Mucousy stool in 5mo EBF infant

[jensb]

My 5mo son has had mucousy stool for the past month. There is no blood in it, and most of the time it is brownish-yellow. He is mostly otherwise healthy and happy-seeming.

I discovered when he was about 5 weeks that peanuts seemed to give him mild reflux (he would scream after spit up sometimes, but other times would be just happy with spit up, and he would often scream when I laid him down flat for diaper changes). When I stopped eating peanuts, those problems went away.

At first I thought the stool problem was a mild virus. I began giving him probiotics to help, but there was no change. Pediatrician tested his stool, but everything came back negative. About a week ago, I noticed that while nursing in the evening, he would gulp milk fast for several sucks, then cry, then gulp again, then cry again. After 2 days of this, I went dairy-free to see if that made a difference. The crying stopped, the spit up may be a bit less than it was before, but the stool is unchanged.

I was doing some reading and learned that fenugreek could possible share cross-reactivity with peanuts. I had taken it for several weeks when he was a newborn because he didn't nurse well, causing my supply to drop. I started it again about a week before the mucousy stool, because I had been sick (possible gluten exposure or virus, not sure which) and felt as though my supply dropped. So I'm worried that the fenugreek caused his reaction. In either case, I'm hoping the stool will improve soon. Other than probiotics for both of us, what can I do for him to help him heal faster? And how long should I give it before I do something else (eg more complete elimination diet). He is excited about the idea of eating, but I'm reluctant to give him food while his GI tract is so obviously abnormal.

[SweetSilver]

Sounds like my oldest, who had allergy symptoms at a very early age.  Her nurse dismissed it too quickly, and I was left to struggle myself with thinking that it just wasn't right.  She was always a very fussy nurser, screamed before and after nursing, unless she was napping or at night.  She also had a lot of mucous in her stool starting at two months.

The major culprits through breastmilk will be the proteins: the true "allergens".  I wouldn't limit it to that, though, and you have already identified fenugreek as a problem.  I guess all I can give you is support, and the advice to postpone any solids for as long as possible, to introduce them seriously one at a time.  Raw fruits and veggies can cause upsets, too.

At two, we saw an allergist for the first time (her dairy allergy was dangerously severe, no "trying" NAET).  She had a skin prick test then.  Two years later, she had another test and this time tested positive for wheat, rice, corn, almonds, all tree nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish and eggs whereas before only milk showed up.

When she turned four, she began acting very moody and had a hard time getting up off the couch.  She was prone to huge rages.  Then she tested positive for wheat, that was eliminated and she became "normal".  Finally, the mucous completely disappeared!  Four years later!

So, keep trying, be cautious and good luck!

[jensb]

Thanks, I'm thinking of starting the GAPS diet in the next week, then introducing food to him following GAPS guidelines. I'm already gluten-free myself, and now peanut and dairy free for him. I'm glad you finally figured out how to help your daughter. It's so frustrating when something like this is not right!