[petitange3]

Hi,
I'm Nikki. I have been breastfeeding my LO for 6 months now. At about 2 1/2 months he developed a rash and later on blood in his stools. I took him to a pediatrician, to a dermatologist, and to an allergist. Long story short he was diagnosed with a milk allergy, I cut milk out of my diet but I noticed some other things are causing problems, so I have eliminated dairy, wheat, eggs, tomatoes, strawberries, nuts, corn, berries, and soy sauce. The rash is gone but blood episodes continued. I read somewhere the vitamins could be causing the blood so I removed them for about a month, and the blood disappear (also the green poop went away, finally he was having seedy mustard colored bm). At the six month check up, the Dr. says it is concerned that he is not taking his vitamins and he insisted that I should give them to him and said it was very unlikely that was the reason. I was hesitant especially since the check his blood and his levels were fine but I listened to her. Today they call me to say the blood is back, and said that I should start him in some formula. Needless to say I was livid, I explained again that I believe the vitamins were the reason and I refuse to give him something unless we remove the vitamins again and test his stools. I have an appointment on Thursday with a new Dr, this time a gastroenterologist. Sorry this is so long, my question: is have you experienced this before with your LO? Should I just give up after so much effort and restrictions to my diet and give my baby formula? Could it be that my LO is allergic to my milk? Please help I'm desperate. Thanks in advance for your help.

[mgm78]

wait a minute, vitamins for the baby? a breastfed baby does not need vitamins!

kellymom.com :: Does My Baby Need Vitamins?

I would find a different doctor who may be more breastfeeding friendly. As far as the diet, i see you cut out soy sauce, have you cut out all soy? soy is in a lot of processed foods now a days and one of the big triggers for babies. I know you feel like you are not eating anything though!

here is a good site from my la leche on food stuff Eating Dairy-Free?

[bmarti07]

Sorry you're going through this! My DS is 2 months old and was diagnosed with milk protein allergy when he was only 10 days old. He was diagnosed because of the bloody stool but was otherwise healthy. I cut out all dairy and soy products and he hasn't had visible blood in the stool since. They haven't tested the stool to check for microscopic amounts. Tomorrow he goes for his 2 month check up so I'm going to ask. My pedi told me to cut out soy as well as dairy. I also read all labels because milk and soy are in so many things!!! You also have to watch out for words like "casein" because those are milk products. I believe the kellymom website has a list of other ingredients to be on the lookout for. My son doesn't take any vitamins. I've never heard of a breastfed baby needing vitamins. As far as formula, your baby wouldn't be able to have the milk-based or soy formula so you would have to try a hypoallergenic formula ($$$$$$$$$). I personally wouldn't give up bf'ing without a fight, but I know how challenging it is to have such a restricted diet. It really sucks. Maybe the gastro. will have some insight. Has your son had any other testing to rule out other reasons for the bloody stools?

A couple other questions: is your baby gaining weight appropriately? Is he fussy/gassy? Can you always see the blood in his stool or do they check it? If they check it, how often? I'm just curious since my son also has this allergy. My son appears fine and is growing well and is not fussy....but sometimes I worry that I may eat something without knowing there is a milk product in it...and cause him distress even if I can't visibly see it.

[andi2284]

It definitely sounds like he has a milk allergy/sensitivity. My DD reacted the same way, with the green poops and rashes.

If taking out the vitamins helped with the blood in his stools, have you looked at what is in the vitamin? It's possible that instead of cutting it out altogether, you could find one that doesn't have anything extra in it, which is likely what is causing the problems. Many health food stores carry more "pure" vitamins without added ingredients. For example, I just pulled out my multi-vitamin and it says it contains soy. If it is a multi-vitamin for him, is there a reason that your doctor thinks he needs one? Most breastfed babies don't need vitamins, I've always declined them for my children and when thier vitamin levels were tested, they were fine.

I agree with Meredith that there is soy in a lot, just like dairy. When you have a baby with a sensitivity or allergy, food labels are your best friend. If you don't already, you should check the labels for "This product may contain ...."
Check out the hidden dairy cheat sheet that is linked here: kellymom.com :: Dairy and other Food Sensitivities in Breastfed Babies

I really don't think switching to formula is the answer, although that seems to be a go-to for a lot of doctors. Even if you did, he would nedd a hypoallergenic formula which is not an ideal choice compared to breastmilk.

