A baby’s stool has a typical appearance due to their formula- or milk-only diet. However, some parents may fret over the appearance of mucus in the baby’s stool. The appearance of mucus in your baby’s diaper is not always a cause of concern; however, at times, it may be seen due to some underlying cause.
Read this post to know more about the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of mucus in your baby’s poop.
What Is Mucus In Poop?
Mucus is a natural, jelly-like secretion produced by the mucous cells present across the gastrointestinal tractiXPathway from the mouth to the anus through which food passes.. Mucus provides lubrication within the intestine and also works as a barrier between bacteria and the epithelial cellsiXCells that coat the inside and outside of the body, including organs, blood vessels, and skin. that line the inside of the intestines (1) Secretions, such as saliva and snot, from other parts of the body, are also types of mucus.
Swallowed saliva and nasal mucus reach the gastrointestinal tract where they combine with the mucus secreted in the digestive system. Mucus travels with the waste generated by the intestine and is eventually discarded through stools (2) Therefore, having some mucus in stools is normal and a part of the body’s normal function.
According to Dr. David Berger, a Greater Tampa Bay Area-based board-certified pediatrician, “Mucus in a baby’s stool does not necessarily mean something is wrong. It is naturally secreted by the intestines to help the stool move along.”
Knowing how to identify mucus in the baby’s everyday stools will help you determine whether or not it is normal, but what does mucus in baby poop look like? Read on to understand how to identify the presence of mucus in your baby’s stool.
How To Identify Mucus In Baby’s Stool?
Dr. Berger says, “A baby who consumes breast milk is more likely to produce stool that contains mucus, and being naturally yellow and of loose composition, it can be difficult to determine how much of the stool is mucus.”
- Clear strings and striations in the poop. It appears as streaks on the stool.
- Gel-like coagulation. You will see lumps of stool with a gel-like consistency.
- Shine or glisten of the stool, similar to a gel.
Your baby’s stool will not look abnormal when the amount of mucus is normal. It is when the mucus is in excess or accompanied by another symptom that it becomes a sign of a problem.
Exclusive breastfeeding in infants generally causes mucous or watery tools; however, the stool consistency can further be subdivided. The graph below shows stool consistency in babies with an exclusive breastfeeding diet. The data suggest that the infants aged 0-1 month had the highest percentage of watery stool (64%), while as they grow older, there is an increase in the rate of mucousy stool consistency (67%).
Stool consistency in exclusively breastfed infants (0-5 months)
Source: Characterizing Exclusively Breastfed Infant Stool via a Novel Infant Stool Scale; Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
When Can Mucus In The Baby’s Stool Be A Cause Of Concern?
The following signs of mucus in the baby’s stool could indicate a problem:
- Excessive mucus. The feces is entirely slimy, and the infant consistently poops that way. The excessive mucus may also appear as white puddles in the poop.
- Mucus contains blood spots. Poop is gooey and includes tiny red spots of blood.
- Baby cries while pooping due to the discomfort they experience when they poop.
- Other symptoms of ill health such as stomach ache, fever, poor appetite, and general lethargy.
Take your baby to a doctor if you see these signs or if you suddenly notice mucus in stools. There are various reasons why a baby could have more mucus in the stools.
What Could Cause Excess Mucus In The Baby’s Poop?
Some conditions cause excessive production of mucus by the mucous membranes:
- Irritable bowel syndrome: A genetic ailment characterized by problems of bowel movement such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and the presence of excessive white-colored mucus. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) consistently produce excess mucus (4) (5). At least 25% (1 out of 4) of the time, the stool will contain surplus mucus (6).
- Intussusception: A condition where a section of the intestine collapses and folds on itself to create a ring-like blockage. It is most common among babies between the ages of five to nine months (7). Intussusception can cause the baby to excrete jelly-like, mucus-ridden stools (8).
- Ulcerative colitis: It is chronic inflammation of the large intestine. Irritation of the bowel, pain, and mucus in stools are common symptoms (9). Ulcerative colitis is one of the many inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) (10).
