The condition of the stool can be a "reflection" of the little one's health condition. Including when the stool becomes slimy, a number of questions may arise in your mind, including is this dangerous? What caused it?
Slimy stools are normal and are often encountered, especially in the early life of a baby. As long as the mucus contained in the stool is not thick and too much, you don't need to worry too much. This is because the intestines naturally produce mucus and excrete some of it along with the stool. The goal is that the stool is easy to pass.
Causes of slimy baby stools
Although generally nothing to worry about, a slimy baby's bowel movements can also indicate some things to watch out for. The following will explain further some of the conditions that can trigger slimy bowel movements in babies:
1. Food allergies
If the baby is still exclusively breastfed, and has slimy stools, try to evaluate the food that the mother consumes. The reason is, the food consumed by mothers during breastfeeding sometimes affects the quality of breast milk.
In addition, in infants who have been given solid food, the baby's slimy bowel movements can be triggered by the food they eat. Food allergies in infants, usually can only be recognized when the baby has started solids.
In addition to slimy stools, food allergies in infants can also be characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, or stools containing blood.
2. Infection
Slimy baby bowel movements can be a sign that your baby's digestive tract is experiencing inflammation due to infection. However, when experiencing an infection, in addition to mucus, the baby's bowel movements can also turn green, and even contain blood.
3. Teething
Not only makes the baby fussy, teething can also cause the baby's bowel movements to be slimy. When the baby is teething, the production of saliva can increase, so it is swallowed by the little one.
When saliva enters the digestive tract in excess, the baby's digestive tract has not been able to digest it properly. This can trigger mild inflammation in the intestines, so that mucus production in the intestines increases and makes the baby's stools more slimy.
4. Cystic ffibrosis
Slimy baby bowel movements can also occur in children who suffer from it cystic fibrosis. The reason, this congenital disorder can make the body produce excess mucus. Increased production of mucus in the digestive tract will cause the baby's bowel movements to appear slimy, even smelly and oily.
Well, that's an explanation of the causes of slimy baby bowel movements. This condition must be treated according to the cause. For this reason, if the baby has an excessive amount of mucus defecation accompanied by complaints and other disturbing symptoms, take your little one to the doctor to be examined and given the right treatment.