Breast milk diarrhea, diarrhea caused by breastfeeding. It usually occurs in babies under six months of age, and breastfeeding babies are more likely to develop breast milk diarrhea. There are many reasons why babies have diarrhea during breastfeeding, so what are the reasons for breast milk diarrhea? What are the ways to deal with diarrhea? Need to wean your baby? Let's take a look at it next.

Causes of breast milk diarrhea

Reason 1: It may be that the high content of prostaglandins in breast milk can promote the movement of small intestinal smooth muscle, increase the secretion of water and electrolytes, and cause loose stools.

Reason 2: It may be that the child is lactose intolerant and lacks lactase in the body. Lactose intolerance is divided into primary and secondary categories.

Primary lactase intolerance: A condition in which lactase is born with a lack of lactase.

Secondary lactase intolerance: I do not lack lactase because of some other reasons, such as intestinal mucosal damage caused by diarrhea, and lactase is in the upper part of the intestinal mucosa, so a large amount of lactase is lost due to intestinal mucosal damage. So it doesn't digest lactose very well.

How to deal with breast milk diarrhea?

Method 1: Generally mild physiological diarrhea does not require treatment, and mothers can continue breastfeeding. In this way, the baby's body will gradually adapt to the prostaglandins in breast milk, the lactase will gradually develop and mature, the enzyme activity will increase, and it will gradually be able to decompose, digest and absorb lactose, and gradually improve with the increase of complementary food.

Method 2: If the baby has diarrhea caused by excessive lactose, it is recommended to add some lactose-free complementary foods to the baby.

Method 3: For severe breast milk diarrhea, you should take your baby to the hospital for treatment in time.

Does infant breastfeeding diarrhea need weaning?

Most women who are first-time mothers are unaware of breast milk diarrhea, and when breast milk diarrhea occurs, it can be especially frustrating for parents. Switching to cow's milk for the sake of the baby's stool is counterproductive and not conducive to the child's growth. So, do babies with breast milk diarrhea need to be weaned? Let's hear what the pros have to say.

According to the World Health Organization scientific experiments and clinical practice experience, the diet of infants with breast milk diarrhea is as follows:

1. Breastfeeders should eat breast milk and water as usual;

2. Artificially fed babies can still eat milk, but the milk needs to be diluted twice with water before eating;

3. For children with diarrhea who do not eat milk, they can feed more easily digestible thin starchy foods, such as rice porridge, noodles, etc., do not eat cold and hard food, and eat less greasy, irritating and indigestible food. Don't eat anything you haven't eaten before when you have diarrhea.

It is worth pointing out that severe diarrhea is especially accompanied by vomiting. At this time, the digestion and absorption function of the gastrointestinal tract is quite low. Continued feeding can worsen or prolong diarrhea. Must fast for 6-10 hours and receive intravenous fluids. After the diarrhea subsides, continue feeding to maintain the nutritional balance of the body.