Hi Lacnutters.  I could use some help on this one and would love to pick
your brains if you'll let me =)

I have mom's permission to bring this to you.  Her daughter is 11 months
old now.  Around 2 months of age, daughter began to projectile vomit entire
feedings.  Mom was also beginning to see mucousy blood in her stool.  After
subjecting her to an upper GI to rule out other problems, the doctors
figured that she was most likely experiencing a food allergy through breast
milk (Mom was exclusively breastfeeding at that time).  Milk was believed
to be the most likely culprit so mom eliminated all sources of milk in her
diet (including things like whey and cassein).  The projectile vomiting
stopped a few days after this diet change.  It took about 2-3 weeks for the
blood to stop completely (microscopically).  She continued to still spit-up
frequently so mom also decided to eliminate soy products from her diet, as
a lot of babies who are allergic to milk are also allergic to soy.  That
seemed to almost stop the spitting-up completely.  She had felt that things
had been going well with her daughter since then.  Her disposition improved
and she has been on target or ahead for most of her milestones (except the
crawling and walking thing where she is making progress but a little behind
average).

So, Mom went to a follow-up appt. with her pediatric gastro-interologist
when daughter was 10 months old and was surprised that he was very
concerned about her lack of weight gain.  The history on her weight is that
she was born at 8 lbs. 9 oz. in the 95% of the growth charts.  She did
great with weight gain in the beginning: gained her birth weight back by
the 4 day appt; continued at a pound every two weeks until she was around 3
or 4 months old.  At her 6 month  appointment she was about 16 lbs. 7 oz.
(I think).  When they went in for her 9 month appt. at the pediatrician,
she was 17 lbs. 9 oz.  Mom talked with the Dr. about her seeming lack of
gain but the pediatrician felt that she was "coming into her own body
type."  Her husband and her are both thin and that seemed reasonable to
mom.  So, mom was floored when she was hearing a month later from the
specialist that this was a problem.  As of this past Tuesday she weighed in
at 17 lbs. 8 oz.  (She turned 11 months old today).

The specialist told mom that this lack of gain was either an absorption
problem within her digestive system or that there is something lacking in
mom's breast milk.  He had given her a month (which ends this Monday,
11/13) to try to put some more weight on the girl.  If she didn't gain
(which she hasn't) he indicated that she would need to have an endoscope
procedure done to check for an absorption problem.  If nothing turns up
with that, breast milk will then come under attack.

My gut reaction is the specialist is overagressive (being a specialist he's
looking for pathology, and that's his job, and I'm not faulting him for it,
I'm just saying that due to his line of work I doubt it'd be possible for
him to think the low weight gain was normal) and does not know the growth
pattern of normal healthy breastfed children.  The girl is plump and chubby
and gorgeous and has fat rolls all over.  She *has* gained in height as
opposed to weight.  I'm also rather taken aback at the suggestion of an
endoscope procedure for a child who except for a number is quite healthy
and thriving.  Ideas? comments?  Mom is wanting to hear "there's nothing
wrong with this child" and ideas about what could be the problem causing
the lack of weight gain if it truly is a problem.

Thanks,
Wendey in Montreal (Breastfeeding Peer Support Counselor, studying LC)

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