CMPA would be worse than this, no?

9 replies

caggie3 · 10/04/2023 20:28

I was just reading about CMPA symptoms and a lot of them are seen in my, what I deemed just a normal albeit slightly fussy, two month old.

He is breast fed, has some reflux symptoms (arching back, drawing legs up and crying) which are worse in the evenings. He does cry a lot but settles easily with cuddles, white noise and just walking around/swaying him. He does want to be held all the time and will only sleep if I co-sleep. He has cradle cap and some patches of dry skin (although both getting better not worse). He spits up quite a bit, not projectile vomit but just spit up, sometimes curdled, but his weight gain is steady so I assumed just a slightly immature digestive system. He burps, farts, hiccups and coughs a lot but I just thought he was noisy!

So although he has a wide range of symptoms and is fussy, he isn't inconsolable and he feeds well, and I thought wasn't severe enough to need intervention and would just grow out of it all. Now I'm worried I'm being too dismissive? It was weird how he ticked almost every symptom on the list! But surely if it was CMPA he'd be a lot worse right?!

OP posts:

ppure · 10/04/2023 20:37

if you just had your baby immunised then its likely a side effect (well known and multiple studies) of the rotavirus.

Ifyoulikealotofbiscuitinyourchoc · 10/04/2023 20:52

Well if it is CMPA then the intensity of the symptoms could be based on how much dairy you have on a regular basis. If you eat/drink quite a lot of it then id assume baby would be more uncomfortable than that. If you only have a bit here and there then symptoms could be mild.

It's tricky to test though as it can build up in your system and take weeks to completely remove it.

Has he always been like this or did it get worse at some point?

Original poster

caggie3 · 10/04/2023 20:53

He's always been like this really! I just thought he was slightly high needs. I don't drink milk at all but I have lots of cheese, chocolate, ice cream etc.

OP posts:

ScoobyBooby · 10/04/2023 20:56

Most babies with CMPA don’t lose weight and they generally stay on target for their weight if the CMPA is mild

My baby has CMPA . Had all the symptoms you described but an awful rash , mucus and foul smelling stools . He did lose more than 10% of his birth weight but once on the right milk he started gaining and is now on the 91st centile at 11 months old .

ScoobyBooby · 10/04/2023 20:57

Just to add his is severe CMPA with immediate reaction

bravotango · 10/04/2023 21:00

Mine also.has CMPA and I have completely eliminated dairy from my diet. The reflux, fussiness and horrible poos have stopped, but he still has dry skin and possets a bit but within normal limits I think. When I have had accidental dairy in the past his skin has.flared up a few hours later and the vomiting increases for a week or.so, plus some more.reflux but on the whole I would say the reaction is mild, I also think the reactions are.milder the older he gets (he's 5 months now)

Tiredmummaoftwo · 10/04/2023 21:04

My baby has CMPA. Started with diarrhoea (I'm talking 15+ poo nappies before 12pm) and terrible nappy rash. Then a blotchy rash started all over his body and he'd claw at his face as it was itchy. Would projectile vomit after any milk. Stomach was so so hard and pronounced and he was generally just miserable. Oh and his eyes always looked very puffy!

Cut out milk saw and improvement in days. Might be worth cutting it out to see if the symptoms disappear. It's quite hard to do it but you will get used to it.

My friends daughter also has CMPA and her symptoms are almost identical to my boys x

Tiredmummaoftwo · 10/04/2023 21:05

Oh yes the green mucusy poos are a tell tale sign! They smell very acidic

Twizbe · 11/04/2023 08:01

Unless you are also dairy intolerant it's quite rare to find CMPA in totally breastfed babies. However the symptoms are quite general and it's often mis diagnosed. There are also loads of anecdotal stories that mum stopping diary helps the symptoms. A lot of adults are dairy intolerant so it doesn't surprise me that some of these mothers might stop dairy and feel better for it as well.

My son has CMPA and was fine on breastmilk, but wasn't gaining weight. We gave formula as instructed and the reaction to the feeds were night and day. He cried, fussed and then projectile vomited. He had eczema and the amount he was throwing up meant the formula wasn't helping his weight issues. He's 6 now and still can't tolerate milk so we've given up trying.

I've been learning more about CMPA recently and sadly I'm seeing the same story over and over. GP diagnoses CMPA and tells mum to stop breastfeeding. It happened to a few friends of mine too. I was lucky to have a good dietician work with us who diagnosed, supported continued breastfeeding with specialist formula top ups to get on top of the weight issue.

OP your baby sounds very normal 2 month old.

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