A woman rented a pump from me 4 weeks ago so she could switch her 5 month
old to Nutramigen for 2 weeks.  She was switching on the advice of a
pediatrician, a pediatric gastroenterologist, and an allergist, all of whom
felt the switch was necessary to clear up the baby's eczema and
once-or-twice-a-week blood-streaked stool.  (The gastroenterologist didn't
feel it was necessary for the bleeding, which was slowly improving, but for
the eczema.)

Now she's starting Week 5 on Nutramigen.  The baby, now 6 months old, has
lost 5 oz in  4 weeks, has had 2 infections for which he's been treated
with Keflex and anti-itch medicine, continues to have eczema, and had blood
in his stool just over a week ago.

The pediatrician felt she could try nursing again if she really wanted to.
The allergist was adamantly opposed.  He feels she needs to stay on the
formula until the baby starts to gain weight, or at least another 2 weeks,
and feels the mother risks malnutrition if she eliminates too many foods
from her own diet.  The ped, after talking w/ the allergist, called the
mother to concur.

Would anyone like to comment?  I'll pass your comments along to the mother.

Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC  Ithaca, NY