Question
The newborn has been suffering from diarrhea for a week, and I’m unsure if it’s related to the change in formula brand. Until now, the baby has been fed a mix of breast milk and formula, about one to two times a day. Should I consider rehydration? And how should it be done?
Answer
Newborns should not be fed too much milk at the early stage. If breast milk is insufficient, it’s advisable to add diluted milk (a ratio of 1 part water to 1 part milk) and not rush to increase the amount of milk. It’s important to lighten the gastrointestinal burden. One can administer a moderate amount of physiological saline, vitamin C, pepsin, and vegetable oil to aid in the recovery of digestive function. Different types of diarrhea should be treated with different vitamins, such as berberine, furazolidone, polymyxin, etc. If the diarrhea is caused by a virus, it’s not recommended to give the child symptomatic anti-inflammatory medication. If the condition does not improve after general treatment, and watery diarrhea occurs more than 10 times, further treatment should be considered.