Long week

We have had a long week. Earlier last week, Peter began having different looking poopy diapers which gradually took on an orange-red color until Thursday when he had full-on blood and mucous in his diaper. Gross, I know but it was scary. I took him to the dr. right away with diaper and soaked onesie in hand and sure enough...they confirmed it was blood. I was a mess! They took blood and told me that it was most likely an allergy to milk/milk protein. I was not convinced because he has been eating fine, gaining weight, and after 11 weeks we had not had any issues.

The dr. told me to stop breastfeeding and switch him to a hypo allergenic formula which was really upsetting to me. Now, had this happened 6 weeks ago, I would have jumped at the news that I had to stop breastfeeding because I am pretty sure at the point it was still pretty painful for me, but we had finally gotten the hang of it and I was surprised how upset I was to hear this news. Anyway, I was given instructions on how to eliminate all milk/soy from my diet, pump, and feed him formula.

Peter took to the formula fine and has gained even more weight in one week! Pumping exclusively has been exhausting and leaves very little time in between feedings to get much of anything done. Not to mention all of the washing I have had to do keeping up with bottles, nipples, and pump parts! I have been anxious to try to go back to breastfeeding for the convenience of less clean up and less time all together!

So, the "elimination diet" that I have adpoted at least for now (as long as I don't see any more bloody stools) is very restrictive and if I was told to do it for any other reason I would have said "no way" but for now I am going to try to maintain it. The list of things that you have to avoid is crazy! Milk/soy is in so many things! Of course my favorites and the most obvious...cheese, ice cream, chocolate, milk (as in milk for my coffee), but also most breads, cereal, sugarless gum, butter, yogurt, and caramel flavor and color (think syrup and marinades). Soy is in tons of foods also including vegatable oil and cooking spray so I can only eat stuff cooked in canola oil or olive oil. Oh, almost forgot...some wine is filtered/fined with casein which is a milk protein....NOOOOOO! I have done some research and found some which are ok! Phew!

Since starting this, I have changed to rice milk (mainly for coffee), but I can use it to bake also, oatmeal, peanut butter on special bagels, fruit, veggies, rice/pasta (careful about the sauce because there is often soy), meat/chicken/fish. I can also eat eggs and bacon. I made macaroons which are dairy free and have been eating gummy bears to satisfy my sweet tooth! Easter will be sad this year...no chocolate bunnies or cadbury mini eggs!!!

I am hoping that I can get Peter to breastfeed successfully this weekend and that we don't see any major changes to his poops so that eventually I can add things back into my diet. I am not sure how long I can keep up with this diet, but if it works I will do my best. The hardest part will be eating out. The formula that he would have to be on is pretty expensive and stinks so I hope this helps.

The good news is that through all this, Peter was fine. Not too fussy or even acting different. Pretty happy. This was more traumatic for mom!