EATers come and share your experiences and support others going through the study.

[100years]

Hi EATers.

I thought it would be nice to have a place to chat about the study and how you are getting along with either side for those who are enrolled.

A little about us. My daughter is just over 22 weeks. We are in the control side of the study, so she is EBF and there have been no foods introduced at all. I know a lot of people who have LOs the same age as my daughter who have started weaning and I do wonder if I should be doing the same, but I don't think she is ready, plus I am quite keen on being able to get to 6 months and be part of that 1% who have EBF. I would have also been quite happy to have been part of the introduction side of the study, but now I'm not I've got 6 months EBF firmly fixed in my head!

A very polite request for people who aren't enrolled or don't think it's something that should be done, please don't post in here. It's not a thread for discussion about whether or not it's ethical, or whether you would or wouldn't do it yourself, this is just a thread to chat about it for those who have decided that they want to take part, there are other places for the AIBU side of things etc etc, so please don't turn this into anything other than what it's designed for. Please :) That is the reason I've put it in other subjects, so as it's kept a thread for chatting about it and how we are getting on going through it. :)

Hi 100years,
Thankyou for setting up the thread - really looking forward to hearing how people are getting on. I'll introduce myself as well!!
My son is 4.5 months (Ive lost count of weeks - he was born Sep 22nd!) and we are in the introductory side of the study. I guess if I am honest I wanted to be on the EBF arm - as I breastfed my daughter exclusively for 6 months and then continued until she was 20 months. I was pretty proud of myself to get to 6 months and she never seemed to need more. You will be fine EBF for 6 months having got this far!!
My son is a pretty big baby so he has a healthy appetite!! I actually spoke to the Eat dietician last week as he is hitting the 100% food guidelines easily so I wondered about giving more food. But as the aim of the study is more about food exposure than weaning I am just giving the main food and then breastfeeding so still breastfeeding 6-7 times a day.

So far we have introduced yoghurt, peanut butter, egg, fish and lastly seasme and then next week the last food wheat. I mix most of them with fruit puree and breastmilk so its not too strong. He has been so easy to feed - think as he is a big boy (17,5 lbs already!!)

We decided to take part as my daughter who is approaching four has severe eczema and has a wheat and dairy allergy. I EBF her for 6 months and she was completely eczema free untill we started weaning. This is a subject I am very passionate about so am really pleased to be involved and not only help in the research but also have access to specialists in this field.

Looking forward to hearing more from other people enrolled.

xxx

Thanks from me, too, 100years. My DS (14mo) has just been for his one year appointment and all went well, no signs of any sensitivities thus far.

I think the study is a great piece of work and we're really happy to be taking part. That said, DS lost his patience rather when he was at St. T's. . . I wimped out of having the bloods done at the one year trip, as he had a couple of hospital visits when he was a few months old and had to have bloods taken then and it wasn't a happy experience.

Sorry to hear about your DD's eczema and allergy probs, Mama, I hope this study goes on to add to the body of knowledge about allergy etc. it's a very complex area, that's for sure.

Hope all continues to go well for you both on the study.

Hello, thanks for setting this up 100years.
My DD (11 months) is due to go in for our one year appointment in the next few weeks.
Kittie I didn't realise you could opt out of the blood test. Were they fine with this? I will probably go ahead with it anyway, unless DD kicks up a stink, I have been wondering how on earth they manage to take blood from a wriggling, writhing tot...
We are in the introduction group, so have been successfully giving the foods for ages now. I don't find it too hard to keep up with the amounts, the only food I have to really remind myself about is the sesame. Every other food she has regularly anyway, so I no longer measure it out or worry if she has had enough. How are others getting the sesame into the diet regularly?

I too was happy to be in either group, I BF DD1 (now 5yo) until 5 months, so I knew I could do it if I was put into the control arm of the study, but I also introduced baby rice to DD1 at 15 weeks, so wasn't averse to early introduction either.

So far, neither of my DD have suffered with eczema, even though I am an eczema, asthma and hay-fever sufferer myself. Fingers crossed it stays that way, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Hey, raising embers I've only been going with the food a few weeks but can see sesame being the only tricky one, it's pretty strong tasting so mixing it up but any recipe ideas welcome!!

