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Food Allergy
dr made me feel like crap, but this seems common...
LO started showing intolerance to breastmilk at about a week old. I eliminated everything from my diet that the dr suggested and it still didn't help. I switched to exclusive pumping in case it was a problem with my let down and he was still constantly throwing up. My dr kept saying that if I eliminated all the possible allergens then there shouldn't be a problem- babies can't be allergic to BM. So she was saying that I wasn't sticking to the elimination diet like I said I was. I felt like such a failure and an awful mom. I held out and kept trying until he was 6 months old. Thats when I finally accepted that the formula was best for him. Of course the vomiting stopped almost immediately.......................Anyways, the point of this was that I'm surprised to see how many people had the same problem with breastfeeding. You cut out all you can but your LO is still having problems. I got to the point where I was living off of water and brown rice pasta...not enough to keep me or my supply going. It definitely makes me feel better that I'm not alone in this. I'm still not completely over not being able to BF, but you ladies are really helping me come to terms with this. I'm seeing more and more that I really did all I could, but sometimes things just work out the way they should. Thank you!! And I hope other women who are having a hard time with it can find some support here. We're not alone.
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Re: dr made me feel like crap, but this seems common...
Ugh, I'm sorry.
I remember being at my wits end when my daughter was 5 months old. I'd cut out so much, and she was still miserable.
The doctor looked at me and said "You know, you're not a failure if you put her on the formula. You've gone above and beyond. You don't have to do this, and no one would think less of you."
That made such a difference. I kept thinking I had to keep nursing because it was "best" for her, but it wasn't. When we put her on Neocate and then Elecare, she was a different baby. And it was like a huge weight was lifted.
I am so sorry that the doctor didn't support you. You did far more than most women would do!
first of all, that's terrible of your doctor to make you feel like that! he should be supportive and not putting you down.
Also, your baby can be allergic to practically ANYTHING that's in your diet. My son was allergic to sesame when we found out about his allergies and that is not the top 8 (yet). What if she's allergic to a type of spice? it's practically impossible to find out unless she starts eating the stuff and shows a reaction.
I'm a strong believer that BM is the best, but not if it's hurting your baby. I was the stubborn one that didn't want to give up (mainly b/c my IL's kept making stupid BF comments towards me so i felt like i had to prove them wrong, instead i was making my son feel so uncomfortable). I'm pregnant now again and if i can't control it with a diet or can't figure out what is causing it, i'm automatically putting him on formula.
Also - 6 months is a long time so kudos to you for sticking it out that long, especially on water and rice!
Although I didn't have the same elimination diet problem, I remember VERY vividly the day I realized that I had to stop BFing because after 3 months of struggling to BF, I just wasn't making enough for DD. At that point, I was living off of peanut butter & kosher bagels, crying 24/7, and too green & insecure as a mommy to have the guts to leave the jacka$$ pedi who was ignoring her milk protein allergy and her reflux. I BFd her for almost 1/2 an hour and then immediately after, she guzzled down a whole bottle of formula. That was when I knew I had to stop for her.
I still feel really sad once in a while about it, and I'm freaking out that I'm going to have the same problem with this coming baby. It's such a hard decision and you should be proud of yourself for having the strength to make it.
You're not alone :-)
You need to find a new doctor. There are babies that can't tolerate breastmilk. End of story. We heard it time and time again while LO was in NICU. You aren't alone and you need to do what's best for your baby.