More Poop Talk

[Jem]

Sorry, but I also have a poop question that is going to be way too descriptive - continue at your own risk!

Background: DS is 22 months. He has a dairy allergy that was discovered at 2 months as a result of blood in his stool. I feel like ever since then I have anxiety with his diapers. We saw a gastroenterologist but didn't get much out of it as the standard response was "he will likely grow out of it". He hasn't yet.

My question is, how "digested" should the food be that DS eats and then passes? I have changed him and seen in complete, whole form black beans, corn, raisins, carrots, etc. (even though he does chew, but apparently not efficiently enough to really break those up). However, yesterday I finally got him to eat some fresh pureed spinach (he is a PICKY eater) and this morning there it was. It was practically in tact sitting on top of "regular" poop. He gains weight, so I'm not worried about that, but I am worried that this is all going through him and he is not getting the nutrients/vitamins.

Is this typical? Should I go back to the gastro? If anyone else's DC goes to a gastro, do you feel it is a waste of time at this age? Or is it just mine and I should get a new one?

Sorry this was so long. Who knew I had so much to say about poop.

[hannamaren]

I am not sure about normal digeston for a 2 yr old. But I have a colon issue and that is normal for me.
A good way to detect GI bleed is a weird smell to the poop. It smells different than usual poop. I dont know how to describe it. My sister is a nurse and she went to the bathroom after me one day and said "GI bleed?"
This is not medical advice, just my random personal experience. I have always been known to be not the usual.

[satama]

It is normal to see those foods in poop. Berries come out whole too.

[LauraMoser]

Mandarin oranges too, lol. I'll never forget seeing those after feeding them to DD1 the first time.

[jena]

Warning - if you feed him raspberries, you may think he's dying when those come through. I almost passed out before I figured out it was not a blood filled diaper.

Don't you love how the raisins re-hydrate and look more like grapes?

So umm... yeah... I'm voting for normal.

[ijack]

very normal - it's not until they are closer to 3/4 that their poop looks more like the poop you're used to.

[bunch]

I just changed one that was only raisins. Dd's love of fruit may do me in.

[Jem]

Thanks everyone - for the information and the willingness to discuss such a fascinating subject.