Allergy? Reflux? Hindmilk issue?

[Maurine]

Hi ladies.  First time posting to this forum...but I should have sooner!  Long story short, we've had a challenging first month with my LO.  Tongue tie (fixed), milk not in until day 5, low supply issues, sleepy baby issues, bad latch, etc...led to pumping and supplementing with formula and also herbs (More Milk Special Blend since I have PCOS and also a little extra Goat's Rue thrown in occasionally) and then also Domperidone (80 mg a day).  Now we're at the point we're EBF with no supplementation except the occasional ounce of breastmilk by a bottle when the LO is upset with a slow let down (like once every other day).  I am so happy it's finally working!

But to my question...he's very cranky when he's not on the boob or sleeping.  He has a rash (doc said it was heat rash) of little acne spots on his body, and mucousy poop.  It's sometimes a little greenish, and it smells strongly and roasty (not horrible, but not like baking bread or anything nice).  He also arches off the breast and will arch his back when coming off the breast.  His crying can be consoled, but it's like he's never really happy.  Especially in the evenings.  I've been told that's normal infant evening fussiness...

I've decided to cut dairy out of my diet (since Friday).  Should I be trying that?  Does this sound like an allergy?  Or is it reflux?  I just can't tell and it seems like there may be so many causes.  And if it's an allergy...so many foods could be the problem!!  I doubt it's a hindmilk issue, since I don't have overabundant supply.  But maybe?  He nurses on one side and I wait until he comes off or totally stops swallowing, then switch to the other.  Sometimes we even go back to the first side (this is left over from when I was switch nursing to try and get him to take more milk).

Anyway, I feel pretty lost over it all.  Doc says not to worry about any of it.  The mucous means that he's got something bothering his colon, but I don't need to really do anything about it like change my diet, since there is no blood in his stool and they are generally yellowish.

What to do?

Oh, and the LO will be 5 weeks on Wednesday.

[homemademom]

I would cut dairy and soy and see where that gets you. I agree that it's unlikely to be oversupply (I had oversupply with first baby, and low supply/tongue tie with my last, and it's very different!).  I've also had 3 dairy sensitive/allergic babies, and those do sound like possible signs. My nursling now (the one who had TT) just broke out all over after I ate tofu for the first time since he was born.  He also seems to be a bit sensitive to dairy. I've just noticed red dots on his face and more spitting up that seems to be correlated to my eating dairy.  So, I'm back to eliminating those foods!

I would just cut those foods for a while, and see what happens.  Your babe is only 5 weeks, so if dairy proteins from your gut are getting into his tummy, that's like feeding him cow's milk, right? Of course his colon would be irritated.  By cutting it out for a while (maybe reintroduce when he's 6 mths old), you're giving his gut a chance to mature and heal. Good luck!

[Maurine]

Thanks!  Yes, I doubt it's oversupply.  But regardless we are starting him on a pacifier just to let him suck sometimes.  He spits up when he nurses for too long so I think he might be getting too full sometimes.

I am cutting out all dairy.  Soy is so hard!  Everything processed has soy (even "good" processed foods like cereals and granola bars).  :(  But I'll keep an eye on the soy and cut the dairy and we'll see where that gets us.

He DOES have a rash on his body, but the doc said it was prickly heat.  Babe has been in nothing more than a diaper for pretty much a week now to try and get rid of it.

[homemademom]

I know everyone's sensitivity level is different, but I have always been fine cutting out soy protein but not worrying about soy lecithin or soybean oil, since they don't contain the most allergenic part. Could be worth a shot and not so restrictive :)

[sahmmie]

When my 2nd baby's eczema first started it looked like a prickly heat rash. After a few weeks it progressed to a much more typical looking eczema rash. So, it's possible that this could be the beginning of eczema. Babies with eczema very often have milk intolerances, and babies with milk intolerances often are irritable and have mucousy stools and stomach upset. So, I do think it would be a good idea to eliminate dairy for at least a few weeks to see if there is any improvement. 

As for soy, it is often the case that a milk intolerant baby will also be soy intolerant or sensitive, but I did not find this to be the case with any of my three babies who all had eczema and milk intolerance. Two of them also had reflux which can be caused by milk and/or soy intolerance.

The spitting up could be like you said, from eating too much. Some babies are comfort feeders. They eat when they are uncomfortable in an effort to comfort themselves and so they over eat which perpetuates the cycle because over eating further increases their discomfort. So, you may be onto a good thing with the pacifier, though that is controversial. (I personally gave all of my babies pacifiers and saw no ill effects).

I'd keep an eye on things because he is exhibiting some signs of reflux (arching, irritability, spitting up) but much of this could be contributed to newborn G.I. and nervous system immaturity and if that's the case it will improve over time. If it's reflux it will likely worsen over time. And if it's milk/soy intolerance it should improve when you eliminate those foods.

Good luck. I hope you get it all sorted out soon.