https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 18:30:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1486333 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 11:13:34 +0000 Silva 1486333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarah.clarisse: thats a good point too- my daughter was never a drooler- ever. So we think she swallowed a lot of it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1486268 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 10:52:40 +0000 sarah.clarisse 1486268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: thanks for the update! We are only about 6 weeks from starting solids so I'll probably hold off on obvious dairy til then. I'm pretty used to that by now. Our doc also said that teething and the extra saliva caused can flow right through undigested... And he certainly seems to have gallons running down his chin, who knows how much he is swallowing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1485552 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 06:38:41 +0000 yin 1485552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hang in there. The elimination diet is tough, but it will get easier. That's great that your LO has been gaining weight. At 18 weeks I have taken out dairy, soy, eggs, and gluten. It's a pain, but I also have DS1 who has a dairy, egg, and peanut allergy. We still had occasional blood in his stool until recently. I'm pretty sure nuts were the culprit, and I'm getting rid of that as well. There are a lot of yummy foods out there. Remember happy mama, happy baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1485530 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 06:08:44 +0000 Silva 1485530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abbydabbydoodlebug: I'm so glad LO is gaining well and that you are feeling better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1485529 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 06:07:42 +0000 Silva 1485529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarah.clarisse: yes! Once we started solids it changed. Basically the hypothesis was that either she had a mild intolerance with no significant symptoms, or that my breast milk has a laxative quality (I guess the mucous can be from things moving too fast). She's 10 months now and very healthy, and hasn't had any reactions to any foods (and we have tried everything, including dairy and soy and egg).<br /> Lactation consultants have a different perspective than MDs, and I kind of think MSPI is "in" right now. Our doc tested for blood, monitored her weight,but ultimately just told me to stop worrying and enjoy my cheese. A true mspi would be in pain and not gaining weight (I think). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1485399 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 23:36:15 +0000 ladybee 1485399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abbydabbydoodlebug: hugs! Our LO didn't have mucus poop but threw up every.single.feed. for a month if he wasn't on zofran. Turns out he has MSPI. I was never strong enough to stick with breast feeding. Kudos to you! We are on Neocate. We pay $155 a week. Yup, suuuuucks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1485366 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 22:41:06 +0000 brownie 1485366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My little guy is almost 3 (1 month away) and was a terrible MSPI baby. He is also the baby who is more reactive to soy than dairy so every time we added soy he went nuts. </p> <p>I recommend adding first soy oil because most babies are intolerant to the protein which isn't in soy oil. That should help with thing immensely. Also check out<br /> <a href="http://glutenfreepassport.com/allergy-gluten-free-restaurants/fast-food-chains-allergy-charts/" rel="nofollow">http://glutenfreepassport.com/allergy-gluten-free-restaurants/fast-food-chains-allergy-charts/</a> It links to websites with allergy menus and can be very helpful when wanting to eat out. That certainly helps.</p> <p>There is nothing wrong with formula feeding, but as a previous poster said, if it is that bad, you will need medical food (neocate) which is highly expensive. </p> <p>Personally for me, I couldn't control much BUT I could control my diet. So that is the ONLY way I made it through. It sucks royally and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1485306 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 21:57:03 +0000 sarah.clarisse 1485306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: you're the first person I've seem mention that the my mucous poop could just be nothing. I've been on baby poop obsessiveness for months (LO is 20 weeks) because he has always had what I describe as snotty poop. Our doctor said the same thing... that he's not bothered, eats well, and gains well. He's a big guy. Yet I still obsess and gave up dairy and soy for over a month. No change. But I did add dairy back in this weekend and noticed his reflux seemed to spike again. So there's that. Still. Maybe our doctors are right. How old is your LO? Did they ever get normal poop? Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1485171 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 20:48:57 +0000 MamaMoose 1485171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abbydabbydoodlebug: I know how you feel. My LO was not only MSPI but also intolerant to wheat, eggs, nuts and shellfish. The diet was unbearably restrictive. But there is no better motivation to stick with it than knowing that it's working!! In our case we never did fully get rid of the mucus, but the diet stopped the blood, the gas pains, and the reflux she had. And best of all she outgrew almost everything around 9-10 months. (She's 15 months now and the only thing I can't give her is straight eggs because it makes her puke). Despite all the challenges she was EBF until she was a year. Feel free to wall me if you have questions or need support! