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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Need urgent advice re breastfeeding please and if I need to stop

19 replies

clairebear610 · 08/05/2022 13:55

I have a 9 week old who is ebf but in the last fortnight she has developed a bad rash on her face and also seems very uncomfortable all the time squirming and crying a lot and straining. She only really seems calm at the moment when she's sleeping and often wakes herself up because she seems like she is in pain. I am really worried it is to do with my breast milk and am feeling very upset and guilty about it. Today I have started to cut out dairy in case that is the problem but I am worried in case I need to stop ebf and give her formula instead as there is definitely something wrong. We try and wind her a lot after each feed but the issue still seems to be there. With my first child we just had this in the evenings 'witching hour' and winding helped and it went away by around now but my 9 week old is suffering all day and I just don't know what to do. I really don't want to have to stop breastfeeding if I can help it but I feel it's my milk causing the issue. Could it be a dairy intolerance or something else? I have just reluctantly given her a bottle of formula and she has gone straight to sleep although I think she had exhausted herself crying but it has made me so emotional not feeding her myself.

Need urgent advice re breastfeeding please and if I need to stop

OP posts:

Kat1953 · 08/05/2022 13:59

With a rash like that I think you need to see a doctor/call 111. Does she have a temperature? How long has she had the rash?

MichelleScarn · 08/05/2022 14:02

Absolutely agree, 111 first for the rash and can look at the bf aspect later.

addler · 08/05/2022 14:02

If it is CMPA which is very common then formula is going to make it even worse, unless you have hypoallergenic/dairy free formula, as breast milk contains far less dairy than formula.

If you cut all dairy out of your diet you should see a difference pretty quickly, but it can take a few weeks for all traces to leave your system so while there should be a big difference quickly there may still be some symptoms.

Call your HV/GP but in the meantime keep breastfeeding as normal

MichelleScarn · 08/05/2022 14:02

Is the rash blanching when pressed?

KangarooKenny · 08/05/2022 14:06

Is it dry like eczema ?

Original poster

clairebear610 · 08/05/2022 16:26

Thanks all. No it isn't blanching, no temp and it was a bit dry in parts. She's had it about 10 days. It's actually improved the last couple of days since that picture although not gone, and the doctor the other day thought it was baby acne and eczema which it probably is but given her discomfort and constant crying I wondered if they were actually related. I'm kicking myself for giving her formula but stupidly hadn't about the dairy content in it. I will continue ebf for now though amd see if cutting out dairy makes a difference. I really hope so as it's miserable seeing her crying a lot.

OP posts:

Kat1953 · 08/05/2022 17:33

Don't be afraid to go back to the doctor about the pain she's in. They could be linked or they could be two separate issues, in which case the rash might be distracting from diagnosis.

KatieKat88 · 08/05/2022 17:36

Any signs of silent reflux OP? Arched back when feeding?

Original poster

clairebear610 · 08/05/2022 18:50

Thanks @Kat1953 and @KangarooKenny. I will go back to them tomorrow. I'm just so worried it's something I'm doing or my breast milk. Is it worth me cutting out eggs also do you think? No her back doesn't seem arched during feeds. It's like she's permanently got wind no matter how much I wind her. I don't know if it's my imagination but I feel the rash gets a little worse whilst feeding but maybe it's just because I'm holding her close to me and she gets a bit warm.

OP posts:

KatieKat88 · 08/05/2022 20:05

I'd say definitely go back to the GP and if there are any breastfeeding groups near you they could be a good shout too, they might have seen similar issues and be able to suggest something. It's bloody horrible when something isn't right with them so fingers crossed you get to the bottom of it soon!

Original poster

clairebear610 · 09/05/2022 13:03

By the way, I had dd's tongue tie fixed a couple of weeks ago. Do you think her new latch could be the problem? Thanks

OP posts:

Kat1953 · 09/05/2022 23:53

Fraid I couldn't comment, op, I don't have experience of tongue tie. The back arching suggests a colicky pain to me.

Did you get to see the doctor today?

AskingforaBaskin · 10/05/2022 00:04

All 3 of mine had CMPI and had a similar rash.
I BF all to 2 but had to cut out dairy.
If I were you I would cut I out completely now as it can take 6 weeks to leave your body so best to start just incase.

How is the baby? Any discomfort or crying? Nappies OK is there much spit up?

AskingforaBaskin · 10/05/2022 00:05

I just read your wind comment and that was the same side affect mine had.

Therealpink · 10/05/2022 00:07

Looks like baby acne maybe? A few of mine got the most awful bouts of it around 2-3 months old. I even stopped taking pics it was so upsetting. Of course get it checked out but babies can get incredibly rashy and crusty faced as their delicate skin adjusts to the world and their bodies get used to nutrition and hormones etc.

I definitely wouldn’t stop breastfeeding if it’s otherwise going well.

Pizzaandsushi · 17/05/2022 05:26

The rash looks exactly like my little boy who has a milk allergy. I was told by 2 GPs it was infant acne but it would flare up after feeding. Finally saw a paediatrician, was put on a hypoallergenic formula for allergies and within two days his skin was completely different. Smooth and soft.
My baby also seems to have constant wind (both ends!). Also a sign of allergy.

NewtoHolland · 17/05/2022 05:51

If your cutting out dairy it is worth also cutting out soya. The proteins behave in a similar way so many babies who have CMPA can also not tolerate soya. You can use oat, almond or coconut based alternatives which there are loads of in Tesco or Asda.

Formula is processed dried cow's milk with fish/ couple of other bits added in. Did she react more after the formula?

tothemoonandbackbuses · 17/05/2022 06:01

If it’s cmpa you need to cut out dairy and soya but it’s fairly easy now with vegan options everywhere.
formula made my first cmpa even worse (wasn’t aware of the problem at that stage)
and my second couldn’t even have most of the so called dairy free formulas.
it could be wind so worth trying infacol or gripe water so worth trying those options.
yoi should be referred to the consultant and dietitian. My eldest has an egg allergy a well.

MagAmberson · 18/05/2022 13:34

It may be baby acne, my 12 week old developed a similar rash around the 5 week mark which always flared up after a feed. I think the warmth and moisture from nursing exacerbated it. So after each feed I would wipe his face with cotton wool dipped in cooled boiled water. His skin has really cleared up but I still have to wipe his face a few times a day to ensure it doesn't flare up again.

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