Natalie (~19mths) had 2 bowel movements yesterday which is normal for her, and they were both white. This is a first, and I remember something about the doctor telling us when she was very small that white stools were not a good thing but that we wouldn't ever see them. Lastnight after the second one, DH and I talked about it and thought well she's felling fine so no big deal.

Today though she woke up with a slight fever, has been coughing a bit, and in general is down and out. Just quiet and tired even though she slept in until almost 9am!! Now I'm thinking back to the white poop. I've looked in my baby book but can't find anything about white.
??????Any ideas or totally not connected? TIA

By Sunny on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 12:57 pm:

I believe white or pale colored stools indicate a lack of bile in the intestines. I'm not sure what could have caused it (diarreha? something else?), but I would put a call into the doctor and explain what has happened and see if they want you to bring her in.

By Marcia on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 02:33 pm:

I found this, but it's more about white diarrhea..

http://familydoctor.org/x2583.xml

I googled "white stool" and "white feces", and several pages came up.

By Vicki on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 02:49 pm:

I remember something about the doctor telling us when she was very small that white stools were not a good thing but that we wouldn't ever see them

With that comment alone, I would be calling the doctor.

By Pamt on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 03:03 pm:

Definitely call the doctor. All that I could find on it indicated possible liver, pancreas issues or celiac disease. I have a friend with celiac disease and it's a reaction to wheat that causes all sorts of GI problems. I wouldn't necessarily take her in yet, but I would put in a call to my doctor today. They might want to check her out and/or run some tests.

By Reds9298 on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 04:34 pm:

Thanks guys. I did the same google searches you all did but couldn't come up with anything definite.
She has had one very normal bowel movement today, no white whatsoever, which I should have mentioned in my original post.
I will call the doctor!

By Reds9298 on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 05:58 pm:

I put a call in to the doc. He said that white stools are not good, but was very happy that she'd had a normal one since then. He said he didn't think it was anything to worry about since the white poop happened at the onset of another illness (fever, congestion, generally not feeling well), but that if she has anymore to definitely bring her in.

Thanks everyone! I'm very worried that she even had them at all, but it sounds like as long as there aren't more things are okay. I'll keep worrying though!

By Amecmom on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 07:01 pm:

If she was ill, her intestines could have been irritated and the white could simply have been mucus.
I'm glad she's doing okay.

Ame

By Reds9298 on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 07:25 pm:

Thanks for explaining that Ame! I wondered (after I got off the phone of course!) why illness would cause that.

By Mrsheidi on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 07:33 pm:

Make sure she's getting plenty of iron too. The brown color is caused by the body shedding dead red blood cells. (Hence the reason why scabs and poop look alike.) Her body might be holding on to every one of them! But, I think the mucus idea sounds better!