Quit nursing??

Jackie - posted on 08/30/2009

Quoting Aarin:

Jackie...that is so funny, that's exactly what we do to get my daughter to sleep! Did you have to eliminate any foods from your diet?

So you know the fan trick huh? =)  We found it by accident but then couldnt live without it.  My daughters colic passed several months ago, luckily...but at the time it was alifesaver.  But to answer your question, no I didn't have to eliminate any food....just caffeine.  We just rode it out and she got through the colic on her own around 3 to 3.5 mos.

Aleks - posted on 08/27/2009

Both my children were dairy intolerant as babies. My son has now grown out of it ( he is almost 4) while my 6mth old daughter is still. My daughter was worse affected than my son. As you have mentioned you have to be very strict regarding eliminating dairy. Read all the labels on prepackaged foods! Avoid fast food restaurants as you don't know what they put in foods ( however, I find asian food safe as dairy isn't a native food ). I know that even if I have had a little of something with dairy in it ( more than a mouthful ) the next day she is cranky, unsettled and even has some small vomit. Not to mention the poos that come afterwards ( sometimes mucous like and even with blood stains ). However, if strict elimination of dairy doesn't help, then I would suggest going to see a doctor and do tests to see if other allergens aren't the cause - gluten and wheat being the first to start with.
Good luck and I hope you find your answers.

Rebecca - posted on 08/26/2009

It could be that she has had acid reflux since birth but the "silent type" (this is when they dont spit up but acid rises into their esophagus) They say that acid reflux peaks at 3-4 months of age, so its possible that she is starting to show more of the signs of it at this age then before. I wouldnt let them write it off as colic which I find alot of Dr do. Maybe try another medication, or up her dosage of the one she is one now? As well you can give them Maylox as well ( 1ml once or twice a day, but not longer then 72hrs at a time) talk to your dr about this.

Aarin - posted on 08/26/2009

Jackie...that is so funny, that's exactly what we do to get my daughter to sleep! Did you have to eliminate any foods from your diet?

Catherine - posted on 08/26/2009

Have you taken anything else out of your diet to see if milk isn't the only issue? I still would keep bfing. ultimately, bfin'g is going to be better then ff'ing for the baby's tummy. Have you completely eliminated dairy? if I drank anything but 1% milk my son would have tummy issues and puked really bad. at around 5/6 months his tummy got better, though I still can only drink 1% milk.

Teresa - posted on 08/26/2009

Are you sure it's gas that is upsetting your child?

Try eliminating other foods that are gassy not just milk...
Vegetables ~cabbage, onions, peas, lettuce,cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower,
radishes, brussel sprouts, corn,turnip, green peppers, beets, carrots,leeks, squash, spinach, pumpkin,parsnips

Fruits~ prunes, raisins, melons, grapes,banana, raw apple

Legumes ~dried peas and beans, baked beans,soybeans, lima beans, kidney beans,
lentils

Whole grain products~ whole wheat flour, bran cereals, branmuffins, rice bran, oat bran, rye

Artificial sweeteners “dietetic” candies and sugar-free gums sweetened with sorbitol or mannitol

High fat foods fried foods, fatty meats, rich cream sauces, gravies and pastries

Jackie - posted on 08/26/2009

Yup, my daughters collic didn't fully end until almost 4 mos. it went from about 7 weeks to 3.5 mos. For me it didnt' affect her sleep though it was only getting her to sleept hat was tough. Our saving grace was mylicon and to get her to sleep we always walked/bounced around the dark kitchen with her so she fell asleep upright...with the kitchen stove on high.



But i would def. look into what else you might need to cut out of your diet. Even if its not an allergy your baby just may not tolerate something you are eating. My daughter didn't do caffeine (AT ALL), so i cut that out and she was fine. If you are really committed to sticking to breastfeeding - which I strongly support - one by one start cutting out anything "questionable" from your diet and see if any of it makes a difference. I am sure it will be tough, but think of the benefits of LT nursing.



You could also try talking to a lactation consultant and get their suggestions, also give them your standard diet and see if anything jumps out at them as a problem causer.



Good luck!

Gina - posted on 08/25/2009

I wouldn't give up. 4 months old was about the age my daughter first got colicky. It lasted about a month and mysteriously dissappeared after a month. Now she's 18 mths. and still nursing!

Aarin - posted on 08/25/2009

Thank you all for your comments. I have tried massage, gas drops, gripe water, and even a prescription from the doctor that doesn't seem to help. (The doctor just wants to write her off as colicky, but I'm not buying it). I had a colicky child, and this isn't colic. I've been off dairy for a couple of months, but just the obvious milk, cheese, etc. Maybe I need to get more strict. It's just really hard to watch what you are eating so carefully when you are busy, and have a family with a regular diet to cook for! I'm going to stick with it for at least another week or two, and talk to her doctor again at her 4 month appointment. Thanks again for the encouragement!

Shanyn - posted on 08/25/2009

How long have you had dairy out of your diet? It usually takes anywhere from 3-6 weeks for an allergen to clear the system, so you might give it a bit more time. I had to give up dairy with my son and when it finally totally cleared my system, it was night and day for him. If you're willing to keep experimenting, you could also try cutting out gluten for the same amount of time to see if that makes a difference.



Also, soy is extraordinarily hard to digest, so if she's having digestion issues, I'm not sure if putting her on a soy formula would make it any easier? Have you tried gripwater to help with the discomfort? You could also try drinking a fennel/peppermint tea - they are both really great aids in digestion and might give her some relief through you?



When I was going through this with my son, I tried to look at it like a science experiment. :) It took some of the stress off of it and turned in into a project.



Hang in there and good luck to you!

Jill - posted on 08/25/2009

I agree. You should try eliminating common allergins before you stop nursing. Generally, breast milk is the best for babies, although I totally understand the stress sleepless nights and guilt bring on. Maybe do an internet search for common allergins and take them out of your diet one at a time. Good luck!

Tammy - posted on 08/25/2009

Have you tried infant massage to see if that helps with the gassiness?



What about testing her for allergies? I'm not sure at what age they do that, but it seems to be a shame to put her on soy formula if maybe the issue isn't lactose. If she has an allergy to something like eggs, for example, you might be able to eliminate that from your diet. Maybe you already know it's a dairy issue...? I would definitely do testing before I stopped nursing though if you can.

Whatever you decide, remember that you've done the very best for her giving her your milk for this long anyhow.