Flatulence

Flatulence usually occurs in combination with green bowel movements when diarrhoea is the cause. If diarrhoea-causing pathogens infect the intestine, certain types of bacteria can cause increased gas production, which then manifests itself in the form of flatulence, since the air must somehow escape from the intestine. In general, however, it can also be observed that the metabolism of raw vegetables leads to increased gas production in the intestine. So if you eat a lot of chlorophyll-containing raw vegetables, this can explain the flatulence and the green coloring of the bowel movements.

Which green bowel movements require treatment?

Green defecation becomes necessary for treatment if the occurrence becomes more frequent or green defecation becomes a habit. This reinforces the suspicion of a systemic problem which should be taken care of.
Furthermore, the addition of blood to the green stool is considered an absolute indication for treatment. This is usually an indication of bleeding in the final stretch of the intestine and can be an indication of a tumor.
This should therefore be clarified further in any case. The presence of small black clots in the stool should be investigated further. This can be an indication of a bleeding in the area of the stomach, which can be treated very well.

Green bowel movement in the baby

In the newborn it is perfectly natural that the first bowel movement is green in color. This is the so-called meconium, colloquially known as child’s spittle. It should be excreted within the first one or two days and can be taken as an indication that the newborn’s gastrointestinal activity is okay.

The meconium consists to a certain extent of greenish bile. However, since the fetus has not yet had the opportunity to absorb fatty foods, but only “drank” amniotic fluid in the womb, a large part of the supplied bile is simply excreted along with it and colors the baby’s first very watery stool green. However, if the newborn’s subsequent bowel movements remain green despite the administration of breast milk, a doctor should be consulted. If, on the other hand, the meconium does not come out after birth and there is generally no bowel movement, there is a suspicion of intestinal obstruction, which must be repaired as soon as possible.