Alicia,
I find it more frequent than not that babies who have one allergy have more and that babies who exhibit signs of allergy will develop new allergens after a period of elimination of the first allergen. I do believe in the very amazing healing power of human milk, but I do not think that every baby, or even the majority of babies will heal w/o additional support.

I agree with Kathy--too many moms, docs and LCs overlook the fact that the milk of the cow comes from the same animal as the flesh of the cow. I tend to warn moms that they may need to eliminate both, but they can try the cow milk first. If the baby is really miserable or damaged, I suggest both right away.

There are several other factors I always consider.

First, moms will often increase other common allergens when they remove the first. So, suddenly mom, who eliminated cow milk is eating soy everything--milk, meat substitutes and cheese (which usually contains cow milk products). I warn moms from the beginning not to replace an old allergen with a new one.

Secondly, I never believe a mother who tells me she has no allergies. It is almost never true. I ask questions that help me determine if it is likely she has allergies. I ask questions about diet, food cravings, skin conditions, mucus production, sinus infections, asthma, UTIs, gastric symptoms, reflux, hormone imbalances/fertility issues, history of depression, environmental allergens and of course consider her BMI. Most moms with allergic babies do indeed have significant indications of allergy that they believe is "normal" and have learned to ignore.

Sometimes you have that fluky baby who is just allergic to cow milk and is a glowing, happy baby after elimination. That is not common in my experience, though. More often I see kids who are better, but not wholly well. Commonly the babies will develop new allergens within a couple of weeks. If mom has a leaky gut that she does not heal, she is passing both antigens and proteins into her blood supply.

So, my preference is always for the mother to have the baby and herself muscle-tested for allergens so she can know exactly what to eliminate for both of them. I also will use nutrient-dense foods for mom so that she will feel better and be more inclined to pass up the crap. Mom and baby should both take probiotics and mom may also need digestive enzymes and other gut healing herbs or supplements if she is nutrient-starved.? EFAs are anti-inflammatory and essential. The bottom line--we do not outgrow allergens, but the gut can heal. Babies can heal on breastmilk, but not likely if mom has a leaky gut. So, my approach: heal the mom, heal the baby


Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA
Intuitive Parenting Network LLC





Date:    Mon, 5 Jan 2009 20:34:50 -0500
From:    Alicia Burgett <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: re-visit bloody stool, but w/twist

Dear experienced ones,

Okay, i've searched thru the archives going back to 2000.  i've reviewed =
my=20
own files and researched some new ones online. Hopefully, this will be a =
quick=20
question:

(permission to post) - Recently, i've had two moms within two weeks of ea=
ch=20
other present their newborns with copious bloody stools before 4th week o=
f=20
age.  Both moms exclusively nursing, in constant contact w/newborns, in=20=

normal health, w/good support systems at home.  Both immediately followed=
=20
the dairy elimination protocol, (not so quick to eliminate soy).  Neither=
 one had=20
started vit. D supplements w/baby.  Both of them reported improving diape=
rs=20
within first two weeks, to the point of no visible blood, dark or bright =
red.=20=20
Everyone is happy.  Then, suddenly, two to three days of copious bloody=20=

stools again.  (That is the question, for those who don't want to read al=
l the=20
details, lol!).

As the first mom put it, 'it definitely got worse before it got better'. =
 Her baby=20
is now seemingly healing, happy, and mom is now totally dairy and soy-fre=
e in=20
her diet.  She is about 2+ weeks ahead of the second mom in this timeline=
.=20=20

The second mom is just now struggling with day three of this second round=
 of=20
bloody stools, although she admits today is much better than before.  She=
 has=20
not given up soy yet, but says she is starting ASAP.  Assures me of=20
compliance on the dairy issue.  She is really wanting some explanation as=
 to=20
why it gets better, then worse, then hopefully better. Plus, she has had =
no=20
support from her ped.  Feels guilty for not immediately putting baby on f=
ormula=20
for one week.  She is now doubting herself a bit for deciding to have fai=
th in=20
her milk.  By all accounts, she is in great, normal healthy postpartum, s=
he has=20
no allergies herself, no medical issues.=20

The only thing i wonder about is comments i've heard about 'healing crisi=
s', or=20
possibly the gut going through a 'house cleaning'.  Just getting rid of=20=

the 'remnants' perhaps?  (There's my question!, :-))

BTW, both babies have normal hemoglobin, good weight gain overall, lots o=
f=20
wet diapers, of course.

Both moms do have OAMER, and within first week, were practicing block=20
feeding, and both very aware of making feeds easier for babies.  Explosiv=
e,=20
frothy stools abated almost immediately.  I would imagine that that issue=
 may=20
not be as likely a cause of renewed bloody stools if both moms were feedi=
ng=20
like they say they are?

I am including all this info so as to clarify that i've been thorough wit=
h these=20
two moms in particular (at least, i hope!).  The crux of this post is, wh=
at's up=20
with the second round of bloody stools?  Any cases out there you would ca=
re=20
to share?  Okay, sorry this wasn't so quick after all!










             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome