IBD Made Me Obsessed with My Baby's Poo

Being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis changed me in a lot of ways. Mostly, I think, for the better. For instance, I’m more honest and open with my husband. I have more compassion for people who live with illnesses. I am also not as shy as I used to be, and embarrassing health issues are no longer that embarrassing. A surprising way I’ve changed is how I think about poop–specifically my baby’s poop.

Every mother worries about changes with their baby

I’m sure that every mother worries about changes in their baby’s bowel habits. I think for patients living with inflammatory bowel disease, it’s even more worrisome. While I was told just before giving birth by a gastroenterologist that my baby had a 1.25% chance of developing IBD, I still worry. FYI - For Crohn’s patients, it’s much higher–25% chance if my memory serves me well.

Poo research before giving birth

Before my daughter was born, I researched baby poop and what I should expect in healthy poop. I learned what warning signs I needed to look out for. I learned what meconium is–a black, tarry first stool that was completely normal for a newborn. My doctor friend, Shelly (who also lives with Crohn’s disease), told me that I should fully expect my baby to poop the colors of the rainbow! During my pregnancy, I remember praying that my baby would have healthy bowels all her life.

Weaning from breastfeeding and changes that came with it

My baby was exclusively breastfed for nine months before I was forced to wean (a story for another time). I knew exactly what to expect when it came to her bowel movements. There were rarely any surprises in the diaper department and I could always expect a certain consistency, color, and smell. I was so proud of my baby’s healthy colon–THANK YOU, GOD!

When I started weaning is when I really first started freaking out about my baby’s bowel habits. I remember several times when she ended up constipated. Her stool was dark, almost black–IS THAT A SIGN OF BLOOD??? But no, it was because she was constipated. I learned really quick how to soften her stools by giving her a few ounces of apple juice. And, I was quite relieved when it worked!

My baby's first stomach bug

Due to my medical history, and the PTSD that comes with it, I will NEVER forget my baby’s first bout with diarrhea. It was from a stomach bug she got from her cousins and it only lasted about a week. But let me tell you, I was freaked out. It was one of the longest weeks of my life. I kept a diary of things she’d eaten, trying my best to determine if the red stuff in her poo was blood or the tomato she had eaten.

I still worry that my child will have Crohn's or UC

My baby is now fifteen months old… and I guess, not really even a baby anymore. She’s a happy, healthy toddler with an excellent appetite. I still worry about her health and the 1.25% chance of her developing Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. I still pray that she will have healthy bowels all her life. But I know that if God forbid, she does get landed with IBD, I will be there to guide her through it. Because I’ve been there.