Well, it has been quite the week of trial and error. As you know, I started a dairy free diet on Tuesday. Believe me, I ate my fair share of Christmas candies (turtles, peanut clusters, thumbprints) on Monday night as the realization that I would no longer get to enjoy these Holiday treats set in :)
I picked up some Almond milk, dairy/lactose free butter, and have read all the labels on food in my pantry to make sure I can eat what we have. I am struggling with cooking family meals though. I never realized how much CHEESE and cream of "soups" I use when cooking casseroles and crock pot meals in the winter. It sure is not making this process easy. I have been eating lots of eggs/ommlets and lots of fruits and veggies.
Preston slept much better on Wed and last night. He gave me 3-4 hour stretches each time between feedings. He still seems quite gassy, but it can take 10 days for the lactose to leave my system (thus my breastmilk.)
I called the doctor again yesterday as I had picked up the lactose free formula (Nutramigen) and Preston refused it. I feel as though he knew my breastmilk was making his tummy hurt, because for the past 2 weeks, feeding him has been a struggle. He wont eat for long- thus making my breastmilk supply drop. Now, I am not making enough breastmilk to get him full during a feeding- leading me to need to supplement with formula. Well, after getting the lactose free formula, he refused it! I tried and tried to get him to drink it, but he gagged the first few times. Finally last night I got him to take 5 oz of it before bed, and I knew he finally had a full belly. I called the doctor yesterday to ask for more suggestions on what I could do. They said they wanted me to bring him in for a weight check and an examine to make sure everything was still ok.
Today at his appointment he was 15 lbs- he has lost 3 oz. in a week (since last week when I took him in for a possible ear infection). Not a huge drop, but enough that they really want me to supplement with formula as he is not getting enough breastmilk now. The dr. checked him out and said if in the next 7 days there is no improvement in his stools and the gas in his stomach is not subsiding (I can feel gas bubbles move in his belly after he eats) then we will be referred to a gastrointestologist (who will also test for a dairy allergy.) The doctor said I have done all the correct steps- eliminating first tomatoes, then caffeine, and now dairy. If nothing improves, we need to have him referred to a specialist. So, that's where we stand as of today. Hopefully this dairy free diet and lactose free formula is the key! I was really hoping to be able to breastfeed him for atleast 6 months (as I had to stop early with Reese due to multiple bouts of Mastitis.) Now that my supply has dropped, it is like he is naturally weaning himself. I think I may just have to do morning and night feedings, and formula bottles during the day. Not what I planned, but nothing with a baby ever goes as planned!
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