Dear Friends,
I have mother's permission to post. With Nikki's recent post about bloody
stools and Catherine's insightful reply, this letter comes at a time when
this topic is fresh on our minds. I am going to share a *brief* (:>)
synopsis of events, in the hopes that someone can offer some ideas as to
possible causes. My apologies in advance for the length.
Baby is now 11 months old, was induced at 38 weeks (head size); birth weight
was 7 lbs, lowest was 6 lbs 13ozs; mother has treated autoimmune thyroiditis
since age 14. This is mother's second baby; oversupply with first baby.
Mother feels oversupply this time is not as severe as it was with first
baby. I can get details if they would be helpful; mother was able to pump
copious amounts at that time.
Mother began treating for oversupply very early on, was only offering one
breast per feed; pumping for relief several times a day (for a total of 2 to
4 ounces daily). Saw IBCLC on day 8 pp primarily for engorgement. Began
sage tea, 1 qt daily.
Still somewhat engorged at 2 weeks pp.(7 lbs 2.5 ozs) Mother cannot go
without nursing more than 2 to 3 hours without pain.
2 months; 11 lbs- baby's stools are loose, green, and sometimes foamy.
Mother thinks these stools began when baby was 1 to 2 weeks old. Mother had
been drinking 2 quarts of sage/peppermint tea blend and writes, "During this
time if I did not drink the teas, I would get a rebound in supply within 24
hours."
First blood (small amount of blood and mucous) in stool seen one day after 4
month checkup. (13 lbs 8.5 ozs)Ped thinks it's a fissure.
6 months; 15 lbs 1 oz- discussed periodic blood in stools with Ped; babe was
given Pepcid with reflux since he had been arching his neck backward; Ped
not really sure there is a problem. Mother told to start rice cereal, then
yellow veggies followed by fruit. Baby given brown rice porridge with
increased irritability with loose green stools only every other day.
Baby also has had nasal stuffiness and fluid in one ear.
Back to pedi 8 days later, saw a different doc who suggested mother try a
trial off of dairy. She also suggested baby was just crying because he had
figured out how to be held.
Results of solids= scaly patches on buttocks/lower back area. Stopped rice,
applied cream and was resolved in about 3 weeks.
After baby was 7 months old, baby began exhibiting cold symptoms and began
having dark red flecks in stool. Tested positive for blood at docs, doc
said he saw a fissure, mother went off her dairy free diet.
During these last 10 days, baby has had bloody flecks/mucousy stools almost
every day.
Referal to GI ped; mother started hypoallergenic diet. Stopped creon
becuase it didn't seem to be working. Restarted creon after talking to GI
doc. Baby continues to have liquid stools for the last few weeks, still
blood and mucous about twice a week.
9 1/2 months, approximately, flexible sigmoidoscopy done. Results show
*many* little ulcerations in colon, significant inflammatory process. Blood
work including albumin, hemoglobin and hemocrit are normal; circulating iron
a bit low. Eosinophilus on biopsy is 40. Weight is 16 lbs 5 ozs.
End result- mother has been pumping and storing milk while her baby has been
on Neocate. On Neocate, stools are a thicker green, some dark gray flecks.
Mother hopes to get baby back to the breast as soon as she is able to.
However, mother is still concerned that her milk caused the problem in the
first place, and is worried that should he start nursing again, that this
problem will present itself again.
She would very much like to know what she could have done to avoid this
situation; if anything.
What are all of your thoughts? Any ideas on what caused this situation and
what she could have possibly done to eliminate, remedy, or treat it along
the way?
My sincere thanks to those of you still reading and willing to share your
experiences!
TIA!
Sincerely,
Tallis Milburn
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