Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

should I really not give DS anything to eat?

34 replies

VigourMortis · 29/04/2010 17:12

He's had green diarrhoea for about 5 days and an obviously uncomfortable stomach. I took him to the docs day before yesterday and she said to give him only clear fluids and a bit of milk if he really seemed to want it. He's 7 months and breast fed with the odd bottle plus his solids.

He's starving though, so I've had to give him quite a lot of milk and the green runs are ongoing. I feel it isn't going to get better if I keep giving him so much milk but really can't hear him cry with hunger. No vomiting.

Don't know what to do for the best and he's very out of sorts

Does anyone have any advice?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

iMum · 29/04/2010 17:13

Ive alsways been told to carry on as normal when the kids have had sickness and diarrhoea, give them what they fancy within reason of course.
Phone NHS direct? as this really doesnt sound right.

whomovedmychocolate · 29/04/2010 17:14

Yes. Get some lemonade, put sugar in it to kill the fizz. Let him drink this as much as he wants.

Quit the cow milk, stick to breast milk. I know it's counterintuitive to give babies sugar but for 24 hours it will do no harm and will give his bowels a chance to rest.

Food is an absolutely no-no in this situation - you need to give the bowels a chance to stop cramping and expelling everything and deal with the problem. If you stop feeding him (properly for 12-18 hours, you'll see a marked improvement).

And you aren't being cruel - being cruel would be encouraging him to eat knowing it will make him ill again

Original poster

VigourMortis · 29/04/2010 17:23

oh thanks for that lemonade tip, whomoved, I'll get some now - he'll love that. I've just be breastfeeding him, he hasn't had anything else apart from water.

His nappies are awfully light as well, so I'm worried about dehydration.

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 29/04/2010 17:43

Small sips, often is the trick. Read a page of a book, take a sip etc. He'll get there. Put a tissue in his nappies to check he's still doing wees.

Seona1973 · 29/04/2010 19:51

the nhs website says to feed them with carb rich foods:

Eat as soon as you can

The old advice was to not eat anything for a day or two, but now it is recommended that you eat foods high in carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice or potatoes) and other foods as soon as you feel like it. Salty foods such as soup can help replace salt lost from your system.

If you feel you cannot eat, it shouldn't do you any harm, but make sure you continue drinking fluids and eat as soon as you are able.

If your child wants to eat, offer soups and foods high in carbohydrates at first. Your child can eat normally as soon as possible. If your child refuses to eat, continue to offer drinks and wait until their appetite returns.

Seona1973 · 29/04/2010 19:53

p.s. get some dioralyte rehyradtion salts and mix with water if you feel he needs extra fluids. You can get them in the supermarket as well as the chemist.

treatment of diarrhoea

CharlieBoo · 29/04/2010 20:13

Agree with seona, the fact he's hungry is a good sign, If it were me I would try him with some toast or something simple, cereal? Especially as you've been giving just fluids for couple of days. I would pop back to gp tomoz as well and see what they say. Hope he's better soon poor thing.

whomovedmychocolate · 29/04/2010 20:29

He's seven months old - the food aspect in his diet is very low!

MegBusset · 29/04/2010 20:38

AFAIK the advice you've been given is outdated (this is what my GP told me when DSes had noro in January). The current advice is to give whatever bland food is accepted but to avoid cows' milk as this can make symptoms worse. Certainly breast milk is the best thing as it's so easy to digest.

whomovedmychocolate · 29/04/2010 20:40

Paeds told me above this year.

Original poster

VigourMortis · 29/04/2010 20:40

well thanks everyone. I've got him off to sleep on just breast milk. He had some sugary lemonade earlier too.
If the diarrhoea is still going tomorrow I'll have him back at the doctors.

He's usually relentlessly jolly so it's awful seeing him miserable .

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 29/04/2010 20:45

Hope you both have a good night

Original poster

VigourMortis · 29/04/2010 20:53

Thanks whomoved, we'll make it through to morning together

OP posts:

CandyAppleGrey · 29/04/2010 23:51

From the NHS page here

Eat as soon as you can

The old advice was to not eat anything for a day or two, but now it is recommended that you eat foods high in carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice or potatoes) and other foods as soon as you feel like it. Salty foods such as soup can help replace salt lost from your system.
If you feel you cannot eat, it shouldn't do you any harm, but make sure you continue drinking fluids and eat as soon as you are able.
If your child wants to eat, offer soups and foods high in carbohydrates at first. Your child can eat normally as soon as possible. If your child refuses to eat, continue to offer drinks and wait until their appetite returns.

Valpollicella · 30/04/2010 00:02

I would get him to eat carbs like above but avoid dairy for definate

sanfairyann · 30/04/2010 00:08

he's so young I'd just go back to purely bf for a few days - it's great for the immune system and for fighting off bugs and not going to upset his stomach at all. am amazed to find I agree with GP

LadyBiscuit · 30/04/2010 00:12

If he will take bfing then don't worry, he'll be fine

Original poster

VigourMortis · 30/04/2010 13:09

Oh dear still vile green this morning - it's been over a week now and last night he was writing in pain again .

I've taken him back to the doctor (same surgery different doctor) who said bland food is fine. He sent off a sample though just in case it's something weird.

I might try some plain boiled pasta - he's practically eating my shoes.

OP posts:

Sonilaa · 30/04/2010 13:18

my ds had a bad diarrhoea when 8 month old. I was worried because after 3 days it was still there. gp told me that it is not uncommon to last up to 2 weeks. she advisedme to feed him as normal but to also add live yoghurt to his diet.

cockles · 30/04/2010 13:24

Rice, stewed apple, toast, banana are the classic tummy bug foods, rice meant to be particularly good.

Tellhimhesdreaming · 01/05/2010 17:17

Hi OP; sounds like my 7 month old DD has the exact same bug! No temperature or anything just consistent bright yellow in our case diahorrea. I wasn't sure what to feed her either- pharmacist said just rehydration fluid but she's got an appetite and cries when that is all she gets. GP appointment Tuesday; long Bank holiday weekend for us! I wasn't sure either how long baby diahorrea should go on for. She's had it five days as well...

Seona1973 · 01/05/2010 19:54

Tellhimhesdreaming, are you not giving him milk feeds then as they should still be given their milk feeds along with the rehydration fluids.

from the nhs site:

If you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your child and they have diarrhoea, continue if they will still feed (use their normal-strength feed if they are bottle-fed). Rehydration drinks should also be given if necessary

Seona1973 · 01/05/2010 19:57

sorry, 'her' not 'him'

Original poster

VigourMortis · 01/05/2010 21:12

DS is worse today if anything. So miserable, and he's usually relentlessly cheerful.

His nappies are still green, plus I gave him some plain boiled pasta yesterday and a dry biscuit today and he threw them both up immediately. He's never sick!

I've reverted to breastfeeding only, which is hard because I was giving up so my supply is low but hopefully will come back a bit.

Tellhim ds goes nuts if I suggest a nice cup of water instead of a feed! Hope your DD gets better soon.

OP posts:

PixieOnaLeaf · 01/05/2010 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Flip

1 2