cow, or the vitamins that come from the cows digestion. She said our bodies will make B vitamins from our own digestion if we eat a plant based diet with lots of greens and barley or wheat grass!
Anyway, I was very relieved, because I hate spending money on supplements. She also said that supplements put undo stress on the digestive system and they are very expensive pee! I will take her advise and save my money from now on.
I think there is a B-vitamin sticky thread on the forum main page. I havn't read it but my guess is that it says something very similar.
Let me know what you decide!
Penny;)

[Pennypower]

I think there is a B-vitamin sticky thread on the forum main page. I havn't read it but my guess is that it says something very similar.
Let me know what you decide!
Penny;)

ok I read that article and I was wrong about that. It totally endourses taking a B12 supplement. Now I don't know WHAT to do either!

[b_light]

Sorry, a little off-topic, but I wanted to tell you that I think our sons are very close in age (my son was born dec. 3, 2006) and I started 100% raw about three weeks ago. We seem to have lots in common :D

I was thinking about starting to get worried about my milk supply, but after more research realized that there was no problem at all. Other than that, no problems. I am still taking supplements (that include a b-complex) though. I hadn't decided what I will do long term, but I guess I'm just frugal and wanted to finish the bottle :p

[mamaP]

About the b12 ---that is my "issue" there are those who say we make B12 but the only reasearch I can find says we recycle some of it in our gut and that is why it can take so much time to show a deficiency--I am unsure if I believe taking a supplement is "natural" -That is my struggle--I want to eat the way that nourished my body they it was created by God....not add abunch of man made stuff...OT but thanks for listening....

[Pennypower]

mama p that's so interesting, I feel the same way. I looked at the ingredients on my B12 supplement and they are all natural. Like herbs and ginger root and stuff, and I thought jeez, I eat all that stuff anyway!:D

[Pennypower]

Sorry, a little off-topic, but I wanted to tell you that I think our sons are very close in age (my son was born dec. 3, 2006) and I started 100% raw about three weeks ago. We seem to have lots in common :D

I was thinking about starting to get worried about my milk supply, but after more research realized that there was no problem at all. Other than that, no problems. I am still taking supplements (that include a b-complex) though. I hadn't decided what I will do long term, but I guess I'm just frugal and wanted to finish the bottle :p

Yes we do have lots in common. My son was born Dec. 14th 2006, and I started 100% raw about 4 weeks ago.

You certaiinly don't need to worry about your milk supply unless you NOTICE a change. But even then, it is easy to correct by finding a solution, and there are many raw solutions. Young Coconut milk and lots of greens are great for your supply. ;)

[shalom]

About 4 days ago he started going everyday.
Yesterday and today he went about 5 TIMES A DAY!
It HAS to be my diet! Once a week to 5 times a day is a huge difference.
Either he's detoxing himself because my breastmilk is cleaner,
OR he's getting toxins from my milk and pooping them out,
OR he's just finally getting enouph good stuff to make him poop!
Whatever it is, I'm glad he's been pooping!

sounds great!!

to this day - my son (22mo.) is STILL pooping 3-5 times a day!! And my 3 yo, - he has grandpa jealous of his regularity!!! :D

[mamaP]

Pennypower,
What did you decide about the B-12? I am still back and forth....I try to remeber to take my "pill" but it feels so out of place--I have even thought about eating fish or something once a week to get enough..it seems more natural..I think I will finish my bottle as I am also a frugal gal and reasses at the end of the month..How is your son doing? Our son is 2 and I think he has gained wieght since adding raw to his diet...

[SchoolOfRAWk]

A B12 supplement is fine. B12 is rough for some meat-eaters, too. Do a sublingual and don't worry about it, is what I would say. Cheaper and makes more sense and you are sure you are getting your B12.
Fish is more unnatural as your digestive tract is not designed for meat. Plus, it's so hard on the world - seriously devastating.

[Shmoopie]

You can get B-12 from seaweed. If you can pop some of that into a salad or wrap every day, you'll be getting some.

See this chart (on a website where you can also order seaweed) for info:

http://www.seaveg.com/chart.php

[mamaP]

Thanks for the advice...I do eat seaweed everyday ... please tell me where you found your research becuase to this point I can only find info that my gut recycles what I get from food and that, as stated before, is why it can take so long for a deifency to show up....anyhow I would love to find a plant source that able to provide me with all that I need ..believe me!

As far as the other advice I know this is a raw vegan board and I respect your belief- I am just not sure I agree that we are not made to eat animal products-I am not saying we should ..I am just not sure that our bodies are not very able to deal with animal protiens..there was a thread the other day about it . I think just becuase "I can" does not mean I should you know...It is nice to have a place to get my thought out in the open and find other pieces of the puzzle thank you for aiding me on my journey...circumspectly MamaP

[mamaP]

I see the link ...thanks again

[Pennypower]

Hi mama P,
Look into "THe China Study". It is the largest study ever done. It studied the diets of 1000's of Chinese People. Many American researchers were also involved. Anyway, apparently (I have not read the book yet but I intend to) the conclusion of the study was "Man was made for a plant based diet."
This might help you on your quest to understand why we may not be built as meat eaters. I am always looking for proof of this myself, although I am a committed vegan. But we could all use the extra reasurement you know.
Penny

[mamaP]

http://www.rawbc.org/articles/B12.html
I think this is one of the better articles I have found...concerning the b12 issue....Thanks for the supportive place to continue my journey and for the great place to "talk" out loud and recieve feedback...MamaP

[Chocolate'cado_pudding]

Hi,
PennyPower, I just wanted to say hurray for you, for continuing to do what you know is best for you and your baby and for seeking answers to lingering doubts. As parents we are bombarded by professionals, many ppl, and info on what is best and what we should be doing. Follow your heart and keep true to it.
Poop history for the thread ;)
I have a 2 and 1/2 year old was 1 per day til raw, now 2-5 per day (quite a forager/snacker), and an 8 month old who was a 1 every 1 or 2 days, and now a 1-3x per day baby :)
Raw keeps it moving!!:D

ps -I read that animals get b-12 from the soil, I am not currently taking any, I am just going to keep an eye out overall, like someone else said, if it ain't broke....;)

[Ginger]

I am convinced a healthy body gets all the b-12 it needs from the bacteria in the gut. I'm sure we come across some eating wild foods too.