Talk to me about CMPA

[Oxalis00]

Parents of babies with CMPA, what were the symptoms? DS is 4 months and EBF. He’s always had very runny poos, and I have noticed mucus from time to time. Yesterday I ate a LOT of cheese (festive gathering) and his nappy today has been really mucusy, with a spot of what looks like blood. But I don’t think we have any other symptoms - no vomiting or rash or pain. He has dropped centiles since birth (roughly 75th to 35th) but HVs aren’t worried and say he’s growing long rather than chubby. Should I consider the possibility of CMPA and do an elimination diet? I don’t eat meat so losing dairy would be difficult. Or is this just my anxiety talking and nothing to worry about unless there are other symptoms? Help please!

My little one never got the rash or vomiting. It was always nappies like you describe and really severe stomach pains. Also he was a windy devil. Maybe try elimination for a few weeks and see if that changes anything. Just to add, mine was FF so I don't know what a BF nappy is supposed to be like

No vomiting/rash/pain
Very running nappies, ph levels completely out of whack causing redness and sores from every dirty nappy
Mucus in his ENT system, constantly told it was ear infections.
His issues became obvious when I was forced by HV to switch to formula as they said he wasn't gaining enough. He's 21 now so this was before charts for BF babies existed and when support for BF was very low. I grew up on goats milk so didn't really drink milk, yoghurt and cheese with a jacket potato was about it for my dairy intake. FF caused the horrendous nappies, but only blood was from where his skin was red raw.

Could you switch to goats milk for your dairy intake? It's a much gentler milk and different proteins

I'm actually going through this at the moment too. Baby is 6 months and has had horrendous reflux / colic. I am EBF but don't eat a lot of dairy. I tried her with formula and she had 4 runny / mucous nappy. Back to BF and I'm going to get her a GP apt to see about switching to prescription formula.

Thanks everyone, really helpful to hear some stories - it’s interesting to see how the presentation can be quite varied. I’m sorry for all the stresses of getting a diagnosis and figuring out how to manage it. @POTC especially sorry there wasn’t better understanding and breastfeeding support when you were going through this. @itsmschanandlerbong Sounds so stressful, for you and baby. Were you planning on switching to formula anyway?

I’m happy not to drink cow’s milk - in fact I had alternatives for a long time as I thought as a teen it might be making my acne worse. I’ve just dabbled again in the last year or so and I’ve had bouts of rosacea so maybe that’s a sign…! It’s the cheese I’d miss, and I already struggle for protein without meat.

Does CMPA do damage internally? So even if the baby isn’t in pain does it need to be addressed?

I guess trialling an elimination diet is the next step. Not ideal timing with Christmas visits coming up! 🙄

Thoughts on symptoms: DS doesn’t have any issues with nappy rash, thankfully. He does have a fair bit of nasal congestion but I’d put that down to having an older sibling who likes to kiss and lick him and pass on nursery bugs! Maybe a bit of silent reflux in the first six weeks or so, but improved now. Generally he’s a happy chap which is why I haven’t addressed drop in centiles or mucus in poo before now. Could you have CMPA and not be too bothered by it?!

With mine are not too bothered with it now, if it's an intolerance rather than an allergy then the amount consumed will change how significant the symptoms are. It won't be as much coming through your milk as if it were a drink of cows milk so that will affect it.

With Cmpa dairy can make you snotty so that's possibly a symptom

Nasal congestion was my DDs first symptom, along with mucus in the nappy. As a veggie this may be tough, but worth considering eliminating soya along with dairy and lots of CMPA babies are also allergic to soya. So people often think eliminating dairy hadn’t helped but if they’ve switched to soya you can just be changing the problem

Good point @PeopleAreToads - I’ll try oat milk this week for a soft launch! Not sure I’m ready to quit cheese and butter yet 😖 but I’ll bring it up with HV and see if they’ve any advice.

My son had this and since birth he wouldn't settle, cried after every feed, forceful vomitting, vinegary smelling runny mucousy poos and as the weeks progressed developed rash all over his body. Once we were put on amino acid formula it all made sense and his symptoms settled almost overnight. As he was my first I had no idea what was normal.

My second baby has terrible reflux and is sick after every feed but also happy and settled and the sickness doesn't bother her in the slightest, I did worry about CMPA with her but there's no signs of discomfort at all and her nappies are normal and she sleeps really well.

You know your baby better than anyone, I really had to push doctors to get my son diagnosed. We did have a referral to the allergy team and at 18 months we successfully started the milk ladder reintroduction and now at 7 he lives on dairy, it was a long road but I do recommend seeing a GP as they can refer you for tests/ to get support with this.