Kristi,
In this complex story, the SAFETY issue jumps out at me. This baby is
vomiting the concoction she is being given, and she is swaddled. I would
worry about aspiration. The very unsuitable concoction is a worry
nutritionally, but what if the baby aspirated it?
If the mother thinks this concoction "suits" her baby, compared with the
other six she tried, one wonders what the mother-diagnosed "reactions" were.
As the family is affluent, and the baby seems to have trouble with food
other than human milk, they should be able to access donor human milk, one
way or other, even a live-in wet-nurse chosen by their doctor. 
The case description you give, Kristi, suggests that there isn't a medical
practitioner anywhere in this situation.
Such a pity that the mother doesn't see adequate breastfeeding (or
expressing as the next alternative) as important to her baby. A period of
exclusive breastfeeding might be just what this baby needs to turn her
condition round.
Being blithely left to scream for two hours is, in my view, child abuse -
though it was part of many babies' lives a few generations ago when babies
had to meet the schedule, or else. Lots of stress hormones circulating. I
don't doubt that the mother wants to do the best for her child, but has very
warped ideas about doing so. I feel for this child.
Virginia

Dr Virginia Thorley, OAM, PhD, IBCLC, FILCA 
Brisbane, Qld, Australia 
E: [log in to unmask] 

Kristi wrote:
Hello lactation consultants:I'm very concerned about a family I visited
yesterday.  The mom contacted me due to a concern about low milk supply.
Baby is 5 weeks old.  Born over 6 pounds, dropped to substantially and was
told to supplement.  Baby is now up to 7 pounds. Mom is back to work,
working from home, very professional, polished and articulate. When I
arrived the baby was up in the nursery with a sound machine.  She was
swaddled and had vomit all over cheek and hair.  She was sleeping.  I had
other general concerns - she told me the baby was left to cry for 2 hours
the previous night, cried so long they turned the monitor off etc.
However, I am writing because they are  "supplementing" with homemade
formula made from carrot juice, almond milk, oats and other ingredients.
Baby is receiving 3 ounces every 3 hours.  Mom bfs twice a day, pumps 3x a
day.  Baby took 42 mls of breastmilk (by test weight) after nursing about 15
minutes and then mom pumped another 60 mls out after the feeding.  Baby has
been vomiting/spitting up after every meal.  Family is affluent, well
educated and very supported (nanny is making the formula).    Mom said they
have tried 6 different formulas but "saw reactions" with each one of them.
She would not clarify what reactions she noticed. My biggest questions is:
what do I do?  I'm checking back in on her in a few days to see if her
supply is up, but she only wants to nurse a few times and day and says she
simply does not want to make the time to pump.  She said she is not an
"attachment" parent and while she understands breastmilk is good, is not
going to give up her life to make it happen.   Have you worked with homemade
formula before?  The bedding, the clothes, everything is stained orange from
the carrot juice.  Is this a common practice anywhere?  I've never
encountered this with a baby so young before.     May I please have
input/advice/suggestions? Kristi

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