My baby's stools are green and liquidy, is this normal?

The color and consistency of a breastfed baby's stools can actually tell you a lot about how he's feeding. During the first few days after birth you can expect his stools to change from black, sticky meconium to brown or green, and then a soft, seedy mustard yellow. A yellow soft stool by the fourth day after birth is a sign that breastfeeding is going well and that your baby is getting what he needs.

Sometimes, a mother will notice that her baby's stools have changed to be liquid, frothy and greenish. This may or may not be accompanied by colicky behavior and usually the baby will continue to gain weight. This type of elimination is often an indication of mismanaged feeds. Breast milk changes throughout the duration of a feed and the milk your baby gets at the beginning of the feed is different than what he will get at the end of the feed. The fat content of the milk increases as the feed goes on. It is very important that the baby is allowed to finish the first side first. This will insure that the baby receives the proper proportion of calories, fats and proteins.

If we determine the length of a feed and switch sides before the baby has reached the fatty milk, we are filling him up with milk but he is not getting enough calories and fats. This results in liquid stools and often colicky behaviour. To correct this situation simply allow the baby to come off the first side on his own before offering him the second breast.