Peanut Allergy

mon611

My 58 day old son suffered some redness on his back today, I bathed him thinking it was caused by the temperature raise (it`s below 10 degrees C out of home but always warm inside) but his usually calm nature was hampered by loud cries of pain. I analyzed what I had eaten to cause this allergy that now had reached as near as his stomach and thighs, and all I found newly added to my diet was peanut. Though I had avoided peanut butter during pregnancy (something I have read causes baby`s allergy to it later on), his uneasiness shows the milk with peanut taste really hurts him badly. Anyone knows how long it takes for the milk to contain the peanut eaten in the morning? If I pump it can it lose the peanut ingredient? How much should I pump? I tried to reduce the number of feedings and gave him cooled-boiled water instead, but he will wake up twice during the night. I need a quick reply! 

mon611

I did consider all other factors. I hadn`t changed anything special in his detergents or lotion, just that for the first time, I used the sleeping bag that I had received from someone. It is like a blanket wrapped around him. I only used it for the night before his rashes were developed. I didn`t think this sleep suit the culprit, because first I thought it was because of the lapse in taking him to the bath has done this to his skin. and probably the redness had already been developed, I mean before I put the sleep suit on him, and that I had not noticed it. 

Actually it got worse in the evening, and there`s heavy snow outside. Practically it wasn`t possible to take him to the doc. 

I cannot think of anything except my diet. and only thing added to my diet was peanuts. I think I shall steer away from it for the whole time of my breastfeeding. 

RondackHiker

You're wording things strangely. It's a bit hard to understand. Is English your first language?

I'd bet the sleep sack could be a culprit. Who knows how it was stored or washed? If I'm understanding you correctly, you used it the night before the rash appeared and you think it couldn't be that because the rash could've been there and you didn't notice? I wouldn't assume you didn't notice. It appeared the night before the rash. It's a good bet.

You said there's nothing new with HIS products, but things like perfume on an adult who snuggled him, and new hand soap in tile bathroom, or a new fabric you're wearing could cause it. Are you wearing a thick sweater because of the storm? Perhaps one you haven't worn around him?

I caused rash on DS once after I was splashed with soapy water while washing dishes. DS then lay on my sleeve after it dried and reacted to the dish soap in the fabric.

RondackHiker

Please don't give him more water. He needs food.

CJS2011

RondackHiker said:

Please don't give him more water. He needs food.

=D>

VegasGal1978

Hi. Even if you can't make it to the Dr, please at least call them. I agree with PP, stop giving LO water. It is okay to test eliminatiomng things from your diet to see if they are the cause of various issues, but you have to continue feeding him. Your Dr should be able to provide guidance on what could be causing the rash.

CDMay2006

I have no idea RE the rash. However, like others said, stop giving water. If you are not breast feeding, that is fine, but give properly-prepared formula.
not water

24karat

Another thing that could contribute to skin irritation or redness is the weather and humidity level. Winter weather can be awful for those prone to dry skin or eczema. I wouldn't just jump to peanut allergy as the culprit. Possible? Maybe. But there are other more plausible explanations and a baby as young as yours is should not be given bottles of water as a meal replacement. Call your pediatrician and give your baby some food.

mon611

Thank you everyone for the kind responses you provided for my son. 

RondackHiker: Your guess is right! English is my third language, but I am an English Literature graduate. I have a full grasp in understanding this language. And if there is anything strange in my style, my very doting upon literature, and especially poetry is to blame. Because I like the floating of words, and I write so accordingly. But I should confess that your statement about this hastened writing of mine, written by my mind flooded with worries about my son, led me rethink about my writing, and I have picked up 'On Writing Well' by W. Zinsser, a book given by an American friend of mine that I had read formerly in college time. There it is adviced to avoid clutter, and unnecessary embellishments. I repeat myself, it was in a mood of worry and sleeplessness that I wrote above comments. But thank you for enlightening me again in my passion towards a better English learner.  

