Iron Drops and Funky Stools

Hi

I am not sure if this is the right place for this post but I am
wondering if anyone who has given or giving iron drops to their LO can
help me out. My DD has been having dark green to almost black stools
since starting iron drops (i think this is normal, excess iron in
stool) but her stools have also become very pasty (like a thick
pancake mix, not formed at all), could this be from the iron drops?
We think my DD (13moths) has intolerance to milk protein, may be soy
and wheat. In the past when i avoided these foods, her stool was
formed (although on the greenish yellow side) but this time when i
went on the special diet elliminating these foods, her stools were
still quite bad. The only difference was that i was giving her iron
drops, so i am wondering if thats causing the pasty stools. Can
someone please help me figure this out.

Thanks

I would say it was the iron. My daughter was as an infant on iron drops and
now as a teenager is still on iron and her bowel movements were definitely
pasty and green to even black. Make sure you are giving Vitamin C with the
iron to help with absorption. Also, giving lots of fruits and water will
help with the pasty stools.
--
Sue

"nitu" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi

I am not sure if this is the right place for this post but I am
wondering if anyone who has given or giving iron drops to their LO can
help me out. My DD has been having dark green to almost black stools
since starting iron drops (i think this is normal, excess iron in
stool) but her stools have also become very pasty (like a thick
pancake mix, not formed at all), could this be from the iron drops?
We think my DD (13moths) has intolerance to milk protein, may be soy
and wheat. In the past when i avoided these foods, her stool was
formed (although on the greenish yellow side) but this time when i
went on the special diet elliminating these foods, her stools were
still quite bad. The only difference was that i was giving her iron
drops, so i am wondering if thats causing the pasty stools. Can
someone please help me figure this out.

Thanks

Thank you Sue. I had asked my pediatrician but she didnt think the
drops would cause those nasty stools. I have taken it upon myself to
stop the iron drops and do ellimination diet to make sure something
else isnt upsetting her stomach as well. I am hoping to get useful
results within 1 to 2 weeks and then i can speak to the pediatrician
again about the drops. Were you told that the pasty stools are ok?
How long did your DD have to take the drops as an infant. My DD is a
very very poor eater and is on breastmilk mostly at 1year old which
along with the fact she was 1 month premature is probably the reason
for her needing the drops in the first place.

Thanks
Nitu

On Jul 23, 5:21?pm, nitu wrote:
Thank you Sue. I had asked my pediatrician but she didnt think the
drops would cause those nasty stools. I have taken it upon myself to
stop the iron drops and do ellimination diet to make sure something
else isnt upsetting her stomach as well. I am hoping to get useful
results within 1 to 2 weeks and then i can speak to the pediatrician
again about the drops. Were you told that the pasty stools are ok?
How long did your DD have to take the drops as an infant. My DD is a
very very poor eater and is on breastmilk mostly at 1year old which
along with the fact she was 1 month premature is probably the reason
for her needing the drops in the first place.

Thanks
Nitu

Black and tarry stool always warrants a doctor visit. Not sure if
pasty is interchangeable with tarry, but you should let doctor know
that and if she requests a stool sample, then provide one. You could
get a much faster answer as to what is the cause as well.

"nitu" wrote in message
Thank you Sue. I had asked my pediatrician but she didnt think the
drops would cause those nasty stools

I am surprised at your doctor because iron does produce pasty, black tarry
stools in the beginning. It seemed once my daughter's system got used to it,
they did not stay black and tarry.

I have taken it upon myself to stop the iron drops and do ellimination diet
to make sure something else isnt upsetting her stomach as well.

I would bet dollars to donuts it is the iron drops. Be careful though, if
the child really does need the iron and is anemic, then you are not doing
them any favors by stopping the iron. I would get a finger pick to see what
your daughter's hemoglobin and hematocrit is.

Were you told that the pasty stools are ok?

Yes the doctor said that they were fine and it was the iron.

How long did your DD have to take the drops as an infant.

She was on them pretty much from the beginning of her life to now as a
teenager. She is very anemic and has medical problems, so this wouldn't be a
usual thing for kids unless they had a poor diet and/or are anemic.

My DD is a very very poor eater and is on breastmilk mostly at 1year old
which along with the fact she was 1 month premature is probably the reason
for her needing the drops in the first place.

My advice to get her to eat more would be to decrease the amount of
breastmilk she gets and that way she may get hungier to eat solid foods.
Good luck.

--
Sue

nitu wrote:

Thank you Sue. I had asked my pediatrician but she didnt think the
drops would cause those nasty stools.

Your pediatrician is misinformed. Even my
obstetrician told me that when I took iron
pills during pregnancy not to be shocked
when I went to the bathroom.

-- Anita --

In article .com,
says...
Hi

I am not sure if this is the right place for this post but I am
wondering if anyone who has given or giving iron drops to their LO can
help me out. My DD has been having dark green to almost black stools
since starting iron drops (i think this is normal, excess iron in
stool) but her stools have also become very pasty (like a thick
pancake mix, not formed at all), could this be from the iron drops?
We think my DD (13moths) has intolerance to milk protein, may be soy
and wheat. In the past when i avoided these foods, her stool was
formed (although on the greenish yellow side) but this time when i
went on the special diet elliminating these foods, her stools were
still quite bad. The only difference was that i was giving her iron
drops, so i am wondering if thats causing the pasty stools. Can
someone please help me figure this out.

Thanks


Why are you giving the iron drops? Did you have her tested, and was
her iron low? In the absence of indications otherwise, there is often
no need to give iron drops to breastfed babies. Formula fed babies
often require additional iron. If you do have to give her the drops,
the black stools sounds like a normal by product of the iron.

Good luck,
Larry

Hi

My DD had blood drawn and her count was 9.1...which is low. Anyway, i
have temporarly stopped the iron drops to see if her stools improve
and how they are after trying eggs, wheat and dairy. I am so confused
when she is on iron as her stools are funky from the drops, i cannot
tell if she is reacting to these foods (eggs, wheat and dairy).

Nitu

In article . com,
nitu wrote:

Hi

My DD had blood drawn and her count was 9.1...which is low. Anyway, i
have temporarly stopped the iron drops to see if her stools improve
and how they are after trying eggs, wheat and dairy. I am so confused
when she is on iron as her stools are funky from the drops, i cannot
tell if she is reacting to these foods (eggs, wheat and dairy).

In that case, eliminate eggs, wheat and dairy from her diet. But it seems to
me you are trying too many things at once. Are you doing this with assistance
from an allergy specialist?

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"Parenthood is like the modern stone washing process for denim jeans. You may
start out crisp, neat and tough, but you end up pale, limp and wrinkled."
Kerry Cue

No I dont have an allergy specialist as in canada they wont really
recommend you until 2years of age, this is mainly why i feel like i am
struggling alone! Anyway, I have elliminated wheat, soy, dairy and
eggs from both of our diets and stopped iron, now its been 5 days and
i am still waiting for a bowel movement.

Nitu