- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Breast is Best but. . .
not in my case:( Breastfeeding has not been easy from the get go. DS couldn't latch for three weeks. My supply has not been as good as it should be, and we had to supplement. He has been diagnosed with a dairy/soy allergy. The pediatric gastro doctor told us he needed to be on Elecare exclusively to see if his bloody stools/painful gas went away. I would cut out dairy/soy/nuts, pump and freeze. I had cut out all dairy/hidden dairy four weeks prior to this visit.
Within 12 hours of only using Elecare, he improved 100%. He never had painful gas or bloody stools since we started it two weeks ago.
I decided to start reintroducing my breast milk. One feeding per day.
Today is Day 3. He has had super painful gas:( No bloody stool yet, though that could take a few days.
My dh(who thought that breast or nothing at all at first) and I have decided to exclusively give DS the formula. It is covered by our insurance. DS has thrived on it(gained over a pound in two weeks, over an inch). He is not in pain. I don't have to worry "Will this hurt my son?" while eating something. I am going to call his pediatric gastro doctor in the morning to confirm this is the right route.
I know there are many women here who are on the no dairy/soy/nut diet and are doing fine. I wish I had the patience and willpower to do the same. If we had more money to buy the specialty products(we are pinching pennies right now as it is), I may see it differently. Just listening to my son cry in pain because of something in my milk just breaks my heart.
If you have let your milk dry up, what steps have you taken? I also have about 2 weeks worth of breast milk stored in my deep freeze. I wonder if the local hospital could use it? I will definitely call my lactation consultant and ask.
I'm sad. I'm also glad that we have an alternative that is working for ds. I don't want to feel like a failure, but I also know my limits. Bleh.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Breast is Best but. . .
Don't beat yourself up or feel like a failure. Your little guy seems to have a sensative tummy and the milk makes him sick, you have to go with what is best for him. It really sounds like you gave it your best shot..thats really all you can do! I'm glad his new formula seems to help him and your insurance will cover it.
This!!!
Hey this is what works for you so no one can knock you for that! A milk bank won't take the milk without screening you first (before the milk was pumped) but you could try milkshare, there are lots of moms who will still want it!
Don't feel like a failure, you tried and only you know what is best for your son.
I'm not sure on how to get your milk to dry up but I have seen on here to apply pressure (wrap a gauze or something around your chest), pump a little only when you need to to relieve pressure, and cold compress....
Brady Phoenix, 8.29.09
Claire Zoe, 10.26.10
I know how you feel, I really had a long term goal of EBF for a year, but after 5 weeks had to give it up because DS has a hole in his heart and didn't gain any weight in 5 weeks, so we had to switch to a high calorie formula, and after many tears and guilt at first, I now have a happy baby who is gaining weight and I am much less stressed about feeding him in general.
I'm still in the process of drying up, but yes, wear a really tight bra all the time or even two if the pain is bad, pump just a couple minutes to relieve the pressure and take lots of ibuprofen. I'm on day two now, and the pain is much less, but as soon as I take off my bra I leak like crazy, and they are really hard. Also the nurse at the ob recommended cold packs, and absolutely no heat, and try your best not to get them wet in the shower and not to stimulate or touch them at all. Good luck with that last stuff, I have now learned how hard it is not to get your boobs wet in the shower.
Don't beat yourself up! My first DS had reflux and a dairy allergy/ intolerance... I tried to cut it out of my diet as well, but I just couldn't keep it up!
We switched to soy formula and he was a happy camper! GL!
My DD had MSPI and I'm currently doing the diet with new DD. I'm SO jealous that your insurance covers the cost of Elecare- mine does not! I supplement with it. Don't feel like a failure- trust me, you'll save yourself some real mommy guilt by not having a screaming baby and trying to figure out what is making your baby fussy from your diet. Elecare is a wonderful alternative to BM and you can still gets lots of great cuddles from bottle feeding. Good luck with the milk drying up... can be tricky- lots of tight sports bra weariing and I've also heard cabbage leaves. Watch for signs of mastitis.
Sounds like you did everything you could, including what was best for your baby - which was not breast in this case. It's great we live somewhere that has other options that will keep your baby healthy. You're being a great mommy by taking care of LO!
You could donate your milk to a Milk Bank!
https://www.hmbana.org/