Little backstory for anyone who hasn't read any of my other posts. Henry is MSPI and I've been off dairy and soy for over 2 months now, but he continued to have mucous in his stools even after the reflux symptoms went away. For the last 4 weeks, I've been following a really strict ED--basically the RPAH, but minus all the common allergens as well, so no eggs or gluten (or nuts, shellfish, etc. . .). The mucous is still pretty bad and his weigh gain has slowed down a lot the last 5 or 6 weeks, so his ped. referred us to a GI specialist.
We had that appt. this a.m. and I was totally dissappointed. His regular ped. had been so supportive of all the sacrifices I'd made and wanting to get to the bottom of what is causing the problem before we blindly start supplementing or whatever. But this dr. came in with a nutritionist (I was thinking Yay! SOmeone to talk about all the food stuff with
) and a canister of formula. He ordered blood work and a stool sample to rule out some various malabsorption issues and check for other things, but then started talking about how we need to get his weight up and its just so hard to know with BFing--they really need him to take bottles. I told him I'd really like to wait until we get the results from the tests they are running before I start to supplement with some nasty tasting formula, which he agreed to because in his mind, I need some time to get Henry used to taking a bottle (which he takes just fine, even though I don't do it very often). But in my thinking, if Henry does have a problem absorbing the nutrients from my milk, won't he have a problem absorbing the formula nutrients as well? Shouldn't we solve the problem of WHY he's sick rather than just stuffing more calories into him, which is all their goal seems to be right now?
I have just gone through so much this last month trying to solve this problem so I can keep BFing and its killing me to think I'm going to have to fight the drs the whole way. I DO want to do what is best for Henry, but I'm just not feeling like this is it. And now I am worried that I have somehow compromised my milk by the severity of my diet the last month (more likely quality than quantity because H is having TONS of wet and poopy diapers--something is going in him to make all that come out.) The dr. didn't think there was any point continuing with what I've been doing at this point, which I agree--4 weeks in and there really hasn't been any improvement. So I came home and at 2 fried eggs with guacamole on them (lots of healthy fats!!!).
I do plan to see a lactation consultant who I assume will be more supportive of what I'm trying to do, and I think I'm going to try to cut out carbs and sugars since I really think we have a leaky gut issue at this point, and I can eat a lot more healthful foods with good fats, protein and vitamins on that diet. I'm also going to get fenugreek to try to boost my supply.
Oh, and they were not too happy that I'm not doing Vit. D supplements. I told the nutritionist that the ones I'd bought had so much junk (colors and flavors) in them, that I got turned off of the whole idea. She admitted she's never read the label, but "that's what most of our patients use and the babies are all fine."
It's not like I think he's going to instantly drop dead when I give him food coloring, but seriously, WHY should I have to?!!! I'm going to the health food store today and hope they'll have something "cleaner".
Thanks for listening to my rant. I was just so hoping to find a helpful ally in all of this because I'm not an expert and its been a lot to take in the last month, but I don't feel like this dr. is going to be that for me. They don't even want to see us for another month, although I assume if the labs come back with anything, they will do more than just let me know over the phone. I hope.
Editted to add: Another thing I almost forgot--the dr. also compared Henry's weight right now (3%) to the % he was at when he was born (50%). Even my regular ped. pointed out that they don't really care about the initial weight because babies are born at all diff. sizes and that has nothing to do with where they will settle in on the charts. I was quick to remind him that he was 20% at 2 months and that is where all my babies have been, so its really only what has happened in the last 2 months that is of concern. It was just like he was trying to make it sound like Henry had had some massive weight loss, worse than what has really happened.
