Hi all, I have a tough one going right now.  This
dedicated mom of a
seven
week old exclusively breastfed son has been sick for
over a week with
severe diarrhea.  She sent a stool culture to the lab
Thursday and it
was
confirmed to be c.diff and she is now taking Flagyl.
She (mom) is
adequately hydrated (going by urine output/color) but
only eating small
amounts of the BRAT diet.  (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce
and Toast, plus a
little chicken breast).  Baby is nursing constantly
(hourly) and having
plenty of wet/soiled diapers so he seems to be getting
what he needs,
but
mom is weak and exhausted.  She called last night
asking my opinion on
starting a formula supplement. Baby has never had
anything but
breastmilk.

I reviewed reasons to avoid formulaes for an
exclusively breastfed
baby,
ways to tell if he was getting enough
breastmilk/keeping well-hydrated,
information about the risk of bottle preference and
effects of formula
supps on milk supply.  She specifically asked, if she
were to decide to
give formula, about cow vs soy based, and I shared
information
regarding
the possible risks of those, and also  the option of
using the more
expensive hypoallergenic formulaes.  I didn't
recommend she supplement
and
I didn't recommend a specific type of formula, just
shared information
to
help her make a decision.  She is also waiting for a
call back from the
covering pediatrician.

She is a mom who threw out the ready-to-feed bottles
that came home
from
the hospital with her.  She planned to give her baby
only her
breastmilk
during these early months, and now is sick, exhausted
and worried.

What would you have said?

Nancy
Nancy Holtzman RN BSN IBCLC
Great Beginnings New Mothers Groups
near Boston MA

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