Blood in diaper (sorry, this is kind of gross!)

[traveler71]

Only saw a couple of posts related to this, and they seemed to be for babies around 2 mos... wonder if anyone has experienced this later on.

My DD is 5 1/2 mos. and has been ALMOST exclusively breastfed; when I went back to work (at 3 1/2 mos.), I had some supply issues, and we started giving her a little formula (cow's milk based) in the evenings to "tank her up" - otherwise she went to bed hungry, and she's already only 25th percentile for weight. Never had any issues with her taking the bottle or formula - gobbles it right up. In the last month, it's become a standard nightly bottle of about 4-6 oz. after I feed her.

About a week and a half ago, she all of a sudden had blood in her diaper. Not the "anal fissure" kind due to constipation, but mucuosy stringy stuff in her stools, which suddenly became looser. (Her poop has always varied a lot and I never really worried about it; never had any issues with gas or anything.)

Immediately took her to the ped, who told me it's most likely dairy in her diet or mine. Eliminated the formula (used frozen b-milk until I used it up, now using soy formula). 4 days later, blood seemed gone, and then it came back. Now I've eliminated dairy from my diet (and I'm aware of the different types of milk "products" that make this so difficult), and it's been almost a week... still seeing blood. It's diminished to just a few spots now, but I'm not sure what to read into that since it disappeared completely and then came back worse last week (which prompted another trip to ped, who said to continue to watch it).

Ped wants me to bring her back in tomorrow if we're still seeing blood. I'm terrified he'll send us to a GI specialist, who will do a colonoscopy (which I've heard is a TERRIBLE experience for infants).

I read a post that said it takes 2 weeks for the milk proteins to work their way out of my system and hers - it that supported by the medical literature? If it's true, I'd like to wait this out, but I don't want to risk my baby's health if it's not clinically proven.

Has anyone experienced this kind of sudden onset of a reaction before, when you've been eating dairy all along? Any information or support anyone has would be much appreciated. I really hoped to BF for another few mos. at least, and just find it so hard to believe that a hypoallergenic formula (which I think is the next step) would actually be better for her than b-milk...

thank you!

[Rachels]

Formula is not better for her than breastmilk. It doesn't have antibodies, doesn't change its fat and protein balance depending on time of day, doesn't alter to satisfy hunger vs thirst, doesn't offer either of you protections against cancer... the list goes on and on. If your babe is sensitive to something you're eating, the healthiest thing you can do for her is to eliminate that food and keep nursing. Most babies do grow out of food sensitivities.

And yes, babies can develop sensitivities over time. My DD started having dairy problems at three months old. (She now drinks milk.) It does take two weeks to totally clear dairy. The other thing to know is that 50% of babies who are sensitive to dairy are sensitive to soy as well.

Remember that you don't have to consent to a colonoscopy. Blood in the diaper is usually a sign of an allergy, and if it is helping to cut out dairy, it's okay to wait. I'd also be inclined to avoid soy for her for at least a while.

Lots of us here have done elimination diets and can support you if you need it.

-Rachel
Mom to Abigail Rose
5/18/02

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"When you know better, you do better."
Maya Angelou

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbo...pphire_24m.gif Two years and counting!

[chlobo]

I would recommend going to see an allergist before going to see a GI person. Since it sounds an awful lot like a food sensitivity, an allergist will better be able to assess what course of action to take. I've found both the pediatricians I've gone to to be not very knowledgeable beyond telling me to cut out dairy regarding food related issues.

[mattiew]

Don't assume a GI specialist is necessarily the next step. While I continued elimination from my diet the ped did some blood work on her and had me take stool samples for the lab. These tests can rule out some problems but as the others have said it ususally is a sensitivity.

HTH!
Carrie

[sntm]

I'd pursue the allergy route first. If they do end up doing a colonoscopy, know that your baby would be sedated for it, but I agree that it is not a fun experience.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03
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Breastfeeding 13 months and counting

[traveler71]

Thank you for the info on the colonscopy - I had heard (from someone whose baby had one years ago) that they aren't sedated, and so I was so so worried about it. But I will pursue the allergy route first and push back on a colonscopy if that's what my dr. recommends (until next week or so).

Very little blood today, so maybe the dairy elimination is working!

[tarahsolazy]

Good luck, I hope the blood is all out now! You could also change her nightly formula bottle from soy to a hypoallergenic formula if the dairy elim doesn't completly get rid of the blood. Like Rachel said, lots of dairy sensitive kids are also soy sensitive. (I think you said your DD gets one formula bottle per day?) Apparently, these formulas taste really bad, they certainly smell bad, so be aware DD might not like it! At our hospital, babies who get colonoscopys are heavily sedated, almost as much as for a true surgery, and a pediatric anesthesiologist monitors the baby during the procedure. I hope you do not have to go through this (and you never HAVE to do anything your doc suggests), but if you choose to, make sure your baby would get this kind of monitoring and seadtion, and she shouldn't feel anything.

[proggoddess]

We found out DD was allergic to dairy at about 5 weeks of age. Same story - blood in the diaper and diarrhea. Her stool was declared "okay" after 2 weeks. She has only had minor problems twice, both when I have eaten something that contained whey in it.

The second time I ate whey accidentally, I did the pump 'n' dump, so to speak. We thawed out a couple bags of "no dairy" milk from the freezer, and gave that to her with the Nutramigen formula and I pumped and froze my milk for a couple days until much of the whey in my system was gone. We're hoping we can use that "dairy" milk after she's a year old.

That hypoallergenic formula tastes nasty. We pretty much have to mix it with EBM for her to drink it.

[mudder17]

Kaya started having problems around the time she turned 5 months. She had green, foul-smelling diarrhea (sorry), slight temperature, and twice I saw the blood. I started my elimination diet 2 weeks ago, and her stool frequency has decreased to only 2-3 times a day and today, for the first time, her stool lightened up a little. So it looks like 2 weeks is about the right length of time for the milk proteins to clear up from one's system.

I've recently read up on milk allergies. Here are a few links:

http://members.shaw.ca/allergies/milkallergy.html
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv...s/?msg=12198.5
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv...s/?msg=13994.2

Actually, if you just do a search for milk allergies on ivillage, you'll get a lot of results.

Good luck!

Eileen

Mother of Beautiful Kaya
born 22 February 2004

http://www.chemicalgraphics.com/kaya

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbo...equartz_3m.gif Breastfed 3 months and counting

[kahplayground]

I am writing to you as a neonatal intensive care RN/pediatric RN (baby due in Jan 2005). I have taken care of many babies with these kinds of symptoms. While it is more than likely an allergy that will necessitate switching formulas until you find the one that works, I wouldn't hesistate to see a pediatric GI/gastroenterologist vs. an allergist as a GI guy is the one who can help you with the aid of a pediatric dietician. He more than likely WILL NOT do a colonoscopy but run other tests. Has your daughter's stool been sent for something called reducing substance? If not, demand that it be sent as this will give your pediatrician more information. Typically what is done BEFORE a colonoscopy, is checking stool for reducing substance 48-72 hours after a formula change. Anticipate that you may have to change formulas several times before you find the one that alleviates the symptoms and stools for reducing substance should be sent until they are negative. And yes, sometimes in this case, formula IS better than breastmilk. But don't give up on pumping your milk just yet. Even if your daughter becomes stable on a prescribed formula, many times breastmilk can be slowly introduced back into the diet at a later time (i.e. don't throw any of that precious milk away). I hope you find this information helpful! Hang in there!

Karin