Understanding Bowel Motions in Grand Rapids, MI

Healthy bowel motions (also called stools, poop, or feces) are an important sign of digestive and overall health. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, where diets, lifestyles, and seasonal changes can all affect digestion, knowing what is normal—and what is not—can help you decide when to seek care from a local provider such as Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health.

If you notice a sudden or persistent change in your bowel habits, color, or texture that lasts more than a day or two, contact your doctor or a local gastroenterologist in Grand Rapids. Seek urgent medical attention if you see blood in your stool.

How Bowel Motions Are Formed

From Small Intestine to Large Intestine

After you eat:

  • The small intestine absorbs most of the nutrients from your food.
  • The remaining waste moves into the large intestine (colon), where water is removed.
  • The semi-solid waste becomes feces and is stored in the rectum.
  • When you have a bowel motion, the feces are expelled through the anus.
    The medical terms for this process include defecation and egestion.

What Feces Are Made Of

On average, adult stool is about:

  • 75% water
  • 25% solids, including:
    • Undigested fiber
    • Intestinal bacteria
    • Dietary fats
    • Small amounts of protein and salts

The typical adult in good health produces about 100–180 grams of feces per day.

What a Normal Bowel Motion Looks Like

Color: Healthy Bowel Motions Are Brown

Normal, healthy stools are usually medium to dark brown. They are brown because they contain bile pigments, especially stercobilin, which is formed when your body breaks down red blood cells and bile.

Texture and Frequency

Characteristics of normal bowel motions include:

  • Firm but soft and moist
  • Easy to pass without straining
  • Regular, but “normal” can vary widely:
    • For some adults: once every few days
    • For others: several times per day

In Grand Rapids, changes in routine—such as holiday eating, winter inactivity, or dehydration during hot, humid summer days—can temporarily affect how often you go.

If your bowel habits suddenly change and do not improve within a couple of days, contact your primary care provider or a local GI specialist.

When Stool Color Changes: What It May Mean

Any unexplained or persistent change in stool color should be taken seriously. Some causes are harmless (like foods or medications), but others may signal serious conditions, including digestive bleeding or liver disease.

Red or Maroon Stool

Red streaks or blood smears on toilet paper

  • Often caused by:
    • Hemorrhoids
    • Anal fissures (small tears in the skin around the anus)

Bright red blood in the stool (hematochezia)

  • May indicate bleeding in the lower digestive tract, such as the colon or rectum.
  • Possible causes:
    • Bowel (colon) cancer
    • Diverticulosis (small pouches in the colon wall that can bleed)
    • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Maroon-colored stool

  • Typically suggests blood mixed with stool.
  • Possible causes:
    • Bleeding from the bowel, often from:
      • Diverticulosis
      • Angiodysplasia (abnormal, fragile blood vessels in the intestinal lining)
      • Bowel cancer

Urgent care warning: In Grand Rapids, if you notice bright red, maroon, or black stools—especially with dizziness, weakness, or abdominal pain—go to a local emergency department (e.g., Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital or Trinity Health Grand Rapids) or call 911.

Black Stool

Common non-serious cause:

  • Iron supplements frequently make stool look dark green or black.

More serious cause:

  • Bleeding higher up in the digestive tract (such as from the esophagus, stomach, or upper small intestine) can cause black, tarry stool (melena).
  • Possible causes include:
    • Stomach or duodenal ulcers
    • Esophageal varices
    • Certain medications (e.g., long-term NSAID use) that cause irritation or ulcers

If you are not taking iron and notice black, sticky, foul-smelling stools, seek medical attention immediately.

Pale, Cream, or Light-Colored Stool

Light-colored, clay-colored, cream, or very pale stools may indicate little or no bile reaching the intestines.

Possible causes include conditions affecting the:

  • Liver
  • Gallbladder
  • Bile ducts
  • Pancreas

Examples:

  • Hepatitis (liver inflammation)
  • Gallstones blocking bile ducts
  • Pancreatic disease

Stools may appear white, grey, silver, or yellow in some liver or bile duct conditions. This requires prompt medical evaluation.

Changes in Stool Texture and What They Mean

Diarrhea (Watery or Very Loose Stools)

Short-term diarrhea (lasting a day or two) can be caused by:

  • Food poisoning
  • Viral or bacterial infections
  • Anxiety or stress (common during major life events)
  • Sudden dietary changes

Chronic or recurrent diarrhea may be a sign of:

  • Coeliac (celiac) disease
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including:
    • Crohn’s disease
    • Ulcerative colitis
  • Diverticulosis or complications of diverticular disease
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Certain medications
  • High intake of:
    • Caffeine (coffee, energy drinks)
    • Artificial sweeteners
    • Very high-fiber diets

In Grand Rapids, gastrointestinal infections can circulate more in winter and early spring, especially when people spend more time indoors. If diarrhea lasts more than a couple of days, is accompanied by fever, blood, or signs of dehydration, contact your doctor or visit an urgent care clinic.

Constipation (Hard, Dry Stools)

Constipated stools are typically:

  • Hard, dry, and lumpy
  • Difficult or painful to pass
  • Associated with straining

Common causes include:

  • Low-fiber diet (not enough fruits, vegetables, whole grains)
  • Not drinking enough fluids (a particular risk during cold, dry Michigan winters when people drink less water)
  • Certain medications (painkillers, some antidepressants, iron supplements, etc.)
  • Lack of physical activity, especially when people are less active in winter
  • Ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement

Straining with hard stools can lead to:

  • Hemorrhoids
  • Anal fissures

If constipation is persistent, severe, or associated with weight loss, blood in stool, or abdominal pain, see a provider in Grand Rapids for evaluation.

