To take my baby to A&E tonight?

[MrsSeanBean1]

I have a 3 week old DS. He was breastfed for about 10 days but lost a massive amount of weight despite me having gallons of milk. I saw many lactation consultants and breastfeeding specialists who could not really explain it. He latched on well, appeared to be drinking but never seemed satisfied. A few suggested it was too much foremilk. He even lost weight drinking huge bottles of expressed milk every 2 hours. I tried everything but had to put him on formula to stop him being admitted to hospital due to the weightloss. Since starting formula he has gaine weight and seemed more satisfied. However, he has had explosive poos, very mucusy poos, stomach pains and rumbles, snuffling/phlemy after bottle and has been spitting up quite a lot. However today he has added projectile vomiting to the list. It seems as if every bottle has come straight back. I am so worried he will get dehydrated.

I am suspecting a milk allergy or intolerance. I have something along those lines (although never been diagnosed) as full fat milk gives me cramps, sickness, upset tum, phlem although I can eat dairy and skimmed milk.

My 2 year old DD had similar. Very poor weight gain, similar symptoms etc. but noone would take me seriously and dismissed me as a neurotic first time mum. I struggled on for a year with about 10 clothes changes a day, sitting her up for hours after feeds etc. Now, if she has full fat milk she is uncomfortable and has a rattle in her chest. She is fine on semi skimmed and dairy.

I am at the end of my tether tonight. I can't take another feed with him being so violently sick he chokes. I am seriously considering taking him to A&E and crying for someone to please help me as I can't go through all this worry again.

[Waltonswatcher1]

My poor love .
Hope that doesn't sound patronising - I just want to hug you.
Did no one suggest you should try excluding all dairy and soya whilst breast feeding ? Is your milk still coming in , could you express and try this diet for two weeks so your milk is allergy free ? Then reintroduce the safe breast milk . This is not as mad as it sounds , in the long run it would be the better option if allergy is to blame .
You need to be very very careful that you are getting the correct advice from a paediatrition with good gastric knowledge . Also a dietitian . Don't let the fancy drs title fool you into thinking they know it all.
The reflux and intolerance are sadly linked and are often seen together .
Poor baba .

[hippoinamudhole]

Please don't leave the hospital. They should let you keep both children with you

[Sirzy]

Keep your 2 year old at the hospital with you, the staff shouldn't mind. Get plenty of toys, a picnic lunch and stuff sent in with her and it will be fine. If you have an over bed tv let her watch cbeebies all day if needed

[DoYonisHangLow]

longjane What a stupid thing to say!

[Cotherstone]

I know there is so much more on your mind than this but your childcare problems for Monday can be sorted if you need to stay in hospital. Post on another part of the forum if you need to but someone will be able to recommend a childminder or nanny who can help out for a day, someone who you can check is an official carer. Or is there another mum on your street or from a baby group? Don't ever think you will be putting people out. I'd have someone else's DC in that situation in a heartbeat. It might not be the easiest day for people but how many toddler's can't be calmed by the Gruffalo on repeat and a chocolate biscuit?

I hope your DS starts to get better soon and they can work out what will help him. But there are solutions for Monday if you need it so you can stay in hospital with him. Ignore some of the comments above, I'm sure it must be stressing you out so much, but it is fixable.

[MrsSpencerReid]

Have sent you a pm MrsSB

[FabBakerGirl]

longjane - another spectacularly unhelpful comment .

[Deb2202]

If you can see the acid coming up it does sound more like reflux.

What an awful situation but stick with it and they'll find the right solution for you. Pepti junior milk is usually where they start with milk allergy. My older boy had the neutrigena which is further broken down but tastes foul. I believe there are other milks that are totally dairy free but are more expensive so are a last resort.

When I switched my boys I found their stomachs went down literally overnight and they were more comfortable quickly although it took a couple of weeks for other symptoms to sort out (and all kids are different).

Are you on a general childrens ward? I don't know how these things work but at our hospital there is a paed consultant who specialises in gastro issues, we see him as an outpatient whether he also works generally on the wards I don't know but it might be worth asking if there is a gastro clinic at your hospital or if any of the docs specialise in it cause he really is good. Can't hurt to ask.

I hope he gets sorted soon and you have a good night.

[MrsSeanBean1]

Yes, DH is having to do lots of work this weekend whilst looking after DD so he hasn't been able to visit us which has been awful. Have just seen the consultant who agrees baby seems worse on pepti so thinks medication is the next step.

[LEMmingaround]

Do any of your friends use a CM that they could recommend to take care of DD2? How understanding would your DH's school be if he absolutely couldn't go - ofsted must have something in place for when teachers cannot be there for inspections, or is he the head? which of course does make things more difficult. Do stay in the hospital if you can because you are now getting all the work done that he needs to ascertain what is wrong and make a treatment plan. Once you come home you'll be back and forth to the hospital and things will slow down.

[BornFreeButinChains]

Mrs S so glad you went to hospital hope everything sorts out OK

[MrsSeanBean1]

DH is assistant principal so cannot miss work unfortunately

[Finola1step]

Yep. Ofsted = you are there unless you are in hospital yourself. Even then, some Heads will ask if you can be discharged early.

Talk to the hospital. I'm sure they will let you take dd in with you even if its for short bursts with the baby and then taking dd off for a walk / explore. It's got to be better than you being at home and baby in hospital.

It the ward staff may well know of an emergency child minder for such situations.

[starlight1234]

no advice..sounds like baby is in the right place for now..Hope things have improved today

[landrover]

Im sorry, i don't wish to be mean here, but NOTHING would keep me away if my child was in hospital! Your husband is the parent too, what is it with blokes that they feel they don't have to have time off! Stuff OFSTED, vice principal or not, bloody hell in the scheme of life ofsted do not matter, I can't believe your hubby, sorry xxxxxx

[Cotherstone]

It's not her husband's fault Some jobs are.like that.

[landrover]

No job is worth the health of a child! (Speaking from someone who has lost a child). Some jobs are like that? well no!

[landrover]

Sorry Cother, not meaning to have a go, but seriously nobody expects the worse, and then you think, God, I went to work !!!

[Twighlightsparkle]

Just joining in now. I know where you are at, my daughter ended up on neocate and tolerates it well.

Having spent time in hospitals with my daughter they will let your 2 year. Old be with you I'm sure. We have always done that and it's fine.

[Goldmandra]

landrover, the OP's DH may need to be at work or risk his whole career. While the baby is able to stay in hospital and receive the necessary treatment he is not putting him at risk by being at work.

I think the hospital will make it very clear if the baby needs to stay in after tomorrow and will help with arrangements for the DD if necessary. There's no need to make the OP any more anxious than she already is.

[Supercosy]

Oh fgs. You poor thing. I don't care if your dh is vice principle there is no way an Ofsted inspection should be keeping him from being with you in hospital. That would never happen in my school. I'm not blaming him it just makes me so angry with his employers. Anyway, I so glad you went to hospital and I really hope your little Ds feels better soon.

[Waltonswatcher1]

Supercosy and landrover
Sorry guys but its not that easy always.
Our dd was in hospital and my husband had to work . He had used up his kindness tokens with my pregnancy and a long hospital admission following birth . At nine weeks with another admission I had to go it alone .
When it strikes you it's just not that simple .
Friends looked after my other two whilst he worked , I knew we had to think long term and with a seriously il baby we didn't need the house repossessed .

[andsmile]

my immediate though allergic or reflux.

you must get hi tested, I have know people go through probems feeding for years before being heard and getting dx

[JennyBendy]

Monkeynuts and L