is there a link?

[k8bailey]

Could there be a link between a baby's allergies and the mothers diet during pregnancy?

My 13 week old daughter is formula fed and isn't putting on much weight she is constantly sick. The HV says reflux but we've tried eveything eg, thickened formula and gaviscon etc, nothing helps!
Went to see GP last night who is referring us to a paediatrician but in the meantime has prescribed soya milk, incase its an allergy to cows milk.

She's only had a couple of feeds of the soya milk but it so far looks quite promising!

So now I'm wondering, if she is allergic to cows milk could it be anything to do with my diet during pregnancy.
Im not trying to blame myself but I do think its a coincidence that I craved milk, I drank pints of the stuff (which normally I wouldn't touch) and also ate anything with milk in it, angel delight, yoghurt, rice pudding, custard.... I couldn't get enough of the stuff!

What do you think?

[redcrx]

K8, its nothing that you have done hun so dont beat yourself up about it.

Formula milk is made from cows milk which as we know is for baby cows really. Some babies are just intolerant of things, as youll find out when weaning. Its nothing to do with the amount of milk you drank when pregnant.

If that was the case then Little CRX would be intolerant of chocolate, and believe me he if he is he hides it well.

If she is intolerant then Im sure she will grow out of it soon, i know plenty of babies that have.

[redcrx]

sorry, just reread that and it sounds as if im saying that formula is wrong. I dont think that (i use formula for mine) so dont think Im saying you have done wrong, Im not xx

[k8bailey]

Hi Red, thanks for your answers!

I just had to ask coz I lay awake last night going over and over it all, I remembered being told not to eat peanuts whilst pregnant incase the baby was allergic, and then thought it was a strange coincidence that I craved milk and Nancy might be alergic!

Anyway, she might not be and it doesn't really matter either way aslong as she gets whatever it is sorted!!

Ever thought about becoming a HV / MW? your advice is much better that that of my real HV!! lol, Take care. x

[redcrx]

lol i couldnt be a HV or MW, Id get broody to often

I have spent so many years on the ivillage boards that i think ive soaked up so much useless and useful information that if i dont spill it out every so often is in danger of driving me mad lol

Im moderator of a board of pregnant ladies now so atm im clued up on scans and blood tests and amnios.

[naflharrison]

hi my seven month old neice has been on speciall formula since she was a few wks old due to constant vomiting and very very bad nappies that happened as soon as she finished a feed and sometimes during!! ask about the special formula for babies that are intolerant to formula or cows milk. i dont know the name of it but can find out and will post it here, also the formula is on prescription so you dont have to fork out a fortune all the time for it

[Ice.Maiden]

Don't blame yourself K8. One of my babies constantly suffered with projectile vomiting, and was losing weight. He was about to go into hospital for tests, and we were frantic with worry. I was descaling the kettle one morning, and something made me descale the sterilizer. Within minutes, a sludgy grey-brown residue formed, and I knew immediately that even though it'd been kept as clean as possible - it actually wasn't. I stopped using it immediately, and boiled the bottles in a pan of water instead. My son was able to feed properly afterwards, and the sickness literally stopped after the first feed of cleaning his bottle in this way. I reported it to the doctor and HV, and also to the manufacturers of the steam sterilizer. I'm not saying you use one of these, but there were several other cases of this happening, and we were compensated for it.

[tracymort]

The best thing in my opinion you can do is breastfeed (and cut dairy from your diet. Breastfeeding is just so important for any child, but even more so for a child that appears to be atopic (allergy prone). Soya is really not a great idea now, I'm surprised it's been prescribed due to the worries phytoestrogens.
http://www.babymilkaction.org/resources/briefi ngs/tessasoya03.html
(Particular bugbear of mine as I was a soya milk baby, ended up with PCOS and disease like crohns, both of which breastfeeding called of prevented)

Formula really was just invented as a last resort, a medical necessity if there really was no breastmilk about, not a choice. It can upset gut flora, many allergies are linked to poor bowel health. Cows milk is a foreign protein, anything foreign that passes a babies lips before 6 months can upset them.

It's not too late to breastfeed. Even women who have adopted babies can induce lactation. Find a good breastfeeding counsellor to help you.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/relactation. html

It's very rare a woman physically cannot breastfeed (only 2% cannot), the rest is usually poor support and believing myths.

[k8bailey]

Formula really was my last resort, I have had some major issues with guilt over stopping as early as I did but at the time it was only choice we had. I was born with a potentialy fatal heart defect, and had been told it would be impossible for me to have a baby because of the strain it would place on my body the combination of this and a rough delivery meant that I ended up with blood clots and infections. I needed some very strong medications to get me better again, which posed a risk to my baby if I continued to breastfeed, also I needed to go back into hospital again when I was barely concious through pain and therefore in no fit state to care for my baby who needed to be fed in the meantime so formula was our only option.

Tracymort, I appreciate your answer and respect your views but don't be to quick to judge. I am currently looking in to alternatives to the soya as I am concerned about the possible risks.
I did what I felt was best for myself and my baby at the time. I shouldn't have to feel guilty or explain myself to anyone but i do! and anyway she used to throw up the breast milk too!