Does anyone have experience with cmpa?

[StuckInABox]

DS is 8 weeks. He is formula fed, I think has reflux but I'm worried it is also an allergy as I know they can be connected. Reasons I am concerned are

• extremely runny poo, like water, usually when he has a bottle. This is my main worry.
• coughs/becomes snuffly after a bottle
• very unhappy, has to be jiggled/rocked constantly
• pulls on and off the bottle crying. Obviously wants it but gets upset (this isn't every bottle)
• has classic reflux signs such as can't be laid down after a feed/gagging and swallowing back down

He has been on infant gaviscon for almost a week. His poo became slightly more firm (what I would expect them to be normally) for a day or two but back to watery now. He doesn't have it in every bottle because he has 7-8 bottles in 24 hours and it can only be give 6 times a day. He seems to have stopped the gagging and is slight less unhappy but everything else is the same. He has tongue tie which we are seeing an infant feeding specialist in a week for and there is family history of allergies (2 being dairy and soya) but not his mum/dad/siblings. GP isn't concerned as he is putting on weight and health visitor says talk to GP.

Any advice? Am I just being a paranoid mum? His pregnancy was difficult so I know I could be over worrying, but he is so different to his siblings.

My daughter has CMPA, diagnosed at the same age as your son is now. I don't have any experience of reflux or formula feeding though I'm afraid.
Our experience of symptoms:
Projectile vomiting- more sick than you can imagine such a little person can hold.
Green poo with mucous in it.
Rash around the neck and chest.
Bloating/wind/very loud tummy sounds.

I cut milk from my diet (breastfed) and after a week, she was like a different baby.

P.s we had excellent support from our GP and the paediatric dietician service. I'd recommend speaking to them as they prescribe alternative formula if needed. We were referred to dieticians really quickly.
Also the CMPA groups on Facebook are extremely informative.

GP's generally are crap with allergies / CMPA unless there is weight loss. I would say that sounds like CMPA - see if you can get a second opinion and try him on a different formula. The a family history of allergies is a big tell IMO, trust your gut and keep investigating x

Thanks for the replies. He doesn't have explosive diarrhea or projectile vomiting. His poo has occasionally had mucus in it but not every time.

I've noticed this slight rash but not sure if it's heat related. I forgot to mention he also rubs his face on me like it's really itchy and gets upset.

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This sounds very like DC2's reaction to both breastmilk and formula. They didn't have an obvious rash so the GP and HV didn't believe it to be CMPA, however a different GP (who had previously been a paediatrician) prescribed puramino at 12 weeks old along with liquid omeprezol and it made a massive difference.

DC2 also developed a bottle aversion due to the association of pain with drinking which we did get over but it is something to bear in mind- Rowena Bennett's book is really good and I'd recommend anyone who bottle feeds to read it!

We are starting the milk ladder soon and it all seems like a distant memory now but was so incredible stressful at the time- please feel free to message me if you like :)

A bottle aversion sounds really tough, poor baby. I hope the milk ladder goes well. My niece is the one who had the CMPA allergy, so I know the milk ladder can be tough! She is 3 now and only has the soya ladder to go as she keeps becoming ill on the first step.

I think I will give the GP another call and try to speak to someone different as the doctor we saw isn't great usually anyway. Although I think they will say to give the gaviscon longer to work.