Is It Normal for Newborns to Have Frequent Bowel Movements?

Question

A female infant was born on July 26, and she has been having frequent bowel movements since then, almost every time after feeding, with intervals of about 1 to 2 hours. The stool is golden yellow but thinner. Is this situation normal? If not, what might be the cause? How should it be handled?

Answer

Newborns typically start to excrete meconium within ten hours after birth, which is usually dark green or blackish green, thick, and odorless, resembling asphalt used for paving. Meconium is composed of bile, intestinal secretions, shed epithelial cells, and amniotic fluid and fetal hair ingested by the baby in the womb. Generally, meconium is excreted within two to three days, about 3 to 5 times a day. If a newborn does not pass meconium within 24 hours after birth, it should be suspected that there may be congenital digestive tract anomalies causing bowel obstruction, and medical treatment should be sought promptly.