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Food Allergy
Anyone not have success on elimation diet? BF to Formula
Just wondering if any of you have had problems with elimation diets and ultimately switched from EBF to FF? If so did it help quickly? Did you have to try multiple types of formula?
I really don't want to switch to formula for a variety of reasons (she won't take a bottle as it is, won't be able to comfort nurse, the health benefits, etc). But I am living on oatmeal, rice and chicken, apples, and bananas and see no improvement (although she doesn't have her eczema/rashes she is still SUPER fussy, gassy, and miserable. I could maintain this diet if she was seeming better - but it is hard to deal with this diet when she is still miserable.
I constant question whether it's the 3 month growth spurt, or she may be getting sick, or she is teething (which she is). But she seems MISERABLE. She'll have one good day and then 4 horrible ones - and I'm eating the same things... so it can't be that right?
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Re: Anyone not have success on elimation diet? BF to Formula
Are you eliminating cow's milk? How long have you been on the elimination diet?
Yes, I've elimanted all dairy (including whey, casein, lactose, etc etc etc) along with everything else my GI suggested. I began eliminating the most obvious sources of dairy 2 months ago (with a little change noticed). Then a little over a month ago I cut out all dairy (again noticed a little change but nothing significant). Then 3 weeks ago I cut out all soy in addition. Then almost 2 weeks ago I began on my GI suggestions no: wheat, corn, dairy, soy, turkey, pork, beef, peas, carrots, green beans, garlic, sesame, potatos, sweet potatos... And things just seem to be worse.
I was dairy-free for 3 months and did the top-8 elimination diet the last month of those 3. We saw no improvement.
It was REALLY hard for me to give up BFing. I loved so many things about it.
Finally, though, when we started seeing new reactions, we (along with DD's GI doc) decided it was time to try formula. He put us on Neocate.
Within days, her stools were blood-free and mucus-free, she was sleeping better, her eczema was clearing, and she was just more content overall. The only thing we can't seem to get rid of is the congestion. Looking back, I wish I would've told myself it was okay to try formula earlier.
If you DO try formula, continue to pump until you see results. Thankfully, we saw results quickly, so I went ahead and weaned myself (sad!).
This was basically us. I was dairy and soy free for 4 months and Top 8, corn and beef free for 2 months and still blood/mucus in his stools. After the super strict diet didn't work the GI said it was dangerous to continue to allow bleeding and that he could be reacting to basically anything and there was no way to know what. We switched to Elecare and he's been great ever since. It was really sad for me to wean, but you just have to tell yourself you're doing what's best for your LO. I loved everything about BFing too and was set on doing it for 1+ years! You're not alone!!
I did an elimination diet, but it took a while to figure everything out. It turned out that I couldn't eat RAW fruits and vegetables. Have you tried avocado? It's very low allergen. The bananas and apples can cause gas. Maybe try avocado, cooked carrots, and summer squash and stop the fruit for a couple of days. Are you doing gluten-free oats? That's something to try, too.
This vegan banana muffin recipe is great: cream together 3 ripe mashed bananas with 1/4 cup oil and 1 cup sugar. Stir in 2 cups oat flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt. Pour in muffin cups and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
My DD was okay with the muffins because the banana was cooked, but I couldn't eat raw bananas until a couple of months ago. Good luck! I know it's hard!
I had the same issue. I was on an elimination diet for 10 weeks and LO's poops just got worse. Towards the end I was only eating lamb, sweet potatoes, squash, avocados and cooked peaches. And I was miserable.
So, when the blood and mucus continued, I was resigned that we would have to quit BFing. I started eating normally again (except for dairy) and lo and behold the blood stopped about two weeks ago. So I'm not convinced that it was ever food-related to begin with.
Both my pedi and GI specialist say that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any harm the blood is causing IF the baby is happy and gaining weight well. Since my LO is gaining like a champ and isn't fussy, they wanted me to continue BFing. I'm crossing my fingers that the blood stays away, because otherwise we'll have to switch.
ETA: Just went back and re-read your post. Does your LO have any physical symptoms of a food allergy (blood in stool, diaper rash, eczema, etc.)? If not -- and her main symptom is fussiness -- I would also question if it is food-related. Especially if the elimination diet hasn't helped. You can always keep pumping while you give the formula a shot so you can continue BFing if it doesn't help.
Yes, she had blood in her diaper and was absolutely MISERABLE one day. Screaming crying all day - took her to the pedi and it was blood so they referred us to a Pedi GI. She also has very mucousy diapers. And eczema. Her eczema has gone away recently which is good. But she is SO fussy (our pedi told us she is one of the fussiest babies she.has.ever.seen).
She just seems to be in pain. We took her to the Pedi again on Monday because she has been miserable for day (I thought possibly from teething but Tylenol does nothing). Pedi now thinks that the Zantac she is on for reflux isn't working because she won't eat for more than 3-4 minutes and cries/fusses the whole time. Going to the GI today - so we'll see what he recommends. I would really like to switch reflux meds and try that out for a week or so... then if that doesn't seem to help by Christmas we will try formula since DH's family can help with trying to get her to take a bottle/formula.
Ugh, I'm so sorry. I know how stressful it can be worrying about what you're eating and if it's affecting LO.
I have heard that reflux can cause blood in the stools as well, so hopefully a new medicine will help. If not, I'm crossing my fingers for you that the formula takes care of the problem!
Your experience sounds JUST LIKE my experience with my first son. It is so hard to see them suffer =( IMO, you are doing the right thing, please hang in there. Breastmilk is really the best thing (if you can hack it) for these sensitive babies (so broken down, you can control ingredients by controlling your diet, etc.). I know several people who switched to formula to help their LO quickly and then found more or different symptoms and switched and switched formula (they get pricey) and as expenses added up with no benefit they were upset with their choice. So if you do switch to formula, you should be proud of trying so hard up till now. But I would advise that you pump until you are sure you found the right formula fit just to give you the option of going back to bf if you want to.
Are you keeping a food journal? It can really help see if there is a pattern you wouldn't otherwise see. I would also include diaper and behavior notes. Is there anywhere you can turn for a little more support in identifying your LO's issues? Try lactation consultants, they often have resources. For example, when in the hospital with my 2nd son, I was telling the LC the issues with my first son and she told me about a program at the Children's Hospital near us that focuses on identifying food intolerances in bf babies. Really? Where was that info when I needed it? Anyway, check around, there might be something near you.
One more thing, it would be great if you could get to the bottom of understanding your LOs issues for a lot of reason. First, if you have future children, more likely than not, they will have the same or similar issues. So it would be great if you could identify her difficulties to avoid them for future LOs. In our case, all 3 of my sons had dairy and soy intolerances (DS1 and DS2 outgrew by age 1). Thankfully, I knew what to do for DS2 and DS3 immediately upon showing reaction, poor DS1 suffered for months and months. Also, knowing the allergy or intolerance will help you protect LO from other sources of getting that particular allergen (for example, some vaccinations are cultured in soy or egg and you may want to delay a particular one if you are in the midst of resolving digestive issues related to that allergen).
GL, I know it is so tough.