Is it allergy related?
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Support
Forum Name: Reflux and Allergy Support
Forum Description: Struggling with a refluxy baby? Looking for tips to deal with allergies? Share your experiences here.
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15592
Printed Date: 22 November 2024 at 12:59am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Is it allergy related?
Posted By: aimeejoy
Subject: Is it allergy related?
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 1:38pm
Help! The cranial osteo work was quite successful for a few days, but now Greer is sooo unsettled that I'm not really enjoying her at all. 
She is ok when she first wakes up unless she is hungry, then she cries. She cries lots after a breastfeed and spills quite a bit (she has stopped the back arching since cranial stuff). She will lie for a while on the floor but then starts crying again and needs to be carted around. Now she won't go to sleep herself - during the day she sleeps best on her tummy, and at night she is fed to sleep and is only up for about 15 minutes so its not a problem. She is putting on plenty of weight. All of this unsettledness started around 3 weeks - before that she was an angel, going to bed awake and feeding and sleeping really well. I am taking her back to the naturopath this week and seeing GP for 6 week check on Thursday. So do you think she is just an unsettled baby? I tend to think there must be a reason if all her needs are met. Or, reflux? Not convinced on this either... Or, reacting to what I'm eating? Which I think is kinda likely. I havent had any dairy, egg or nut products since she was born and had a very minimal amount while pregnant, esp 3rd trimester, to delay her exposure. All this started around 3 weeks which is when Hannah started to get rashy/eczema from the dairy and egg in my diet. So now I am worried that its wheat causing her issues and becasue I havent been having the dairy and eggs I have been eating more bread/pasta etc. A midwife suggested to me that bread can be a problem with spilling so I cut that out a week or so ago and she seemed a bit better. Until the day I had scones for lunch and pasta for dinner... Argh, this is so frustrating. So I am trying wheat free as well for a few weeks then reintroduce to see if it makes a difference. Remembered last night while I was scoffing marshmellows instead of choc that theres a lot of wheat in them too! God, my diet is so boring - am worried my milk will deteriorate from such a restricted diet but will talk to GP this week. Not having much chocolate either in case thats the problem - feeling very sorry for myself. Do you think its worth trying her with a bottle of Neocate to see if she is any more settled after a feed? Feel so nervous about giving her formula even tho I know she will be fine with it. Sorry for such a long rambly post and not even sure what I'm asking... I guess am after your opinions as I am slowly starting to lose the plot...   ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Replies:
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 3:00pm
I dunno but  s to you, sounds like you have hardly anything you can actually eat. I buy rice bread for Spencer so you could have that while cutting out the wheat.
I'm not sure how much one bottle of neocate would tell you really, when we swapped from normal formula to neocate it definitely took a few days to notice the difference. I also tend to think something is wrong when babies are unsettled but I have read that some babies cry for no reason. ------------- 
 
|
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 3:43pm
|
Well I gave her a bottle and she definitely spilled less and was generally less grumpy - maybe cos I actually enjoyed feeding her and wasnt feeling wound up... Forgot to mention above that she has started mucking around when feeding and coming on and off, crying etc.
Thanks for the hugs too, kinda feel like I need them. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 4:16pm
|
Oh no Aimee, big hugs! I have goosebumps and big tears for you coz reading your post is like reading my life when the gremlins were tiny. No dairy, no egg, no soy, no nuts and still they spilled and screamed and refluxed and didn't sleep. I too wondered if it was wheat, panicked about what else I could possibly be eating that was upsetting them, and ended up doing a weeks trial on Neocate. They were 10 weeks by that stage and had been screaming up to 20 hours per day since they were 3 weeks old. Even the Plunket nurses at Family Centre were unable to settle them and sent me back to the GP as both gremlins had such vile intestinal wind and bowel motions.
