To ask for help/ a handhold

[BumbleNova]

Posting for traffic, I'm at my wits end and I just don't know where to turn.

My DS (my second) is 4.5 months, EBF but will accept a bottle of expressed milk.

The issue is that we are both permanently drenched in vomit and spit up. He is constipated and then we get explosive diarrhea. My first DS had CMPA plus soya and coconut allergies but was a different baby once we had that nailed.

Because of that history I've been trialling the allergy ladders through my milk. We are under the care of a paediatrician. He has failed milk, egg, soya and coconut but there is something still bothering him - the sick, the tummy troubles, ezcema. He is so unhappy. So I cut the remaining top 8 allergens - fish, peanuts, tree nuts plus sesame. It's not helping and it's been 3 weeks.

I've got the special formula and I know I need to give it but I'm stuck as to how? I've been calling the health visitor every day this week. I don't know what I'm doing with formula at all!

Please be kind. I'm on sertraline for PND. Both of us spend most days crying.

That sounds so hard for you both. I'm so sorry.
My son was like this but tolerated soya milk although his nappies weren't pleasant.
I have no advice really but wanted to say you're not alone. It's not your fault. It's hard and it's ok to admit that.

My son was like this and as well as that list he also couldn't tolerate peas, red peppers or garlic. The one things that helped sooth his digestion was very well cooked brown rice. I gave him the cooked grains when he started on solids, and before then I made 'barley water' type drinks using brown rice.

We removed all of the allergens from his diet and the good news is, it didnt persist into adulthood, so fingers crossed it works for you.

You don't mention celery, lupin, or mustard? Also common allergens.

And animal products in general are a common issue (not always an allergen, but can cause various reactions).

And have you tried probiotics (obviously vegan ones so they don't contain dairy residues) for yourself? Some of your bacteria get into breastmilk, so if you have a diverse gut microbiome, you will pass that on to him.

@Thelnebriati what were his symptoms? Did he grow out of it? We're your breastfeeding?

@rosiejaune I've studied the packets of everything I've eaten for the last week and no lupin but some very trace amounts of mustard.

Thank you! I will try and eliminate that and see if it helps. I can't believe how sensitive he is 😱.

I just don't want to start cutting out more at random. I feel like that way complete madness lies.

@rosiejaune I have tried probiotics. No change. I am coeliac so I'm wondering if it is all linked.

Or prebiotics, i.e. more fibre (best in the form of food, but can be supplemented as well).

As the prebiotics feed a diverse range of bacteria, whereas probiotics just put them in there and they might starve alone.

@BumbleNova Yes he was breast fed and I couldn't eat any of his trigger foods. His symptoms started at about 2 weeks; reflux, vomiting, stomach cramps, followed by explosive diarrhea.
As he got older and started on solids I had to introduce them carefully and one at a time. Any trigger foods made his face change colour, he'd turn deathly pale with red circles under his eyes, then the gastric symptoms followed.
If he was given cows milk (by people who thought I was making it up) he would vomit followed one hour later by uncontrollable diarrhea.