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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

HV and GP contradicting each other - who is right?

14 replies

HumphreyCobbler · 18/11/2013 15:58

I asked the HV about the fact that my six week old baby is increasingly unsettled and screaming in pain after every feed, that he is no longer pooing every day but when he does it smells awful and is an odd texture, like dark yellow emulsion paint, and that he is very windy and this smells absolutely foul too. He has a worsening rash on his face and dry skin. He vomits occasionally but often possets into his mouth, this seems to cause him great discomfort.

The HV suggested trying to eliminate dairy from my diet as this sounds like Cows milk protein allergy. I then went into the GP for the six week check and she said that this was nonsense, that CMP couldn't get into my breastmilk. She later said that I should notice when his colic seems worse and try and link it to what I had eaten, which seemed to contradict her earlier statement. She also said they would not prescribe gaviscon as the baby was gaining weight properly.

So - do I bother to eliminate dairy or not? I don't mind giving it a go if it is worth trying. DS is getting to the point where he only ever sleeps more than ten minutes if we are in the car or he manages to drop off without a feed in the last hour. The last few nights I have been up every hour or so with a screaming baby who is only consoled by feeding, which then starts the cycle all over again.

Apologies if this does not make sense, I am really tired.

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VisualiseAHorse · 18/11/2013 16:28

Yes, what harm will it do to not eat dairy for a week or a few days and see if it has an effect?

I would cut it all out if I were you. Dairy is in a lot more things than you think though!

VisualiseAHorse · 18/11/2013 16:28

(Oh, and this will not be the last time you get contradictory advice from health professionals.)

HumphreyCobbler · 18/11/2013 16:31

Well I am more inclined to do it just in case, but it is an awful lot of effort to go to if the GP is correct!

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RedKites · 18/11/2013 16:41

Lots of information about food sensitivities in breastfed babies on Kellymom - far more in line with what your HV has said.

HumphreyCobbler · 18/11/2013 16:42

Thanks, will go an have a look

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HumphreyCobbler · 18/11/2013 16:42

AND

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tiktok · 18/11/2013 16:50

CMP is known to reach breastmilk - the size of the molecules allow this to happen. Obv in the vast majority of babies this is just fine. In a few, it is not. So your HV is right and your doc is wrong.

However, the symptoms you describe in your baby are not 100 per cent diagnostic of CMP intolerance.

Perhaps ask your HV again for details?

Info to help you:

www.bfmed.org/Media/Files/Protocols/Protocol24_English_120211.pdf

www.gwh.nhs.uk/media/151140/faisg_milk_freechildren_1_.pdf

cks.nice.org.uk/colic-infantile#!scenariorecommendation:1

HumphreyCobbler · 18/11/2013 17:16

thank you so much for the info, I will have a look now

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HumphreyCobbler · 18/11/2013 18:37

That is all interesting, thank you. It looks like it may be a cause, but not conclusive enough symptoms to confidently say it is worth an exclusion diet.

The HV was a stand in and was in a hurry so I wouldn't be able to see her again.

If a baby had these symptoms could you think a poor latch could cause them Tiktok? He has, despite my best efforts, a very shallow latch and seems to take in a lot of air when he feeds.

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HumphreyCobbler · 18/11/2013 18:41

Should have said that he had a tt cut at four days and still has what looks like a significant lip tie.

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galwaygirl · 18/11/2013 18:43

My sisters DD was lactose intolerant and had CMPA diagnosed while ebf so I think your GP is wrong. With the poos it sounds like lactose or CMPA more than just wind/colic. My niece ended up on nutramigen formula.

midori1999 · 18/11/2013 19:32

Well the not pooing every day is not unusual for a BF baby, but aside from the rash/dry skin, the other symptoms you describe fitted my DD perfectly at that age and we had a lot of problems with latch, although I now wonder if she maybe had silent reflux. She would be put down at all, not even for a walk in her pram, but things gradually got better at 3-4 months old.

If you do decide to eliminate cows milk from your diet, it takes several weeks for it to totally go from your milk, up to 6 I believe, so it can be quite a long time.

rednellie · 18/11/2013 20:13

I don't know whether this is the situation in your case, but my ds is highly allergic to dairy and as soon as I cut It out (before weaning, so only source would have been through my milk) he was a different baby. Skin cleared, poos better and he was much much happier. Funnily enough it was my gps advise pre him referring us to a dermatogist as per NICE guidelines.

If I were you I'd try going dairy free, it should make some sort of difference in about 2-6 weeks. If it makes no difference at least you've ruled something out. Thereare loads of good alternatives in all supermarkets. Let me know if you want some tips.

Gileswithachainsaw · 18/11/2013 20:20

I'd give it a try tbh. Worse case senario it makes no difference. It certainly sounds like it could be though.

Dairy free isn't that hard dd2 has been dairy free since weaning Barr reintroductions.

We eat cakes and all sorts just home made.

Hazelnut drink by alpro is yummy and works on cereal and in coffee :)

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