Need some support to get through this..

[~Jen~]

Hi,
DD is 2 months old today and EBF.  We've been dealing with some reflux and MPI issues for the past two weeks and now I've been advised by our doctor to try her on Neocate for a few days to see if her symptoms will improve.  I'll pump at every feed to keep my supply going while we try her on this milk.  (If she'll even take it  )  IF we see improvement, I can go back to feeding her, but will have to cut out dairy, soy, wheat, and other suspect foods from my diet.  I really want to maintain committed to BF her if at all possible. I BF DS for 13 months and loved every minute of it.  But this time it is going to be so much harder.  Doctor advised that IF we can't help her symptoms through eliminating certain foods from my diet, I might have to stop BF.  BUT i don't even want to think about this option right now and will cross each bridge as it comes.  I'm determined to find a way to keep going with her. I've been getting some fantastic support on the Reflux boards and will be spending lots of time over there to get advice on how to do an ED.  If I have to cut out so many foods, I am just worried how I will keep up my calories in order to produce enough milk - but again I will cross this bridge at the time.  Fingers crossed - I can find a way to make this work! And hopefully we see some improvement in DD over the next few days.

[Mama2boys]

Hi Jen,

Take a step at a time...I gave up milk products due to DS's MPI and substituted with loads of nuts and hemp milk. Its not all gloom and doom.

Not sure why they are trying neocate, I just started eliminating the offending stuff - milk from my diet it was  alot easier than moving/trying formula...

[~inbalance~]

I'm assuming the trial of neocate is to see if there is obvious improvment which would therefore confirm suspicions that she is reacting to foods in your diet.  Big (((hugs))), there is NO reason why you would have to give up BFing, even if she does have intolerances.  In fact, I think even with food intolerances breast is still best.  Hopefully you can work with a dietician, nutritionist, or even a naturopath to come up with a diet that will benefit you both.  I spoke to a naturopath when I was facing giving up dairy and she was able to point me in the right direction in terms of keeping up my own nutrition.  It seems very overwhelming at first, but it's not that bad once you get the hang of it.  Actually, EDs are a real eye opener when it comes to eating healthy, and you may learn a lot about nutrition overall.  I've been following your threads and just want to offer more support since you know I've been there too.  Check out the food allergies board as well for more information about intolerances.   

[~Jen~]

Hi Martina, thank u for following along. You are exactly right. Consultant recommended the short trial of Neocate to test and see if she responds. We decided we would get a quicker answer than trying diet and waiting 10days to see whether she responds. If we see improvement by Sunday, we know the ED will help. I've started the diet already at this point, so hopefully when I go back to feeding her on Sunday we already are a step ahead. Then I will see a dietician next week to discuss how I can best maintain a healthy diet and really do it properly.

[~inbalance~]

How's it going with the neocate?  My understanding is it tastes awful.     So sometimes hard to get an LO to take it (can you blame them? )  It definitely seems like the quickest way to see if there is an issue.  I hope it gives you some insight!

[~Jen~]

So far so good! She took the first bottle no problem - I was surprised as I read it tastes awful too. She only took 3oz/90mls. Have no idea if that is ok for 2mos old?
It is probably coincidence but she went on to do a 2 hr nap!!  . No waking at 45 mins.

I am probably ahead of myself but I am thinking about all the ebm I have been storing and everything I pump today and tomorrow - am I going to have to dump it all if I have to be on an ED??

[~inbalance~]

I think the younger they are the easier it is to get them to take the neocate or other HA formulas.  Older babies just don't go for it, they know better!  lol    I don't know much about bottle feeding but I think 3oz is ok for a 2mo.

Don't dump it all just yet!  Give the neocate trial a chance just to be sure.  Then if you don't think you can use it, maybe you can donate it to a milk bank.

Yay for the nap!  Maybe a coincidence, maybe not.  See how the next few days go.  Are you keeping a log?  Might help to jot down some observations.