Does anyone have expereince with multiple dietary protein
imbalance in an infant?  We have a client in our program who has a 9
month old (d.o.b. 2/19/95) daughter diagnosed with this condition.  She
has been exclusively breastfed since birth and has developed well.  She
weighs about 17.5 pounds (.5 pound gain in past month), is otherwise
healthy, happy, and developmentally on target.  Her pediatrician
has said she will not be able to get all she needs from breastmilk from
now on and that she should be supplemented with abm.  Mom tried regular
formulas and baby was miserable.  She was then told to use alimentin
(sp.).  Baby was also miserable when taking it--cried like in pain,
restless, generally unhappy with interrupted sleep--would wake every
hour, crying.  When mom stopped the abm, baby went back to her old
self--happy, calm, sleeps well, etc.  Doctor does not believe baby is
reacting to abm.  Wants mom to continue.  Dr. also said that breast milk
is no longer a complete food beyond nine months.
        The mother would like to continue breastfeeding as long as
possible and discontinue abm.  I have no experience with this condition
and would appreciate any input.  They're talking about a feeding tube if
baby really can't tolerate abm.  What advantage does abm have over breast
milk at this point??  I have personally known allergic babies (and some
without obvious allergies) who were on breast milk alone for up to 18
months with no ill effects.  However, since I am unfamiliar with this
protein intolerance, I don't feel I can advise her.  Should she consult a
nutritionist?  Any ideas, input, experiences would be appreciated.

Ruth DeRosa, IBCLC  BabyBEST Program Frederick Memorial Hospital Maryland
 ==========================================================================
Anthony M. DeRosa                             Tony DeRosa
Thomas S. Wootton High School                 628 Biggs Avenue
2100 Wootton Parkway                          Frederick, MD  21702
Rockville, MD  20850                          (301) 663-0273
(301) 279-8587
                         [log in to unmask]
 ==========================================================================