Stringy or Thin Stools

Stringy, narrow, or pencil-thin stools can be caused by:

  • Parasitic infections (such as certain worms)
  • Occasionally, narrowing of the bowel from conditions like strictures or tumors

If you repeatedly notice very thin stools, ask your doctor about further testing.

Greasy, Oily, or Floating Stools

Greasy or oily stools that are:

  • Bulky
  • Foul-smelling
  • Difficult to flush
  • Often float in the toilet

may indicate problems with fat digestion or absorption, such as:

  • Pancreatic disorders
  • Celiac disease
  • Bile duct or gallbladder issues

A single greasy stool after a high-fat meal is common, but ongoing fatty stools should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

Bowel Motions in Newborns and Young Babies

Grand Rapids parents and caregivers should be aware that babies’ bowel motions look very different from adults’ and change quickly in the first weeks of life.

Newborns

  • The first bowel motion is called meconium:
    • Thick, sticky, and greenish-black
    • Tar-like in appearance
  • As feeding begins (breast milk or formula), stools lighten in color and change in texture.

Breastfed Babies

Typical stool characteristics:

  • Color: Yellow to light green
  • Texture: Soft, sometimes seedy or loose
  • Frequency: Can range from several times per day to once every few days

Formula-Fed Babies

Typical stool characteristics:

  • Color: Creamy-yellow to dark green
  • Usually a bit firmer than breastfed stools
  • Frequency: Varies from several times per day to once weekly

Color Changes in Babies’ Stools

A baby’s stool can take on the color of recently eaten foods or formulas, especially if they have mild diarrhea.

Common dietary causes include:

  • Green stools:
    • Iron-fortified formula
    • Green vegetables (in older babies)
    • Certain formulas or vitamin drops

Some red, black, or unusual colors can also be caused by foods such as:

  • Red: Tomato soup, beetroot, red drinks (like cranberry juice in older children)
  • Black: Licorice, grape juice, iron supplements

However, because infections and more serious conditions can also change stool color, it is important to consult your pediatrician if you are unsure.

Diarrhea and Dehydration in Babies and Young Children

Babies and young children can dehydrate very quickly, especially with frequent watery stools.

Signs to watch for:

  • Fewer wet diapers
  • Dry mouth or lips
  • Unusual sleepiness or irritability
  • Sunken eyes or soft spot (fontanelle) in infants
  • No tears when crying

If your baby or child has frequent, watery bowel motions:

  1. Offer plenty of fluids, as directed by your pediatrician.
  2. For older infants and children, your doctor may recommend an oral rehydration solution.
  3. Seek medical attention if:
    • Diarrhea lasts more than a day or two
    • There is blood in the stool
    • The child seems lethargic, has a fever, or appears very unwell

In Grand Rapids, you can access pediatric care through local hospital systems (Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Trinity Health, Metro Health) or community clinics. The Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health can also guide you to local pediatric and urgent care resources.

How Bowel Problems Are Diagnosed

If you visit a Grand Rapids healthcare provider for changes in your bowel motions, they may recommend:

  • Medical history and symptom review
  • Physical examination
  • Blood tests (to look for anemia, infection, inflammation, or liver/pancreas issues)
  • Stool tests, such as:
    • Stool culture (to check for infection)
    • Tests for blood in stool
    • Tests for parasites
  • Biopsy or blood tests for:
    • Celiac disease
    • Lactose intolerance
  • Endoscopic procedures, such as:
    • Colonoscopy (examining the entire colon)
    • Sigmoidoscopy (examining the lower part of the colon)

These tests are typically available through major Grand Rapids health systems and gastroenterology clinics.

Treatment: Based on the Underlying Cause

Treatment for abnormal bowel motions depends on the diagnosis and may include:

  • Dietary changes
    • More fiber (for constipation)
    • Avoiding trigger foods (for IBS, lactose intolerance, or celiac disease)
  • Medications
    • For infections, inflammation, or ulcers
    • To manage IBD or IBS
  • Hydration strategies
    • Especially important during cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers in West Michigan
  • Procedures or surgery
    • For severe diverticular disease, cancers, or structural problems

Your provider will create an individualized plan based on your condition, overall health, and lifestyle.

Local Resources in Grand Rapids, Michigan

If you have concerns about your bowel motions, you can seek help from:

  • Primary care providers and gastroenterologists at:
    • Spectrum Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health
    • Mercy Health
  • Kent County Health Department – for public health information, screenings, and referrals
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs – for community health resources and education

Key Takeaways for Grand Rapids Residents

  • Normal stools are brown because they contain bile pigments such as stercobilin.
  • Color changes (red, maroon, black, very pale) can signal serious problems—especially bleeding or liver/bile duct disease—and should be evaluated promptly.
  • Black stools are commonly caused by iron supplements but can also indicate bleeding from an ulcer or other upper digestive issues.
  • Texture changes—such as persistent diarrhea, hard stools, stringy stools, or greasy stools—may reflect underlying digestive or systemic conditions.
  • Babies and young children have different normal stool patterns; however, persistent diarrhea, blood in the stool, or signs of dehydration require prompt medical attention.
  • In Grand Rapids, you have access to multiple high-quality healthcare systems and public health resources; do not hesitate to contact a local provider if your bowel motions change and do not improve within a day or two, or if you notice blood.