Hoping for some information and advice to pass on to this mother. Posted with her permission and gratitude for any support. Sorry this is kind of long. Baby boy is 8 weeks old, birthweight 7.14 pounds, weighed yesterday 11.5 pounds. Have been talking to mother on a semi-regular basis b/c her complaints of a gassy/fussy baby, lot of breast leakage, fullness, and discomfort which indicated oversupply. (She has a two year old who she said she never seemed to have enough milk for). Baby was healthy up until October 8. That day, mother reported baby was lethargic and hard to wake for feedings. In the evening she changed a diarrhea diaper that was very foul-smelling and contained blood. She was advised by her son's pediatrician to go to the Emergency Room. The baby was given IV fluids (no breastfeeds allowed) overnight and discharged the following afternoon. Mother was instructed to drop all dairy from her diet, as dr. suspects dairy allergy. Baby seemed better for a few days, then on October 11 mother again noticed the return of foul-smelling stools with blood. Mother was concerned at that point because she had replaced all of her dairy consumption with soy milk. When the 2nd episode of diarrhea occurred mother was advised that baby was probably allergic to soy as well, and to remove soy, broccoli, tomatoes, cabbage, and canned foods from her diet. The pediatrician also told mother to pump and dump her milk for two weeks while doing the elimination diet, and her baby was placed on Nutramigen formula. Mother tried this regimen for three days, and has again noticed the return of foul-smelling, blood-containing stools. She is not convinced that formula is or ever was necessary. It is her heartfelt belief that her baby caught a virus. Baby has been tested (all negative) for bacterial infections. It was mentioned to her that they were considering Rotavirus, but mother has had no confirmation of diagnosis. Baby has been prescribed "1/4 teaspoon of Mylanta twice a day for acid reflux" and mother has been advised to give Mylicon drops (for gas) before every feed. By yesterday's pediatrician check-up mother was told she can now reintroduce breastfeeding (the second doctor did not agree with the first that removing breastmilk was advisable, but did suggest mother maintain her now very restricted diet). Mother changed a "green mud with blood in it" diaper this a.m. Tests on stool confirm presence of blood. Mother also told me that the doctors said that based upon xrays they think her baby may have colitis or some other disorder. Throughout this period baby has never had a fever or other sign of illness other than the lethargy the first day and the uncommon stools. This baby was hospitalized at three days of life for dehydration/jaundice. He was given IV's and formula supplements and discharged the next day. He has been given nothing but breastmilk (mostly at breast with an occasional bottle of expressed breastmilk) since then. I have referred the mother to a pediatrician who I know is also an LLL leader, and also to our local hospital's lactation clinic for further eval and second opinions. This is the same hospital where her baby has been admitted previously. Mom is very frustrated, as she has gotten some seemingly contradictory advice. For instance, the ingredients of Nutramigen show that it is soy, yet she has been told to eliminate soy from her diet. Also, mother was put on a calcium supplement (viactive)since she was eliminating dairy, yet when she read the label on viactive it has several milk-derived ingredients. She is frustrated and unhappy, and I am the only person who is on "her" side. Her husband and family are pressuring her to wean the baby to formula, just as she was pressured to supplement and/or wean her first son. She does not want to give up what she "knows is best". She has dug in her heels, but now she is on a limited diet and the doctors are recommending more invasive tests on her son. *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html