My DS is such a chunk that he hits the targets already!! Ha ha everyone laughs at his thighs (not bad for a b/f baby!!). He has just been eyeing up his sisters bakewell tart!!

Hope the kids stay eczema asthma free ....it's tough and never ending!!

Hi Mamabear, your LO is only a couple of weeks younger than my LO. Wow to his size, lovely big boy you have there :) My LO is still less than 14lbs! She was a small baby when born which surprised all of us, 6lb9, when I was expecting and growth scans were predicting her to be high 8lbs nearly 9lbs! So wrt the introduction arm of the study, you are not giving food like a normal weaning process then? tbh I didn't know how it would work and as we are in the control arm I didn't look any further about how you would do it.

Hey Kittie. I hope all of your other hospital visits are over and done with for your DS. Which side are you on?

Hi RaisingEmbers, glad to hear that you have been giving the foods successfully without any problems :)

Sorry for late reply, I've not not popped back here for a bit.

RaisingEmbers They were fine with us opting out of the blood tests but I assume they're more grateful, and it's more useful, if bloods can be taken. DS hit the roof when they put the potentially allergenic solutions on his arm, that was before they pricked his skin. Can't think where he gets his drama queen streak from... Have you had the appt yet?

100years yes, thankfully no more hospital panics, the last one was when he was about three months, so a while ago. Think he was just keeping us on our toes!

Hope all is going well for you all.

I have been given our one year appointment which isn't until May! So DD will be 14 months then. Well I guess they know what they are doing...!
They also asked if I could bring a dirty nappy with me as they want to collect a stool sample, which is a new thing apparently, and have sent me an updated consent form.
Mamabear, I really don't have any suggestions for sesame, I just used to mix in half a teaspoon with the baby puree, and then as she got older I mixed it in with the lumpier foods. I tend to only put it in with the savoury dishes, like chicken casserole etc. I am never certain if she has the full weekly amount though, as I am never keen to flavour her meals too strongly with Tahini, or she wont get to know the real flavours! I supplemented it with mini sesame bread sticks, as soon as she was on proper finger foods. I also try to buy bread with sesame seeds on, so at least I know she is getting some sesame, without having to mix it in to all her dinners!

Oooh yes, with the tahini, I cover sultanas in it for DS, he also has it in porridge and mashed potato. None of which helps for v little ones though... DS was 14 mo at his appt too and we too had to do the nappy sample. Pity the poor bugger with that job!

Hello all, just found the message (sorry, usually on here on my phone so I never check my inbox . I'm just marking my place atm, but there are a couple of points it would be good to check over with others.

See you when all the usual jobs are done!

Right, that took a while...

Hello everybody! I have a DD, 2.8, and a DS, 8m. After weaning DD at 5m I was more than happy to be in the early intro group but no, ebf 'til 6m for us!

But DS is such a tiny little thing he didn't feed quite as much as DD did so it hasn't been such hard work, thank god. They told me they would understand if I started him a little early, so, as I wanted to give him Christmas dinner, he had baby rice at 24 weeks. But only that for about ten days, then just veg for ages after.

Introducing yoghurt, eggs, wheat and fish have been no problem, but if anyone has anymore tips for sesame I'd be very grateful. I'm going to try those suggested above (many thanks already).

Right, off to check my emails to see if the next questionnaire is through yet. I'm not very good at remembering to check and keep getting 2nd reminders.

Hi all,

Thanks for ideas re tahini when DS is little bit older. We have had to take egg out of diet for a while as he was projectile vomitting after. So will wait and see what happens with that. everything else is going great.

Was just wondering as he is approaching 6 months when you would normally wean with all sorts of foods, when did people who have been going a while introduce other foods likes lentils, potatoe, bread, meats?

Right better get going to school......!! Another morning over.

Hi all! Resurrecting this thread just to ask those who've been to the one year check, does it really take two hours? Need to plan trains, meals and DD's time with DGM.

Thank-you

Hi Mrs Wembley - I hope this message isn't too late, but yes, it takes a fair while. I'm sure it took virtually the whole two hours.
Have you been for your yet?

Ha, no, had to reschedule due to chicken pox:) Thank-you for letting me know, now I can plan the trains and stuff. Was the blood taking horrible again? Not looking forward to that bit.