Hi all,  I have a question about a mom whose 8 week old baby was exclusively
bf until 3 weeks ago when she introduced rice cereal mixed with ebm.  Gave
her cereal for a few days,  1 x a day (at gramma's insistence) to help
baby's gassiness. (Big sigh)  Well, the result was still a gassy  baby who
didn't have a bm for 1 week and then had a very large, thick, pasty stinky
stool.  Mom stopped all cereal & has returned to exclusive breastmilk but is
afraid she's messed up her baby's system. Baby went another week & mom's dr.
said to put karo syrup in the bottle of breastmilk (sigh).  Baby has always
been gassy.  Mom stopped all dairy 1 week ago.  Anyway, it's getting worse.
Mom states that baby's gas is very foul, and finally had a bm today that was
huge, brownish and the worst smell ever. (That's 3 bm's in 3 weeks- getting
thicker and stinkier)  Mom almost gagged.  Would the cereal still be causing
this 2 weeks later?  Nothing else has changed.  Baby's stools used to sweet,
yellow and seedy.  Mom had planned on starting formula next week for
day-time since she's returning to work in 4 weeks and wants to use both.
I've asked her to wait till I hear from my wise friends. (Of course, I'd
love to have her exclusively breastfeed but need to help her with what she's
willing to do.)  She is afraid of starting any formuIa  since she didn't
think just a bit of cereal could raise such havoc.  I shutter to think of
what abm could do.  Dr. isn't concerned, says it's just colic & to use
Enfamil low iron.  So, why the horrible odor now? We've reviewed all the
usual: 2 x on a side, overactive let-down etc.  Baby's weight is 10-5
(birthwt 6-10)no weight loss, gaining well!   What am I missing?  TIA, Kym
Dunton, RN,BA, IBCLC
in sunny Northeast Florida.