Health visitor!

[Kafri]

AiBU to think my HV is actually a bit I a muppet?

DS has been suffering quite badly with what was first though of as colic - is now under paeds.

Dr then suspected reflux so tried lactose free milk

Then...

HV asked if I'd been using infacol, I said yes but didn't appear to help

So she suggested colief drops. I asked the chemist if they had these drops when I went to pick up ds milk. She showed me them and I had a read of the box. The box say something along the line of

'enzyme to break down lactose in milk to aid digestion'

I'd like to know what lactose it is going to break down in lactose free milk?

I'm guessing HV just has a standard repertoire of lines to use for mothers depending on the 'problem' as it were. I wouldn't have been bothered but these bloody drops were about to cost me 12 quid if I'd not read the box and just bought then on her recommendation. Being on mat leave, we're not exactly rolling in money (don't shout at me, I'm not claiming poverty there, nor am I sending virtual daggers to anyone better off - I know how talking money on MN creates a huge debate)

I just think that with all the things out there you can buy to try to 'help' colic, if you bought them all youd be spending a fortune so having a professional recommend something that clearly won't do ANYTHING to help isn't very helpful at all!

HV's can be so frustrating. No real advice re them but Didn't want to read and run - a lot of mum's swear by dr browns bottles for colic. Have no experience of them as I was lucky that my dd didn't get colic although there were times where she'd take forever to wind and we found gripe water helped.

I may be wrong, but it sounds like reflux and baby gaverson may help.

I would go back to your HV and ask how it work in lactose free milk.

Health Visitors do not know it all... doctors do not even know it all. They have a certain amount of prescriptive routes that they take and are stumped if you do not fall into the typical pigeonhole. Follow your instincts (you sound as though you do). Have you received an appointment for paediatrician yet? Try sorting through the books at your local library and/or bookstore and pick up any tips from there that you can. I take it you are not breastfeeding? If you are, you need to eliminate dairy from your own diet. Babies are not built for digesting milk created for calves, and goats' milk infant formula may help, if you can afford to try it (it can be expensive but the fat globules are a lot smaller, like breastmilk, so easier to digest). Good luck!

Did you actually tell her your using lactose free formula? Because if you go lactose free when breastfeeding then there are still small amounts of lactose present in the breastmillk which can be offset with colief. Perhaps she thought this was the case or that you might be mixed feeding.

No she knew I was on LF milk. I bumped into get on my way out if the docs with the prescription for it so discussed it with get then. Then discussed it with her at my next appointment where she recommended colief.

Not b feeding. I did first 2 days and then both I and him got poorly and he was whisked off to neo and I kept on mat.

We had a paeds appt yesterday and he was given cows milk protein free milk to try. I've to call back today to discuss whether he needs meds too and yes, dr agreed it was reflux.

You can get Colief on prescription (if that was necessary)

Yeah the Doctor has told me that now, but he's being treated for reflux now.