Carolyn writes:
>Baby is 2 years old and almost exclusively breastfeeding. He refuses
almost all foods and has multiple food allergies, particularly dairy.<

Sensible child, knows what's bad for him. However, it is hard for a 2 year
old to get all the protein needed for his extensive growth needs from
breastmilk, which is not designed for life support at that age. And he
doesn't know how to make up his needs except by more of the same, the only
food that doesn't hurt or make him feel awful that he has experienced to
date. There are two ways to go here, in an intelligent infant feeding
system. Probably neither will happen, though there's a better chance at
Great Ormond Street than most places I can think of outside Scandinavia..

One is to get extra breastmilk and produce a concentrate that will
"fortify" (!!) his mothers' wonderful milk which is keeping him alive but
not necessarily growing optimally.

Two is to find suitable foods to which he is not sensitive, preferably with
a reasonably high caloric value as the last thing we need to do is displace
breastmilk with high fibre solids in a child whose need os for protein and
calories. So exotic foods, as far from his usual intakes as possible, and
chemical free.


>Baby will not sleep unless he is put to the breast.
Possibly half his intake comes during the night; sugar relieves gut pain;
body contact gives smooth muscle relaxation; etc etc: sensible child again
>I do not know what behavioural problems he has, but suspect that the
>breastfeeding and clinging to Mum are what the staff mean.,
Natural survival strategies.

What not to do?
>Staff are trying a hypoallergenic formula, he won't drink it.<
Ghastly stuff, and milk-based, and not always as low-antigen as it
theoretically should be, and about 10% of kids react badly. The mindset of
the health professional world has got stuck into the grooves created by
industry. If this child proceeds to TPN, as some will, it's all their
fault. There are better, more scientific, more rational, kinder solutions
but paediatricians won't use their brains to think about them, or their
skills and power to create them. In poverty-stricken East germany a decade
ago there were milkbanks for these children...

>What happens if he does not become hungry? Mum's supply will be gone. So
will be his means of comfort and security. ,
Amen to that. encourage her to try to keep it going in case...

>What is the point of giving hypoallergenic formula instead of breastmilk?<
Control and a naive belief that this is the solution because the costs and
failures aren't much talked about.

You're doing your best, Carolyn: it's the system that's stuffed. Pity about
the families it damages. their only remedy is to take control, and that's
almost impossible when you are that exhausted.

Maureen Minchin, IBCLC. Christ Church Vicarage, 14 Acland St., St.Kilda,
Vic. 3182 Australia. tel/fax: 61 3 9537 2640
"Taking paths of least resistance is what makes rivers - and people -
crooked." poster in Palmerston North NZ bookshop...