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Baby's Urine & Bowel Movements

Baby's Urine

New babies, after 6 days, have 6 to 8 wet diapers a day. The urine is pale yellow, clear and has no smell. Sometimes it is hard to tell if the diaper is wet. Wet diapers are usually heavier than dry ones.

Information on "Breast-feeding Support after you Leave the Hospital" or "Discharge Guidelines for the Formula Feeding Baby" will be given to you while you are in hospital. These will be helpful to review once you are home as well as the mother/baby wellness binder that you received during your preadmission appointment.

Call your doctor or midwife if:

• the baby has fewer wet diapers than their age, up until day 6 (e.g. Day 4, baby should have 4)
• the baby is younger then 2 months and has fewer then 6 to 8 wet diapers in a 24-hour period
• the urine has an unusual smell and colour

 

Baby's Bowel Movements

The first few bowel movements your baby has will look dark green or black and be thick and sticky.

For the first month after that, in one day:

• breastfed babies have 2-5, yellow/seedy, loose bowel movements
• formula fed babies have 1-2, greyish/beige, soft bowel movements
  

Follow the chart you are given when you are discharged "Breast-feeding Support after you leave the Hospital" or "Discharge Guidelines for the Formula feeding Baby".

Call your doctor or midwife if:

• the bowel movement is hard, black (after the 3rd day) or there is blood
• the baby has 3 or more very watery bowel movements in one day