I took my son to a nearby hospital, I happened to know that my son`s pediatrician is on a long vacation. My husband was at work whole evening so we took the baby to the hospital at night. After explaining about everything the doc said that it might have been the peanuts, and it might have been the material he sleeps on (which is fleece), and it might be the warmth of his clothing. She prescribed a Syrup (which we do not give to him) a topical Ointment IPOZINC that we applied on his back. 

mon611

By the way, I didn`t intend to eliminate any feeding. I just wanted to pump the milk that might contain the peanut ingredient before my son would start another session of breast feeding. 

I only gave water to him once because I thought it might cool him as he had cried alot. 

RondackHiker

Also, it can be dangerous to give a newborn water.

https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/feeding-your-baby/giving-water-to-baby.aspx

Scroll midway down to where it talks about the risks.

It's not needed and it could do harm!

mon611

The website says it can be dangerous in the long run to give water to newborns. In some cases they even need water in small quantities. I personally heard it from a pediatrician. 

About peanut allergy passing through the milk. 

https://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20010403/peanut-allergy-may-be-triggered-by-breastfeeding

mon611

I only gave him water once, and never omitted any feedings. what sort of Mom could let her child starve? I cannot understand why everyone tries to accuse me or implement that I meant to do it! I was in the first instance worried that my milk may add to the heat on his skin, so I began pumping it to let go of the tainted milk, and now that I have totally changed my diet, I am hopefully seeing better results. 

However, I must thank everyone for their comments. They made me consider other possibilities too. 

ASmallWonder

People are focusing on the water because that IS dangerous.  It throws off their electrolyte balance and can literally kill them.  You're guessing about a peanut allergy and while I understand the concern, water wasn't the answer to any question you may have had about the peanuts, his temperature, his rash or anything else.

mamato3girls

While it is possible for traces of peanut to pass through breastmilk and some kids will show a reaction that way it is pretty rare and generally shows up in the form of eczema not a sudden bad rash.  That sounds more like a contact rash to me rather than a reaction to something you ate.  You also can not just pump out the peanut affected milk, it can take up to 2 weeks for all traces of peanut to leave your system it isn't something that you can just pump out in a few pumping sessions, that isn't how milk production works.  Keep an eye on your little guy and try to think about anything he's come into contact with.  If you think it is necessary keep a food and behavior journal for the next few weeks to see if you can pinpoint anything particular.  Also just because it bothered my kids sometimes bathing them when the air is dry and cold outside my kids would break out in rashes. 

Also breastfed babies really NEVER need water.  It isn't healthy or necessary and the idea that it is needed is a very old (20-30 year old) belief that has been disproven many times.

RondackHiker

mon611 said:

I only gave him water once, and never omitted any feedings. what sort of Mom could let her child starve? I cannot understand why everyone tries to accuse me or implement that I meant to do it! I was in the first instance worried that my milk may add to the heat on his skin, so I began pumping it to let go of the tainted milk, and now that I have totally changed my diet, I am hopefully seeing better results. 

However, I must thank everyone for their comments. They made me consider other possibilities too. 

People are implying (I believe that's the word you meant) that baby is hungry because you said you reduced feedings and gave water instead in your original post. Skipping/reducing feedings and replacing them with water would be dangerous, even if it's short term. That's why people reacted and focused on it. People were alarmed and worried for your baby.

I don't think anyone was trying to say you are a bad mom. You're here and asking for help, you clearly care! But people likely felt you were misinformed or unaware of a danger and wanted to make sure you were aware of it. When you dismissed those warnings, they were repeated. People wanted to make sure you knew why we worried! Clearly you're a loving and worried mom, not one who'd intend to harm her baby.

There was no need for water. If you want to cool baby, strip a few layers off. Try time only in a diaper or naked. Drop the house temperature a few degrees. Consider a bath--babies should have lukewarm water so that'd be cooler than his skin. Giving a baby water won't help him cool off.

RondackHiker

mon611 said:

I tried to reduce the number of feedings and gave him cooled-boiled water instead, but he will wake up twice during the night. I need a quick reply! 

This is the part that made me think you were replacing feedings with water.