CMPA Reflux 8 weeks old - stop breastfeeding move to Amino Acid formula

[meme1989]

Hi there,

I'm new to Mumsnet and first time mum - looking for some help, advice and support for me and my 8 week old son who's in a lot of pain and distress poor thing.

I'm looking for advice from any mums who have made the transition from breastfeeding to amino acid formula when their babies have had CMPA.

DS been very sicky since he was born - often projectile vomiting whole feeds, I kept mentioning to midwives/docs/HV, they all just said oh babies are sick its normal! Then by week 3 he stopped sleeping for more than 20/30 minutes in his crib, started arching his back, foaming in mouth, putting hands in mouth etc. all reflux symptoms and vomiting was getting worse and worse, also bad red rash all over his body. Poos were also only every 4-5 days, then hugely explosive, watery, mucusy and with white bits in. As first time mum I don't know whats normal but most of this just didn't seem right. Spoke to GP and they prescribed Gaviscon which just made his sick thicker!

So I decided to bypass going back to the GP and took him to see a Peaditrician straight away and they said it seems like Reflux and prescribed Omeprazole. He's been on that since week 3 - slowly seemed to make a bit of a difference to his pain and discomfort and we got some more sleep but didn't do anything for the projectile vomiting. Once doc saw the vomiting for herself she sent him for x-rays and ultrasound to rule out pyloric stenosis which all came back ok.

In the meantime vomiting is getting worse, poo's just as bad and he's developed eczema. Doc then asked me to cut out dairy and soy, I've done that for two weeks now and things aren't getting much better, in fact we've had some of the worst nights ever, with him screaming in pain all night, we only manage to get him to sleep for 30 minutes or so or only longer if I hold him in my arms... its getting so hard to bear the lack of sleep and seeing him in pain...

At follow up with Doc this week she has suggested that he has CMPA but often these babies find it very hard to digest breastmilk as well and so the only other option is to look at moving to an Amino Acid formula (Neocate or Alfamino).

I'm willing to do whatever I can to try and help him feel better but I am concerned about stopping breastfeeding and moving to formula - mostly because what if it doesn't work and my supply has dried up. She suggested continuing to express whilst I transition but reading some other threads here it seems it can take 3-4 weeks before the formula starts to work which is a long time to express at every feed.

Would be great to hear from any mums who have also made the transition from breastfeeding to formula when their babies have had CMPA and how it was for you - how did you do it and did it work?

Thank you!

[Sparklyuggs]

I was similar to you, I was advised by a paediatrian who specialises in cmpa to stop breastfeeding as he couldn't tolerate breastmilk at 8 weeks. I ignored this and cut out dairy and soya, and combination fed nutramigen and bf. He still didn't improve so I went back at 12 weeks and the paediatrian said that I absolutely had to stop bf so I did, and we moved to neocate. Overnight he was like a different baby, in less pain and slept for more than an hour!!!

I can't answer about your supply but giving up bf and moving to neocate was the best thing for my baby. People misunderstand that babies can be intolerant to breastmilk even if one goes dairy and soya free. I'm sure that there will be the right formula combined with reflux meds. In all honesty the first 12 weeks were utter hell for me due to the feeding every 90 minutes non stop, so I was ready to go to formula for both our sakes.

Good luck, it's so tough to see our babies in pain.

[Nan0second]

I gave up dairy and soy and rapidly had a new baby - within a week! (Unfortunately I didn't realise until 6 months so we had a pretty miserable time til then).
Try giving up all dairy and soy (read labels carefully) for 2-3 weeks if you don't want to stop breast feeding. You will still have the option of formula for cmpa at that point x

[meme1989]

@Sparklyuggs thank you for the reassurance! yeah the past 9 weeks havent been great and breastfeeding is a real struggle now as i think he's beginning to realise this is what is causing him pain... out of interest did your baby also take any reflux meds at any point?

@Nan0second I've been doing dairy and soy free for 3 weeks now and been so careful with everything I eat, reading labels religiously and its not making any difference unfortunately, thats why the doc has suggested the amino acid formula.... Gosh though 6 months you deserve a medal to last that long!

[Sparklyuggs]

Yes, DS is on omneprazole and ranitidine.

[Nan0second]

In that case, embrace the amino acid formula. It's the right decision and you can hand on heart say you have done everything in your power to breast feed. Good luck

[Sparklyuggs]

I agree with Nan0second it sounds like you've done all you can. I was exactly the same and I was so sad about stopping bf but I can now see it was the best thing for my DS and he's much happier now.