Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 18:23:13 -0500 From: Esther Oppliger <[log in to unmask]> X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01 (Win95; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Breastfeeding mom with diarrhea Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I talked to a mom today who has an eight day old baby, and the mom is having extreme problems with gas building up during every breastfeeding and then diarrhea each time as well. This problem started three days ago. She nursed a previous baby without problems. Mom is lactose intolerant. She had some problems with diarrhea during the last couple months of pregnancy and stopped taking her Prenate Ultra with a little success. She is currently taking the same vitamin. She did take some Milk of Magnesia a few days ago after delivery when she felt she might be getting constipated. She says the baby is doing fine. She is about ready to give up breastfeeding because she feels such discomfort with the gas and then urgency with the diarrhea during each feeding. She doesn't feel like she is able to take care of her baby and tend to her four year old. I have never heard of this occurrence. I did a brief search of the archives and did not come up with anything related to mothers with diarrhea during breastfeeding. I suggested she stop the prenatal vitamin, try to preserve breastfeeding by at least nursing every other feeding, perhaps try pumping to see if she gets the same reaction. Could there be something hormonally related that stimulates the gut? I am at a loss. Thanks, Esther Oppliger, ARNP, IBCLC Garden City, Kansas