Mummy and Me Magazine August 2014 September 2014 | Page 14

Birth & Beyond

What to expect from those first nappies...
I

CHANGING NAPPIES - WHAT TO EXPECT

t isn’t exactly a topic to discuss over the dinner
table, or something you would go out of your
way to ask your Mummy friends when you’re
pregnant. However, it is useful to know that a
baby’s nappies change day by day in the early
stages and these changes can indicate whether
they are feeding well.

provide to your Midwife or Health Visitor).

Day 1-2
Wees: You can expect 2 or more wees per day
at this stage.
Poos: You can expect 1 or more per day. Poo at
this stage is very dark green/brown or black and
very sticky. Poo at this stage is called ‘meconium’
or ‘mec’ for short and is already in the bowel at
time of birth (it’s a nice one for the Daddy to get
some practice with while you recover from the
birth!).

If there are changes to your baby’s nappy that you
are concerned about, you should always discuss
this with your midwife. These guidelines
apply to all babies, whether breastfed
or formula fed. It is important
Things
Day 3-4
however to note that formula
to be aware of...
Wees: You can expect 3 or
fed babies may poo less
more per day at this stage.
It is OK for your baby not to poo
frequent and be less soft
(You will notice from the
everyday, but only after the first few
compared to a breastfed
weight of the nappies).
weeks. Before this time, this is likely to be
baby at the same stage
Poos: Your baby will
an indication that they are not feeding properly
of development.
be having at least 2
and you should contact your midwife with any
Remember
that
a day at this stage.
queries you may have over this.
these are guidelines,
The colour changes
some babies may go
slightly, looking more
In baby girls, the effects of your own hormones
through the stages
green and referred to
through her system can sometimes result in a
quicker than others
as ‘changing stools’ as
‘false menstruation’ or ‘pseudo menstruation’
which is fine and more
your baby is taking in
which is harmless. Again, if you have
than likely means that
more milk and using their
cause for concern when changing
they are feeding more
digestive system.
your baby, you should contact
effectively and taking in more
your midwife.
Day 5-6
milk.
Wees: You can expect 5 or more a
When you are home from the hosp