My 6 month old has been tentatively diagnosed with a primary immunodeficiency. It's not clear which one he has, and there's a remote chance it's transient due to prematurity, but according to our immunologist and all the pediatric immunology information I've found, his numbers seem out of range even for a preemie. We are moving across the country in a few weeks, and subsequent testing will take place in our new state (colorado).
In case you're interested, his IgA and IgG are low, but his IgM is high. So his immunologist thinks it's probably one of the more complex disorders.
He received all of his 2 month vaccines, as required by our daycare (state regs for licensed in-home daycare). I may have selectively vaxed him if this wasn't a requirement, but I didn't really think about it because it didn't matter.
He didn't get vaxed at 4 months because he got sick 2 weeks after I went back to work (had to go back when he was 9 weeks) and has been sick since. His ped and I agreed it was unwise to vax him with a chronic fever and all his other issues, as we'd never be able to identify a reaction.
So he has his last appointment with local ped next week. The immunologist said that, as he may have one of the more dangerous types of PID, we should decline any live vaccines (in immunodeficient kids, these can make them gravely ill). I know prevnar is one, but I'm not sure what else on the 4/6 month and catch-up schedule would be suspect.
I quit my job to stay home with him when we move because of his medical issues, so state regs for vaxes won't matter when we move.
First question is: which vaxes, and why, would you decline for him at this point? I may decline all, but I'm not comfortable making that decision without researching it first.
Second question: does anyone have any links to info on the specific effects on baby's immunoglobulin levels of breastfeeding? DS does get small amounts of solids or formula supplementation now, but he gets 24-36oz of EBM per day (I EP, he's never nursed effectively). The vast majority of his calores are from EBM. Specifically, I'm curious to know if my milk has a measurable effect on his IgA/IgG/IgM levels that would show up in his lab work. I've looked and looked, but haven't seen anything. I'm wrapping up at my job right now and we're packing to move, so I haven't been able to spend countless hours looking, unfortunately. I figured I'd ask, as there are a crazy number of well-educated mamas around here!
(Also, the reason (in case anyone wonders) he's getting supplemented at all is my supply isn't meeting his needs anymore. He had allergic reactions to milk-based formula in the NICU, and we've yet to find anything that doesn't create the same problems now. He was starting to lose weight (he has swollen lymph nodes throughout his neck that make sucking painful), so we had to up his calories, and he is more than happy to eat from a spoon. I'm explaining all of this in case someone is wondering why I'm giving a kid with all these issues food.)
Thanks in advance for any insight you can give me!
In case you're interested, his IgA and IgG are low, but his IgM is high. So his immunologist thinks it's probably one of the more complex disorders.
He received all of his 2 month vaccines, as required by our daycare (state regs for licensed in-home daycare). I may have selectively vaxed him if this wasn't a requirement, but I didn't really think about it because it didn't matter.
He didn't get vaxed at 4 months because he got sick 2 weeks after I went back to work (had to go back when he was 9 weeks) and has been sick since. His ped and I agreed it was unwise to vax him with a chronic fever and all his other issues, as we'd never be able to identify a reaction.
So he has his last appointment with local ped next week. The immunologist said that, as he may have one of the more dangerous types of PID, we should decline any live vaccines (in immunodeficient kids, these can make them gravely ill). I know prevnar is one, but I'm not sure what else on the 4/6 month and catch-up schedule would be suspect.
I quit my job to stay home with him when we move because of his medical issues, so state regs for vaxes won't matter when we move.
First question is: which vaxes, and why, would you decline for him at this point? I may decline all, but I'm not comfortable making that decision without researching it first.
Second question: does anyone have any links to info on the specific effects on baby's immunoglobulin levels of breastfeeding? DS does get small amounts of solids or formula supplementation now, but he gets 24-36oz of EBM per day (I EP, he's never nursed effectively). The vast majority of his calores are from EBM. Specifically, I'm curious to know if my milk has a measurable effect on his IgA/IgG/IgM levels that would show up in his lab work. I've looked and looked, but haven't seen anything. I'm wrapping up at my job right now and we're packing to move, so I haven't been able to spend countless hours looking, unfortunately. I figured I'd ask, as there are a crazy number of well-educated mamas around here!
(Also, the reason (in case anyone wonders) he's getting supplemented at all is my supply isn't meeting his needs anymore. He had allergic reactions to milk-based formula in the NICU, and we've yet to find anything that doesn't create the same problems now. He was starting to lose weight (he has swollen lymph nodes throughout his neck that make sucking painful), so we had to up his calories, and he is more than happy to eat from a spoon. I'm explaining all of this in case someone is wondering why I'm giving a kid with all these issues food.)
Thanks in advance for any insight you can give me!