I started them on the Neocate but kept expressing every feed so my milk supply didn't drop so that if the Neocate made no difference I could put them back on breastmilk. Within two days they were different babies, by the end of the first week the reflux was almost gone and their skin, which had been rashy and exczema-y was clearing up. I then trialled Sienna back on the breastmilk (as her reflux was never as severe as Mercedes)and within 24 hours she was a screaming mess, so I got my answer - it WAS something in my milk. I constantly wondered WHAT it was in my milk that upset them but I wasn't in a position to keep eliminating more foods from my diet coz I still needed to be able to make enough milk to feed them both, and I might never have isolated the problem. I expected to get an answer when we weaned them onto solids/allergy tested them but they came back all clear. It *may* have been banana in my diet as Mercedes was allergic to that as a smallish baby but she quickly outgrew it and they've been fine with everything except nuts so far. Jan Sinclair officially diagnosed them with Cows Milk Protein Intolerance at 5 mths based on their history, she said it was likely we'd never know what caused the reflux/unsettledness other than that evidence seemed to point to my breastmilk. Good luck with the doc this week, my best advice would be to ask for an urgent referral to a paed. If the waiting list is too long in Palmy then I'd just rock up to the Emergency Dept with her and make someone listen, you and your baby don't need to be going thru this. Are you in a position to trial the Neocate for a few days and see if it makes a noticeable difference? It may take a few days for it to be obvious as reflux causes damage to the oesophagus that doesn't heal instantly. You could also look at reflux meds (we had Mercedes on Losec) but we found once the gremlins were on Neocate they had no need for meds. Best of luck, I really, really feel for you, this sucks! I went thru a HUGE grieving phase for the breastfeeding too, I felt guilty that my milk made them sick and that I had stubbornly persevered with breastfeeding for weeks when if I had given up earlier I could have spared them weeks of pain, but at the end of the day it is what it is, and if this wee bub looks to be the same way I will be much more onto it much more quickly. And at least it didn't get as bad as it did with Maya, she ended up in hospital with gastric bleeding at 10 mths from dairy in my breastmilk
Thinking of you, PM me if there's anything I can do! -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 4:42pm
Thanks mate, I have been waiting for you to reply  I have decided to trial the Neocate (thanks Andie!!) for a few days and express in the meantime. I felt soooo incredibly guilty feeding her a bottle before and enjoying it, cos I am very pro-bfing. But trying to feel ok about it as I would much rather that than persevere as we were. I also feel really guilty about it potentially being something in my milk... Ah well, would much prefer a happy baby  ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 4:43pm
|
Oh and interesting you mentioned they started the screaming at 3 weeks as well. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 5:03pm
In the end that's all that matters, oh and of course a happy mum, and in my experience a mum that's not listening to screaming all day is a damn sight happier...
Classic reflux, it usually starts between 2-3 weeks unfortunately
Hang in there! Good luck over the next few days. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
aimeejoy wrote:Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 7:24pm
|
Yep Isla was pretty much like a normal baby at first,..by 2 weeks she was a shocker! She never spilt so her silent reflux wasnt diagniosed til 5 months old. It was a few months later than the allergys were diagnosed, and things started to improve.
I cant say I enjoyed her at all for at least 6 months, which is awful but tru. Its hard to enjoty something that is never happy. Big hugs. Really hope u get some answers soon. |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 7:42pm
Thanks ladies. I really really appreciate the support on here - dont know what I'd do without ya! 
So, expressing and bottle feeding is such a PITA isnt it?! Hopefully by the time we see the GP in a couple of days we will have more of an idea and I can either go back to bfing or stop expressing. And hopefully if I do keep bfing, my supply isnt affected too much
She went to bed lots easier tonight, still had to be cuddled asleep then put on her tummy, but drifted off heaps quicker. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:13pm
|
Yep it is a GIANT PITA! I did it for 10 long weeks and gutted as I was to have to give up the breastmilk, part of me was relieved coz formula was so much less precious, and I didn't get so upset if they didn't finish their bottles!
