Possible MSPI

MJM291982 · May 2014

I have a suspicion that my LO has a dairy intolerance. BACKSTORY: He is 6 months old. At 3 weeks old, he started having green, mucousy poops. He has always spit up, and although we have always thought it was an excessive amount, the pediatricians (even got a 2nd opinion) told us it was normal. He would spit up so much that he would SOAK through several outfits and bibs a day. He was also put on Zantac at 2 months old. I decided on my own to cut out fresh dairy, but he was being supplemented with Gerber Good Start (3-4 oz a day), as I was also struggling with other BFing probs that contributed to supply issues. I had a DOH! moment one day when I realized it did me no good to cut out dairy and continue giving him formula. I switched to Alimentum and literally within 24-48 hours we saw a MAJOR decrease in the amount of spit up. His mood has also improved overall. Doctors, etc kept telling us that "babies spit up, that's what they do." But his father, nanny, and I felt like it was an abnormal amount. He still spits up some, but I feel like it is a very normal amount.

We switched pediatricians and have an appointment next week. What kind of information or questions do I need to ask her about? What do I need to know about MSPI?

CLLDLL · May 2014

Well first of all, I do agree with your prior pediatrician that some babies are just spitters. My DS1 was on Alimentum, reflux meds, and was under the care of a GI doctor, and he still spit up enough to go through several bibs and/or outfits a day until he was over a year old. So spitting on it's own doesn't necessarily indicate a problem.

That being said, the mucousy poops and the fact that switching to Alimentum helped does seem to indicate that your LO has some form of MPI. (MSPI means they are also soy intolerant.) The bad thing about MPI is there's really no test or other diagnostic the doctor can do to identify MPI. The "proof" is improved symptoms when you eliminate dairy. They can test the Ph level baby's stool, which would tell you whether the digestive tract is irritated.

A couple things to keep in mind/consider. 1.) It's very common for a MPI baby to also be intolerant to soy protein. Hence the name MSPI. But not every baby who's milk protein intolerant is also soy intolerant. So if you find that just using Alimentum and eliminating dairy from your diet doesn't completely clear his symptoms, try eliminating soy.

2.) It can take up to 2-3 weeks for all dairy to leave your system and another 2-3 weeks for it to leave baby's system. So give it a good 4-6 weeks before you decide whether it's working or not.

3.) It sounds like you've just eliminated obvious dairy from your diet. For some kids that's all it takes. Others need all hidden dairy removed too. I love www.godairyfree.org for tips on reading labels and understanding what products have dairy.

4.) Remember that you need to watch baby's solids for dairy too. And things like vitamins. Crackers of all things have dairy in them. So just be sure to read labels before you give anything to baby.

Wish you the best of luck. Oh and if you end up going completely dairy and/or soy free www.mspimama.com has some great recipes.

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