Diane, you asked if anyone would like to comment.  Where does one start?

>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.

If she had been "trying" breastmilk and had the same results as in the
above paragraph, would this ped. be saying she could "try Nutramigen again
if she wanted to."  I don't remember anyone saying that she could try the
Nutramigen "if she wanted to."  The outcome of this trial is a failure.
And the MDs just can't believe it.  How can anyone fail to heal and thrive
on a food that is concocted in a laboratory by smart men?

>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

What?!!

The baby was gaining fine on his mother's milk and his allergic reactions
were the same as on this stuff. 5 weeks is long enough to show that this
experiment was a failure.

>and feels the mother risks malnutrition if she eliminates too many foods
>from her own diet.

Which is another way of saying that he doesn't know of any diets other than
the standard American diet.  There are a lot of people who are very well
nourished with foods that are not allergenic. It does take some educating
but I'll bet the mother could educate herself in nutrition, even if this
doctor can't.

 The ped, after talking w/ the allergist, called the
>mother to concur.

Even with the failed outcome, including weight loss?!!

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

Here are some rational comments.

With the symptoms he has, I would definitely begin with a clean sweep of
dairy foods, reading labels for hidden dairy. Wheat seems to be a common
allergen with exzema too.  I would recommend eliminating eggs for now too.

She can focus on vegetables and fruits and, if she eats it, meat.  She can
use rice or potatoes for her starch.  With the above, she can nourish
herself quite well.  She would need a calcium/magnesium/zinc supplement to
take the place of the dairy. She will need encouragement as well as dietary
suggestions, but I have worked with many women who find a great diet after
eliminating what is offending to their babies. Many times they find
themselves better nourished than before.

I find it helpful to guide a mother in what she CAN eat (and likes) instead
of focusing on what she can't.

Oh, she could use a reminder that SHE is responsible for her infant.  These
ill-informed people are giving *suggestions* and she still has a choice.
They tried something and it didn't work, now it is her turn to take over.
She can follow their suggestions "if she really wants to."

I hope you can help her find her own power in this case of her baby's well
being.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee
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