Generally breastfeeding babies who have obvious blood in their stool, 
without any other pathology found, have a colitis to cows milk and soy 
protein. If the baby is otherwise looking great with good weight gain, 
not vomiting, happy and unbothered by their GI tract, there is 
absolutely no reason to wean!
It takes a good 6-8 weeks to see the blood in the stool go away after 
mom stops dairy and soy. I often have moms take pancreatic enzymes, 
which anecdotally seems to help the problem by breaking down food in the 
maternal gut before the antigens go into her blood stream and into the 
breastmilk (I usually prescribe the brand Creon).
Usually these babies are OK to be reintroduced to dairy and soy at 
around 12 months of age, and they no longer have this issue.
In the case presented, it sounds like folks are overreacting. This 
problem is not uncommon, except that most peds GI docs don't know 
anything about normative feeding, ie breastfeeding. Sometimes I appease 
folks by having the babies seen by a peds allergist who is comfortable 
with the plan above, so that the baby doesn't get pushed off the breast.
Be aware that a baby who is failing to thrive, acts ill, vomiting, has 
pain, should be worked up for other pathologies.
Anne Eglash MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Dept of Family Medicine
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
600 N. 8th St.
Mount Horeb, WI, 53572
608-437-3064 (O)
608-437-4542 (fax)

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