[ShannonMVT]

For those of you who might be wondering, Matthew had his GI appointment yesterday. I was nervous about it, because I didn't know what they might want to do/suggest and also just taking your baby to a specialist/big medical center was just kinda scary.

The Dr was nice and he wasn't super concerned about Matthew and said he is growing well, seems happy and his poo didn't have any blood in it. He said he wanted me to not eat dairy, soy or eggs since those were the top offenders. He said nuts, fish and wheat were also up there but he said I had to just do what I could in order to also maintain my own health. So I'm going to stay off nuts b/c I am pretty sure they cause problems, I will probably still eat fish b/c I don't think that is an issue and I don't eat it often anyway, and I will still eat wheat b/c it would be hard to cut that out. He said I could start giving solids and just introduce them like they recommend for all babies, one at a time and not give anything allergenic.

He also wants Matthew to see an allergist and get allergy tests so I'll be making an appointment for that.

I was sooo relieved and impressed that he did not even bring up switching to formula! Didn't even present it as an option!

A dietician came in to talk to me about my diet (and I have promptly lost the handout I got ) and she was going over the handout and saw on the list something about formula and was like "formula, well you aren't doing this and breastmilk is the best thing for him" so I was so very happy.

I also asked the doctor if eating the offending foods was going to hurt him or his intestines and he said no. So I hope I can figure it out but if for some reason I don't, then at least I know I'm not hurting him. He just wants me to try to figure it out so we can get his eczema under control.

After talking with Dh about it, I'm going to trial drinking some soy milk over the next few days and see if Matthew gets any worse. I really didn't want to, but after seeing that soy is in EVERYTHING (seriously) this way we can see if it is really a problem or not. And if it doesn't seem to be I can just not stress about the small amounts of soy in everything and if it is then I will proceed to going nutso trying to find soy free alternatives.

I feel so grateful I get to keep BFing my little boy. Now I just want to keep it up as long as I can (as long as he is interested) and I really want to go past a year. Though I have already started a mental list of things I'm going to eat when he weans...spicy cheese dip, a huge thing of ice cream, brownies... I hope he nurses for a long while yet but I definitely have something to look forward to when he stops.

Oh and I am also so grateful that we are looking at "just" allergies. It's a pain and I hope he outgrows them for his sake, but there are so many worse things out there. We saw some really sick kids when we took Matthew in. I'm so grateful my baby is healthy.

P.S. Matthew cut his first tooth today.

[Resi]

You are an awesome mommy for giving up all those wonderful things in order to BF Matthew until he self weans. I'm not sure if I would be able to do it because I love ice cream and all that good stuff so much. I'm glad it's nothing serious and maybe he will out grow it? Have you not started giving him solids at all? I'm sure you posted about that but I don't remember reading it any where.

[~*sierra*~]

wow sounds like these are great medical professionals and i'm glad that they think matthew is overall a healthy boy! i think you're plan sounds great, and KUP about the soy thing. you're such a good mom!

[Chelnae6]

Yayyy for Matt being an overall healthy boy! I hate allergies! And the other ladies. you're an AWESOME MOMMY!!!

You are doing such a great job Shannon cutting out all those foods! I am glad the Dr isn't worried, there is no blood, and that everyone is being so supportive of your breastfeeding

Be sure to post a toothy pic when you can get a good one! Is it a bottom middle one?

[ShannonMVT]

Originally Posted by Resi

I'm glad it's nothing serious and maybe he will out grow it? Have you not started giving him solids at all? I'm sure you posted about that but I don't remember reading it any where.

He might outgrow it. I think a lot of kids outgrow their allergies at least by age 3 and sometimes before. I gave him solids for a few weeks right around 6 months but then stopped because he was having horrible gas (could have been due to my diet though). I was happy to EBF him for longer but I am ready to give him solids again. I'm going to wait until after this soy trial in my diet and then give him finger foods...probably going to start off with banana and avocado.

Originally Posted by MomToJack

Be sure to post a toothy pic when you can get a good one! Is it a bottom middle one?

I got a pic today but it wasn't a very good one, it's hard to see since the tooth is just barely poking through. Yup, it's a bottom middle one, can't remember which side it's on.

[Angelaosaurus-rex]

It would be scary to bring your baby to a big medical center like that . I am so glad he is doing good. I hope he out grows the allergies and that its nothing to hard to avoid. I always have felt horrible for people with nut allergies! I hope the soy test goes well!! I'm glad the doc didn't presser you to stop BF. I laughed when you said the doctor said to maintain your health. Chris was all why you laughing and when I told him he said I was an A hole LOL!!! But I laughed because I know how hard that is to think about when you are worried about your baby (but very necessary)! Your a great mommy Shannon!

Has he been a "fun" teether? I swear sometimes Landen acts no different and then others its like some one stole his booby or something! Can't wait to see a pic of his teeths!

[LisanAndy]

You go mommy! That's very awesome of you to give up all those foods. YAY for cutting his first tooth

[sara~b]

I'm am so happy it's such a great update! I really hope Matthew has no soy problems so you don't have to worry about it! And yay for teeth!!!!

[ANGWife]

That is wonderful news! It's so important to find a doctor you can trust/relate. I'm glad they are so encouraging of your BFing.

And congrats to DS for his first tooth!!

I bet the other bottom middle one will be coming up pretty soon too. That's what happened with my dude. Yay for toofers!

[*krista*]

I'm glad the appointment went well! You must feel better having a specialist on your side. Hopefully you can find the culprit real soon. That's awesome that they were so supportive about BFing!

And Horray Matthew for cutting his first tooth!!