Glad Greer went down easier tonight, long may it continue! Have you got the end of her cot/bassinette raised? That can help a little. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:18pm
|
Yep. But she has been heaps less spilly (pretty much none) for the formula feeds... ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:18pm
|
oh no, Aimee... your first post is a massive flashback to when Ella was little! And 4 months later when I found out what it all was, it was you and Emma supporting me through it with your masses of 'been there' practical advice and cyber-hugs... so you hang in there, chick, because you're an expert at this stuff already. But my heart really breaks for you because I understand the terror of waiting to see if your child is gonna go through what your first did - friggin allergies!!! They effect the whole family, don't they - but let's face it, hardest on the mums while the kids are little. Hugest of hugs to you, Aimee - this stinks. And of course, I'm hoping it's a bad phase at will be left at that. Don't be shy about trying out different reflux meds if it is reflux - Ranitidine was a life-saver in our house, and different babies benefit from different reflux meds from what I hear, so it's worth trying different ones if the first doesn't help at all. I 'get' the feelings that you go through when breastfeeding isn't a good experience for baby and mum, and gotta say don't for one minute be blaming yourself here - you've gone above and beyond with your diet already and are such a trooper! Hmmmm, I think I'll PM you to go on... ------------- Andie |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:23pm
Yay! We had the same thing, with breastmilk they would powerchuck like something out of the Exorcist lol, it was spooky. You'd get a little cough and you'd know it was coming then bleurgh, a whole feed came back up to greet you. Maya learnt to call muslin cloths "spew cloths" coz they were always scattered around the house just in case. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:38pm
|
Thanks Andie - you're a gem
LOL Emma, Hannah lies next to Greer on the floor and she knows to keep her distance now after two rather unfortunate experiences!! And yep, they're spew cloths here too  We have had several of those exorcist chucks lately, and coming out the nose  ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:39pm
Oh and I have found a silver lining to the expressing thing! Cos I'mnot going to be feeding G for a few days, I can have a bit more chocolate!!  ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:49pm
|
i have nothing to add really cause have no experience re this at all... but do want to send my love and sympathy to you both and hope you get to the bottom of it soon.
if theres anything i can do from so far away just text me... ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
|
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:49pm
LOL, that was me too, I trialled them on Neocate Xmas week so the up side was I got to have trifle and custard 
LOL at Hannah, poor wee thing! I don't think we ever had it come out the nose tho, ewww! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 9:22pm
|
God, I'm getting power chuck flashbacks as well.
Benjy was a projectile refluxer too, You'd hear it in his throat coming up and down and we'd be madly reaching for the cloth flats before he blew! Go the chocolate Aimee, you so deserve it! I really hope Neocate keeps helping wee Greer, its so heartbreaking to see them in pain and so hard to cope when nothing seems to help. More ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
|
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 8:33am
We had a sh*t of a night  But today is another day and it WILL be better...------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 8:54am
|
Hmmmm, bring on that Doc's appt. In all seriousness, if Greer does have reflux, girl you need to go shopping - you can't have too many baby clothes (and some extra tops for yourself) if your kid is a power-chucker. And we had around 100 bibs (I kid you not) for Ella at the time. Oh yes, now you have a decent excuse for buying stuff!!! It's heartbreaking to have to chuck EBM - if you have a glass of wine with tea it mightn't be so difficult?!? I mean, no-one wants to give their baby wine-milk, do they?! Hey don't go feeling guilty about finding it so hard to enjoy little Greer at this stage - I can honestly say that the times I enjoyed Ella as a newborn were few and far between, and it wasn't a reflection of her personality or anything long-lasting, it was like Kellz said - circumstances really didn't lend themselves to bonding and enjoyment. But I know other mums on here who found the same with their littlies, and it's absolutely no reflection on their parenting or the child's temperament... it's a phase and it dissappears, thank God! I don't want to make light of it and do the whole pollyanna thing, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! ------------- Andie |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 11:58am
|
Ohhhh Aimee!!! This sucks!
