I have several comments about this thread. I do indeed agree that the rapid weight gain does suggest a possible O/S, but as one person mentioned, the baby may actually be feeding excessively intentionally, which can happen with reflux, as the milk is comforting. Reflux in turn can usually be traced to tongue-tie, food allergies or structural misalignment, which of course may be interconnected. So, I would thoroughly evaluate these issues once more. And O/S itself has causes that may be baby-directed (such as TT or reflux) or maternal-directed such as inflammation.


Poor gut health is often associated with all of the above---oversupply, TT, reflux, and structural misalignment. Even if the baby might not have tended toward allergies, she will often develop them when these other situations are present, causing gut damage over time. Further, it is my opinion that in most cases of infant gut damage, there is maternal inflammation and gut damage. 


One person suggested that mom look for cheap grocery store bread to avoid whey. In my experience, the cheapest products have the most harmful ingredients. Worse, however, is that the mother's gut will not heal when she eats cheap, poor quality food. Part of my approach, if food allergies are involved, is healing the mother through excellent nutrition. 


I also do not think a mom who is not vegetarian needs to become vegan--but the expectation that vegans live on soy and wheat products in inaccurate. My family is vegan, as well as gluten-free and primarily soy-free. A clean, grain-free vegan diet would certainly be one of the cleanest options for someone inclined to eliminate most risky foods. That said, I do not like to recommend elimination or vegan diets to assess allergens. I refer for muscle testing when at all possible. It is much more accurate and avoids eliminating foods that mom can safely eat. 


When I have to guess, I do not ever just eliminate foods without supporting gut healing. Nutrient-dense foods, probiotics, digestive enzymes and vitamin D are where I typically begin. I tend to pick foods based on the mom's diet, not the "top allergens". But, you can eliminate all the foods you want, but without addressing the cause--TT, structure, leaky gut--more will tend to keep turning up.




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
















Date:    Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:31:07 -0400
From:    Loes Lindsay <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: blood in stool

Hello all,
 
With permission to post, I have a mom of a 2 month old that contacted me after 
seeing her pediatrician and a specialist about her son having blood in his 
stool.  She was advised by the specialist to stop breastfeeding, but her gut is 
telling her not to :)
 
Below is her story:
"My baby is two months old and has been having blood in his stool since he was 
two weeks old.  I have been dairy free for about a month and this past week I 
have begun a vegan diet.  He still has blood in stool and is extemely fussy when 
going to the bathroom.  The specialist wants me to start formula but I do not 
want to go that route yet.  My pediatrician is all for breastfeeding but we do 
not know what else I should try.  I am really confused about what to do and I am 
hoping that a lactation consultant can advise me in the right direction.  My gut 
is telling me to not stop trying.  I really do not want to start formula feeding 
my baby until 6 months old.  Have you heard of this before and what else can I 
try? My baby is in pain from a possible milk allergy and I don't want to keep 
inflicting this on him but I know breastmilk is so much better than formula!  An 
anal fissure and overlactation have been ruled out already so what else could it 
be if not a milk allergy?!"
 
 
then I asked her for more details, and she wrote this:
"I stopped with my dairy consumption because the pediatrician recommended it 
after he had blood in his stool for two weeks.  The painful bowel movements 
started after he was two weeks old (may 18) and I stopped the dairy on May 28th.  
There are no allergy issues in my family and my husband had some minor lactose 
problems as a child (never as a baby) but outgrew them.  Andrew (my baby) is a 
very healthy baby otherwise and the pediatrician could not think of what it 
could be because no secondary symptoms were present so he advised us to see a 
pediatric gastro. specialist.  After completing a stool dye test, he concluded 
that it must be a milk allergy because he has no other signs.  I asked if there 
were any other diets I could try but he said I could starve myself and it 
probably would not make a difference so formula was the way I had to go.  I 
disregarded his recommendation with the support of my pediatrician who also 
wants me to continue breastfeeding and have changed my diet again and I have an 
appointment to see another specialist next week. I have no medical issues and 
neither of us are on meds but I am taking prenatal vitamins plus an iron 
supplement.  Andrew has a bowel movement after each feedings and they are pretty 
explosive.  In the beginning they were yellow mustard where now they have become 
more brown and green and sometimes appear to be watery which could mean diarrhea 
but the doctors do not think it is.  He has gained weight consistently since he 
was born.  He was born at 9lbs. and 21 1/2 inches, left the hospital at 8.4lbs. 
and each week he gained at least 8 ounces and last week he gained a full pound.  
He is currently 12 lbs and 24 inches long.  He is generally a very happy baby 
and laughs and is very alert most of the day with the exception of going to the 
bathroom.  It seems to hurt him so much that it wakes him from his sleep.  We 
have tried mylicon and gripe water which definitely helps him release gas but 
does not alleviate the actual stool passing.  I appreciate you taking the time 
to help me.  This is all very emotional and like I said before, my gut is 
telling me I should not give up on breastfeeding yet."
 
I have not seen her yet, and I would want to rule out a maternal source of the 
blood first, but does anyone have any other suggestions? Have you had experience 
with a similar situation? Is this strict diet really necessary for mom?  It 
seems like it is not making a difference...
 
thank you very much!
Loes
Loes Lindsay, RN, BS, IBCLC, RLC
Bellies and Babies Inc.
East Setauket, New York 11733
1.631.487.7130
www.belliesandbabies.org
 









 


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