FROM: Sturgess, Frances Coulter TO:[log in to unmask] SUBJECT: baby virus/rehydration/ABM feeds/juices DATE: 02-19-97 13:01 EST PRIORITY: Hi Chris, et al, I believe I posted a note re:"no-Please no juices". when we had the rehydr. recipe discussion late last year. I also have a large file (paper, alas) titled "Diarrhea" if anyone wants more on the subject. As was stated yesterday, the "no food except brmilk or rehydr solution" advice is for 12 to 24 hrs, then the infant is started back on whatever else he eats at his age. THe idea is that even if there is still diarrhea, the baby is absorbing nutrients and the gut will heal, whereas with no food going in the diarrhea actually lasts longer. Scientific American, May 91 vol 264 #3 has a good overview,and includes Grandmas "rice formula", which is essentially a rice soup or rice water/chicken soup with rice idea which provides some minerals and carbos without the sugars. It has been useful as a sort of "homemade ORT (oral rehydration therapy) " where the commercial solutions were unavailable or unaccepted by the patient. It is *not* intended as the sole source of nutrients, nor is the ORT/P--lyte, and "early refeeding" (docspeak) is essential. Soy is not a perfect food, but the alternatives (predigested formulas like Nutr--gen etc) are more expensive and may not be necessary, particularly if the infant is getting some protection from the brmilk. I don't supppose taking time off from school and feeding round-the-clock till the diarrhea clears up is an option?