[petitange3]

Thank you ladies for all your responses. BF has been certainly a rocky road but I'm not ready to give up.
Mgm78, thanks for the link it is very helpful. I have cut all soy from my diet. I have been reading all the labels, I have been avoiding pre-processed foods and eating at home where I can prepare the meals and know what is in them.

Bmarti07, I read all the labels and have a list given by the allergist which includes the uncommon names for the soy, wheat, and dairy products. Answering your questions my baby was born at 6 pounds 7 oz, he was 11 pounds by 2 month, 13 lb, 4 oz by 4 months and 15 lb, 3.5 oz by 6. His weight slowed down a little from 4 to 6 months, but otherwise he is meeting all his milestones just fine. With the vitamin D I was able to see the traces of blood and it tested positive at the Dr. With the Polyvisol is hard to see since the stools are now black but they were able to detect it at the lab. He is not fussy at seems content after feeding. Good luck with your son problem I know how difficult and sad is to have this issue. I really hope that is only the soy/dairy and that he can outgrow the allergy fine.

Andi2284, I will try the health store, I check the label and the only thing suspicious is the "Artificial Flavor And Color Caramel ". His dr is giving him the multi-vitamins just in case. He check his levels and they all came back fine at the 6 month appointment.

I found that one of the rare side effects may be bloody diarrhea, blood in the stools, black and tarry stools but they mention this only happens as an overdose symptom. I also read in kellys mom that vitamins sometimes are the cause for blood. kellymom.com :: What causes blood in baby's stool?

I will see the GI tomorrow so I will keep you posted. Thanks again for all your help!

[mgm78]

KUP and good luck at your appointment!

[bmarti07]

Thanks for answering my questions!!

How did your appointment go today?

My son had his 2 month appointment today and everything is great! My doctor just recommended to continue to exclusively breastfeed him until 6 months if it wasn't too much of a hardship on me with eliminating all dairy and soy. Of course I will! I plan to breastfeed at least a year. Somewhere between 6 and 9 months we may try re-introducing some dairy and see how he reacts. Hopefully our LO's will outgrow these allergies!!!

KUP!

[lunarmagic]

Oi!! Sounds like they listened to you really well. Arg. Like someone said, it's probably something that's in the vitamins (not the minerals themselves) that is causing it, but yeah, your baby really shouldn't need vitamins. My dr suggested some for Kate as well and I just... never gave her any, lol. No one really makes a fuss of it though, and if they did I would first ask that they test her levels to see if it's even necessary!

Cutting so much out of your diet is tough!!! I totally commend you for sticking with it! You can make it work, and it sounds like you had figured it out so that his stools were normal until you gave the vitamins again. So I wouldn't say there's any reason you have to switch to formula.... especially, like the other girls said, how expensive it would be and how you may have to try a few different times to find one that he tolerates well. But if you're doing good with the breastfeeding and not ready to give it up then I say just keep doing what you're doing.

Good luck.... it really must be so so hard for your baby to be so super sensitive to everything!

[petitange3]

Hi, Sorry it took me so long to post an update from my appoinment but I have been very busy this week since tomorrow I'm going back to work after 6 months boooo!

The appoinment went OK. They tested for blood at the office and it was negative. Right now he is in the 5-10% percentile. But the GI said that the number that really matters is the height vs weight in which he is doing great. He said that it was up to me to continue to breastfeed, that we will do another weight check in a month just to make sure he is doing fine. In case I want to switch to formula Alimentum or Nutramigen is the recommended brand. The Dr does not believe the blood is related to the vitamins but he agrees given the results from his blood they are not necessary. He thinks I should reintroduce some foods back to my diet in order to ensure my health is not affected. My baby has started solids so I hope that with on demand breastfeeding and some solids his weight continues to increase.

[lunarmagic]

Well that sounds like a really positive update. Sounds like you're doing everything right by him.

[mgm78]

great update! KUP!