I'm sorry I have no practical advice but lots and lots of hugs - and do what's best for you at the kiddo. xoxoxoxo |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 12:30pm
|
Bugger it, I was hoping you'd have a good night
Andie is right tho, you will need more clothes
And I didn't enjoy my gremlins either, in fact I didn't really bond with them till about 8 mths which was really hard, especially since I had that mythical instant bonding with Maya. I felt like such a bad mother! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 1:40pm
|
Luckily we have a ludicrous amount of clothes from Hannah and for some reason we have been given heaps and heaps of bibs for Greer! I was hoping for some instant improvements, but I guess I have to give it a bit of time. At least I am getting good at expressing - its so satisfying seeing so much milk come out in so little time! ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 1:43pm
|
I know! Careful tho, it becomes obessive! I used to obsess over how much I could express in each go, in the mornings I could get 300+ml each side! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 3:23pm
Woah!  Thats a lot!! ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 3:27pm
|
Argh! Dont know whats going on in our street today, but twice I have managed to get her off to sleep relatively easily and then this morning they had people cutting back the trees right outside our house which woke her, and now they are resealing our road - at the moment the trucks are dropping the stones down and its bloody noisy!! Grrrr... ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 4:21pm
|
Get out there and go all hormonal on their arses!!! ...kidding. ------------- Andie |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 10:07pm
|
Good luck tonight Aimee! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 8:54am
|
LOL Andie - they didnt bugger off until 7.30pm by which time Greer (whos room is closest to the road) was so overtired Anyway we ended up having a great night! Up a few times but guzzled back a bottle, burp (dry I might add, no changes of PJs for me last night!!) then back in bed asleep within 15 minutes - yay She also woke up smiling this morning and for the first morning in I cant remember how long she went to bed really easily.
I think the formula really is helping, but dont want to get my hopes up yet. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 9:03am
|
Emma I am in awe of your expressing powers! I used to get around 80 - 120mls a side... but sometimes only a couple of drops in an attempt! It is kinda addictive though, innit. And yep - I totally obsessed over how much I could express too!! Glad wee Greer had a better night last night, especially after such a rotten-noisy day. Horray for the dry burp - hope she makes a habit of them. How much does she have in her bottle? (and can you believe babies like that stuff?!?! Even Neocate burps smell foul!). Ah they're funny creatures. More roadworks today, or are they done in the area? ------------- Andie |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 10:12am
|
Yep, I make a good cow
Yay for Greer having a better night, I have my fingers so tightly crossed that this is the solution for you. And EVERYTHING about Neocate smells foul! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 3:51pm
|
Roadworks all done, but sounds like we live down a metal road now!! Spent the day at mums and she has been sleeping and feeding well, and very smiley, cooing even! Have appt with GP tomorrow.
Yep neocate stinks, but smells similar to the soy one Hanny had for a while
OK Emma, so what should newborn Neocate poos be like? Havent really had any yet so hope she doesnt get constipated. She had a bit in her last nap and it was dark dark green - is that normal for formula?
Thank you so so much, your support and experience makes all the difference ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 8:06pm
|
Yep, dark green or even black. Newborn Neocate poos are funky Luckily there was a whole thread on EBB dedicated to it when I had the gremlins so I got plenty of reassurance!
Glad to hear things are still going well! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 27 March 2008 at 9:13am
|
oh yeah, greeny-black. I'll bring my Q&A stuff about Neocate over as well! ------------- Andie |
Posted By: DaniT
Date Posted: 27 March 2008 at 3:40pm
|
Hi all
I have a 4-month old silent refluxer, and it was recommended I put him on Pepti Junior. I, too, was guilty over the whole stopping breastfeeding thing, but have been gluten & dairy free for a while now with seemingly no difference to my wee darling. Anyway I tried him with the formula and he wouldn't take it, so now I have a whole new problem. I thought I'd try getting his Dad to give it to him - maybe he wouldn't take it from me as he can still smell my milk, and wonders why he's getting something different ?! It's so frustrating though, I'm always hungry and there are many days I'm sad to say I don't enjoy my bub. We can get one really good day with great sleeps and a happy baby once in a while, but I can't wait until the day these good ones outnumber the not so good ones. Sigh, they say it gets easier, but that's no help when we're trying to deal with now !!
|
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 27 March 2008 at 7:42pm
|
Hugs Dani T! It really does get easier, but you're right, that is little consolation when you are in the middle of it! You've come to the right place tho, there are lots of us here who have dealt with/are dealing with reflux and allergies, so hopefully you will be able to find some support here. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|