- Cystic fibrosis: A genetic disorder that leads to excess production of mucus. It leads to the accumulation of excessive mucus in the lungs and digestive system (11). Infants with the condition may excrete more mucus than usual.
- Intestinal infection: Several intestinal pathogens can lead to the passage of more mucus in stools, such as, E. coli bacteria (12), and parasites (13).
- Bowel polyps: These are small growths emerging from the inner lining of the gastrointestinal tract. They often lead to rectal bleeding and mucus in stools (14). Polyps in infants and toddlers are called juvenile polyps (15).
- Allergies:An infant with allergies and food intolerance can excrete mucus in their stool. This happens because of the inflammation of the intestine due to ingestion of an allergic food (16). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, among children aged between 0-17 years, 5.8% of children had food allergies.
Conditions that cause excess mucus in the stools also lead to other symptoms such as blood in the stool, abdominal cramps, poor appetite, and diarrhea. It means mucus is more likely to be obvious when your baby has mucus due to a problem.
Diagnosing The Causes Of Excess Stool Mucus
The doctor performs the following tests to determine the presence of any problem:
- Physical and visual examination: The doctor will feel for any swelling or anomaly in the abdominal cavity by touching the abdomen. The rectal opening may be checked for the presence of any problem or protrusion of a bowel polyp.
- Stool test: A lab analysis of the stool sample determines the quantity of mucus and also the presence of any pathogen.
- X-ray: An X-Ray provides a picture of any obstruction within the intestines.
- Ultrasound: A standard abdominal ultrasound provides details of the gastrointestinal tract, the presence of polyps, and blockages.
- Colonoscopy: A procedure in which the doctor inserts a probe into the large intestine through the rectal opening. The probe contains a camera to observe the inner lining of the intestine.
Colonoscopy may be used as a last resort when other diagnostic methods fail or provide inconclusive results. Infants and toddlers undergoing this procedure will be under the influence of general anesthesiaiXIt is a medication that keeps patients pain-free throughout surgeries, dental treatment, or diagnostic procedures (18).
Does Mucus In The Baby’s Stool Require Treatment?
Normal amounts of mucus in the stool do not warrant treatment. However, excess mucus accompanied by other symptoms will need management. Here is what is done to treat excess mucus in the baby’s stool:
- Medication to treat the infections. The baby will stop pooping mucus-laden stools once the pathogen is eliminated.
- Diet change to remove the suspected allergen can help subdue gastrointestinal allergy. The doctor will also suggest alternative food options to replace the allergen.
“Young infants are much less likely to have food allergies if breastfed than bottle fed. If a formula-fed baby experiences allergies, I will determine if the formula contains cow milk protein, and if it does, I typically recommend goat milk-based products that may be tolerated when the cow-based formula is not,” shares Dr. Berger.
- Surgery may be necessary in the case of severe Intussusception and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Long-term management is necessary in the case of genetic diseases that often do not have a definitive cure. Effective management as suggested by the doctor is the only way to alleviate the symptoms like excess mucus in the stools.
The appearance of mucus in a baby’s stool is expected due to their formula or exclusive breastmilk diet. However, excessive mucus and other signs, such as crying when pooping, fever, stomachache, or blood in the stool, may indicate an underlying condition. So, if you notice abnormalities, make an appointment with your child’s doctor for the correct diagnosis and treatment. Once the underlying issue is treated, the amount of mucus in the baby’s stool will return to normal. Medication and dietary changes are the most common treatments; however, surgery and long-term treatment may be required in the case of a severe medical problem.
Key Pointers
- Some mucus in the baby’s stool is normal and a part of the body’s normal function.
- Excessive mucus or mucus with other symptoms like blood in stool indicates an underlying problem.
- Identifying the precise cause and timely initiation of treatment can help mitigate the risk of complication.
This video serves as a helpful guide to understanding mucus in baby poop. Learn what it looks like and when to be concerned.
