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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

CMPA in breastfed 6 month old

14 replies

Fieau · 07/11/2018 17:42

I'm posting here as a bit of a last resort after feeling very let down by the doctors I have seen.

Long story short, my six month old baby has suffered with terrible confession at night since he was born. A month ago they decided that this is because he has a cows milk protein allergy, and that to test this I should exclude dairy from my diet and see if there was any improvement. The paediatrician said we would have a follow up appointment to check how it was going. When I got the appointment letter through the post it is for six months time and when I have called to query this have been told there are no earlier appointments.

So now I have been left in limbo with no idea how to move on from here. I am not sure I have noticed any difference in his congestion, although my husband thinks there is an improvement. Now that we have started introducing solid food I do not want to exclude dairy from his diet for the next six months if there is no need.

How do I tell if he actually has CMPA? Do I just start back eating dairy myself and see if any difference? Should I try him with some dairy? I'm feeling very confused and cross that I have been given no advice and no support in what my next steps are.

Any help from mums who had possible CMPA in their exclusively breast fed babies?

OP posts:
Original poster
Fieau · 07/11/2018 17:43

Sorry congestion at night....not confession.

OP posts:
stellavisionandunderstanding · 07/11/2018 17:59

I would post on the Breastfeeding Support and Information UK Facebook page. The admin and community on there seem to be full on informative people.

Original poster
Fieau · 07/11/2018 18:51

OK thanks, I didnt think that sort of group would cover something like this.

OP posts:
Mylittlepony374 · 07/11/2018 19:04

Can you access a Dietitian where you are?. A friend in similar situation eliminated dairy for duration of exclusive breastfeeding then when weaning used "The Milk Ladder" to introduce dairy. You can google it. But I'm not sure of severity of her child's issue & I know she used the ladder under Dietitian advice so would think that could be a first step of possible?

JiltedJohnsJulie · 07/11/2018 19:26

Do his symptoms sound anything like these?

Original poster
Fieau · 07/11/2018 20:14

@jiltedjohnsjulie he only has three of the symptoms from that list. I'm really not convinced he has CMPA.... I feel like the doctors have suggested it as a way to shut me up for a while? And if he doesn't have CMPA then he should be having dairy, but I just don't know how to know if he has it or not.

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 07/11/2018 20:19

OK, if it helps, I have CMPA. Which 3 symptoms does he have?

Nutkins24 · 07/11/2018 20:29

Sorry op it sounds like they are stabbing in the dark. Personally I wouldn’t withhold dairy from his diet. I found that cmpa is the 1st thing doctors go for when babies present with allergy symptoms, they did the same to me when dd came up in a rash and vomited when we weaned her. It wasn’t cmpa. It’s well accepted now that early exposure to certain allergens reduces the risk of long term allergy, and as Cmpa is often something they grow out of anyway I’d be inclined to think if he has a mild intolerance withholding might make it worse? Surely if you start him on dairy and his symptoms worsen you will have more of a clue.

Original poster
Fieau · 07/11/2018 21:02

@jiltedjohnsjulie the three symptoms from that list are back arching, diarrhea and wheezing. Although his breathing issue is more like he is so congested at night he struggles to breathe and snorts.

@nutkins24 that's exactly how I feel. It feels as though I am just being platicated with this, like They think any answer will do never mind if it's the right one?

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 07/11/2018 21:19

The three symptoms you describe would suggest IGE CMPA. I definite wouldn't try him with dairy at this stage. How long has it been now since he and you had any dairy?

Has he been referred to a Paediatric Dietician?

Original poster
Fieau · 07/11/2018 21:37

I haven't had dairy for just over a month (mostly.... There have been a couple of times when I've accidentally eaten something and realised afterwards there would be Dairy As one of the ingredients).

The paediatrician just suggested I cut out dairy, see if it made any difference and we'd discuss it at the follow up appointment. It wasn't actually the reason we were seeing her, we were there because of his heart and I thought these symptoms might be connected but she said they were two separate issues.

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 07/11/2018 22:15

If you’ve had dairy twice, I’d leave it till he’s had a least a month of being completely DF before you decide what you want to do. Dairy can take bloodyvages to get out of your system. I’m non-ige but one lot of dairy can easily take over 2 weeks for the symptoms to stop.

Original poster
Fieau · 08/11/2018 03:36

How soon after I had dairy would symptoms start back up? (as in would it be hours/days?)

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 08/11/2018 17:58

That entirely depends on whether baby is ice or non ige. It could be immediate, hours or even days.

Have you read the Kellymom information on dairy?. It explains the difference between ige and non-ige better than I could Smile

If you’re not convinced it’s CMPA. Could you push for the appointment to be brought forward? Would paying privately to see a Paed specialising in allergies becan option?

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