So...here goes! DS is 6 months old and was EBF till we started BLW at the weekend. I gave him porridge fingers today and he had an instant and fairly severe reaction to the cows milk, so I called the HV to check what the next step was. She was perfectly pleasant but made more than one comment which I felt implied that the fact that DS was EBF may have contributed to masked the problem. For example, she asked how he reacted to formula and when I said he'd never had any she replied that no wonder cows milk was a shock to his system. The other comments were similar, nothing offensive and she was polite (one was about how hard it is when you breast feeding mothers seem to think you're doing the right thing by only giving breast milk... Erm, yes. In fact I though science agreed with us breast feeding mothers?!).
So, I have to go back tomorrow to see her & I would like to speak to her about how the comments made me feel (not in a nasty way! Just a chat to make her aware how her comments could be interpreted) but am worried that the emotion of everything that happened has made me super sensitive and I'm actually being a fanny totally ridiculous.
So - what do you think? Am afraid I can't remember all the comments word for word but it was really just a lot of sighing about how this could have been avoided/picked up earlier if I'd only given DS something other than BM. Don't hold back if am being silly - I'm feeling like a rotten Mummy at the moment so it may just be my attempt to deflect the guilt-trip!
Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.
MNHQ have commented on this thread
Allergies and intolerances
Feeling picked on by HV but may be over-sensitive. Appreciate any thoughts.
abigboydidit · 22/11/2011 22:12
"The HV initially advised me to try him with a bit more but I queried this"
Oh my dear god. The women needs severely dealing with. This had the POTENTIAL (although clearly not with you as a mother, thank goodness) to be REALLY serious.
"Am not an aggressive, confrontational type"
Most people aren't :) But if you can bring yourself to make a complaint you will be reducing the risk that some else's baby will be put at risk. You don't need to confront her. You could make a complaint to the practise manager.
"yep - my boob milk clearly doesn't cut it!"
Aww, you know this, but I'm going to say it anyway. FFing increases the risks of allergies and intolerances. If you'd given formula he would have had a serious reaction as a newborn (terrifying thought) if it's milk he's allergic to. BFing doesn't remove the chance of him getting allergies, it just means that fewer BF babies will have allergies than FF babies. Some BF babies still will.
"The part I'm dreading is that she also queried the oats Vs milk issue and has asked me to bring some milk/yoghurt with me to the appt to show them his reaction in a safe environment (ie with an EpiPen on standby)."
NONONO!!! Oops, I'm not supposed to tell you what to do but as you say, you can't trust a woman in a potentially dangerous situation who doesn't know what TF she's talking about! Oh I am STEAMING. I'm supposed to be working but have just passed two customers to a colleague so I can write this, I am SO cross.
"Or is this common practice to ensure if he is a high risk that I am aware and know how to treat it?"
He will need testing, but with a fricking expert, not someone who jokes that you should try it again at home. 
I would request, nay, DEMAND an urgent referral to an allergy specialist.
I cannot believe the HV thought it would be ok to test his reaction in an uncontrolled setting in the community with an epipen on standby 
! Should she have a blue-light ambulance ready and waiting as well?
Ignore her. See the GP, get the referral, keep off dairy.
She is mad, and as such should be reported.
My little boy had a severe reaction to raw egg (I didn't know the thing I gave him had raw egg....we were on holiday) and ended up in hospital for 48 hours. When we got back to the UK we were referred to an allergy specialist. They only do a challenge test thing a) When the skin prick tests come back negative and b) In a hospital department specialising in allergies. Her suggestion that you just try him on a bit more is totally irresponsible.
I would get some piriton and have it on hand just in case of accidental eating of dairy in future - it gets harder and harder at playgroups etc if other kids have food with them once they are on the move.
I have some friends with kids with allergies and have found their experiences to vary widely in terms of how seriously they were taken by healthcare professionals. One friend's daughter had a reaction to cashew nuts serious enough that even with piriton given immediately she still went blue and to hospital in an ambulance. And yet when she took her to the GP for referral the GP said it wasn't worth it as it might never happen again She had to fight for a referral.
Oh FFS. I'm glad your GP is supporting you in the fact that you are EBF and has encouraged you to write and complain but comments about the allergy are off the mark.
I cannot beleive what the blimmin' nurse said Imean, "your Mummy's going to have to accept she can't feed you forever". 
what is wrong with these people. I bet they are the type of people who think that BF past six months a year ais 'more for the mother's benefit and to try to keep tem a baby for longer'
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
Hi Op,
I feel so so angry and upset for you. Your HV frankly needs shooting. She is a stupid stupid woman and is giving dangerous advice. And your GP is out of his/her depth.
I am a doctor and my son is allergic to cows milk protein and egg. Come over to the allergy board here on mumsnet. It's where I got help initially. There are some fantastically helpful, well informed posters around, organiccarrotcake is right. ( typing on phone) give allergy uk a call. Do not give your son any more milk and you need to screen all his food for milk products. You need to get referred to an allergy specialist( allergy uk can give you the name of your local doctor. )
I started a thread when my son was initially diagnosed, you can find it if you search my name. It was so so helpful, the posters who replied were brilliant and supportive.
And well done for EBF. He would have reacted to formula as a newborn by the sound of it which would have been worse.
Am sending hug. I know it's mumsnet, but frankly I don't care 
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.