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Subject:
From:
Anne Merewood <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 17 Dec 1997 22:25:13 -0500
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Dear all - would appreciate your suggestions.
Mom with 3 month old (10.5lb; bweight 5.5lb) came to me for a pump after
her doctor prescribed one to help with 'low milk supply'. The milk supply
presumably dropped after she started to supplement. The reason she started
to supplement, however, is the problem we are now trying to solve.
Mom reports baby was always very colicky but this has nearly all gone now
though baby complains a lot. Baby sometimes nurses just fine, but other
times she pulls off screaming and pulls in her legs as soon as she has
started to swallow the milk. 'Like the milk hurts her stomach'. The baby is
totally unpredictable as to when it does this. It does not appear to be
linked to a meal consumed by Mom in the recent past, tho' Mom has not tried
total elimination of any one food eg dairy. Mom and Dad are Asian. But
there is no family history of dairy intolerance or food allergies.
Mom thought 'something wrong with my milk' and started to supplement with
soy formula (she chose soy for no apparent reason). After a few feeds, the
baby reacted the same way to the formula. So mom has re-established a good
milk supply and is phasing out the formula and returned baby to breast.
She is however very unhappy with baby's obvious anguish during some
feedings. Baby will latch, suck, scream, pull off, and then can be
comforted, but is clearly still hungry. (I watched a feed - this is exactly
what happened). Half an hour later they try again - sometimes the whole
cycle is repeated, other times 'especially if baby is very hungry' she eats
OK.
I myself had a baby that did this. It drove me completely bananas. Like
with this Mom, the health professionals did not worry because he was
gaining OK. But it was a huge problem for me. Finally he spit up blood and
they said better do something. He was eventually diagnosed with oesophogal
reflux. It was explained to me that the bottom of the oesophagus became
extremely irritated and painful because of stomach acids 'splashing out'
thru' an immature/under developed valve. When milk hit the sore spot, baby
screamed and stopped eating.
So... I am inclined to think this baby might have the same thing - she
certainly has the same sypmtoms - but  I don't want to be totally biased
due to personal experience.
This baby spits up some but not vast amounts [my baby never spitted up too
much either]. Mom reports that sometimes baby will spit up an hour after a
feed and the milk is still smooth uncurdled liquid, like it was never
digested at all.
Anyone concur on oesophagul reflux? Anything else it might be? Any other
stomach problems you've seen?
Anne Merewood
Nursing Mothers COuncilor

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