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1485152 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 20:39:19 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 1485152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: @Silva: Got in to see the ped today. LO has gained a pound since her last visit, about an oz a day, so I'm really happy about that. They also tested her poop again and good news: no blood! So what I am doing is working, which really helps me stay motivated to keep on with it. The Dr did say to not have any soy oil or lecithin but only for the reason of "most babies that have dairy sensitivity have soy sensitivity" which I don't exactly believe. So my plan is to keep going with soy/dairy free until after her 8 wk appt, then I'm going to get fecal occult blood tests and try soy oil or lecithin and see if she gets botheres by it. My life would be so much simpler if I could not bother with avoiding the soy part. </p> <p>As far as the thrush goes, she just said to apply lotrimin to myself after nursing and she gave me an rx for LO in case she starts to show signs of it. I washed everything today in hot water and vinegar. Hopefully its not a bad case and I'll kick it soon. </p> <p>Overall, im having a much better day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1483117 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 09:37:52 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 1483117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Good to know about Trader Joe's. The one in my city is close to the ped's office so if I get an appt, I can go there and check it out. I haven't been yet. I just went to Sprouts, this local natural food coop, and the regular grocery store. But we have whole foods and central market too. </p> <p>I just passed the 2 week mark on Saturday. But she isn't showing any difference,so I'm going to ask about the soy oil and lecithin. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1483081 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 09:29:39 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 1483081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: @Anagram: There was no blood at all to the naked eye in her poopy diapers, but maybe it was because she was only 2 weeks old and it hadn't irritated her long enough to cause her to have blood in her poop? Is there a way to test what specifically I'd causing the irritation or find out what exactly she's sensitive to? </p> <p>I'm calling to make an appt right now so I can at least go get her weighed and be able to talk with the Dr about all my questions. And hopefully get some relief to this thrush too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1483051 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 09:21:07 +0000 Anagram 1483051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abbydabbydoodlebug: and oreas have soy lecithin. BUT, there are a lot of brands that dont. Trader Joes has some cookies with palm oil and sunflower lecithin instead of soy. Their molasses ginger cookies--their cinnamon rolls are also dairy and soy free (in the refrigerated case).</p> <p>You can always make your own cookies. That's one of the easiest things to make at home with no dairy or soy. Just substitute canola oil, almond milk, and the Earth Balance soy free in place of all the dairy and soy items. AND trader joes has chocolate chips that are totally dairy free (but have soy lecithin) if you find our your LO can tolerate lecithin.</p> <p>Soy oil and soy lecithin are tolerated by a lot of MSPI babies, so you can try adding those back in first (after eliminating everything for 2 weeks) and see if you notice a difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1483045 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 09:19:29 +0000 mrsjyw 1483045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>no advice, just hugs :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1483038 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 09:18:04 +0000 Anagram 1483038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abbydabbydoodlebug: Silva makes a good point. I know there have been other bees here (Adira comes to mind) who breastfed while eating dairy and didn't discover until their baby started solids that their LO has a dairy intolerance. So, if there aren't any other signs/symptoms other than mucousy poop and some blood in the stool, maybe it doesn't matter. I'm assuming the blood was a trace amount and not huge globs of blood or anything.</p> <p>My doctor was the exact opposite of yours. From newborn days on, I noticed my LOs poops were constantly bright green, stringy, and mucousy. My mom (who had 6 kids and ran a large day care) kept commenting that she'd never seen anything like it.</p> <p>My doctor said it was fine.</p> <p>From the beginning, I had a lot of feeding problems with my LO-couldn't get her to latch and drink for a decent amount of time. I paid for an LC to come to my home, I went to weekly BF support groups, I took my LO to a cranial sacral therapist, I had her tongue and lip ties clipped. Nothing helped. I started pumping and supplementing basically from the beginning because she just wouldn'd drink much.</p> <p>But then around 2.5 months, she started refusing the bottle as well. I would call my doctor, she would tell me it was fine, and I would continue the frustrating cycle of trying to force feed my baby. Many days, she would only take in 12 oz, even though I was trying every hour on the hour to get her to drink. She woulnd't take the breast, wouldn't take the bottle.</p> <p>Finally, at 3 months, I heard about stool sampling for blood (my ped never suggested it, go figure), so I insisted on it, and sure enough--there was blood in her stool. </p> <p>At that point, my doctor told me the elimination diet was hard, and not to do it unless I really felt like I had to. Well...I was spending all day every day trying to get my baby to eat, who was quickly dropping in percentiles...so to me, it was clearly necessary.</p> <p>I 100% eliminated both dairy and soy and within 3 days, my LO started eating significantly more (but only while asleep, but I was still thrilled). Over the past 4.5 months, she's slowly gotten better and better. Sometimes now she even takes a bottle while awake. Her poo still stayed pretty green a lot of time time, but it would turn a normal yellow color when I was sure I'd avoided dairy and soy 100% (no soy oil or lecithin, for example).</p> <p>I think her feeding issues made her averse to solids at first, too. She wouldn't open her mouth for them until around 7 months, even though we started trying at 5 months.</p> <p>Long story short: You can try continuing without the elimination diet. Or try just eliminating major forms of dairy, but not avoiding baked dairy. </p> <p>If you notice your LO starting to refuse eating or having issues with weight gain, then you can always go back to the elimination diet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1482782 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 07:56:40 +0000 Silva 1482782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abbydabbydoodlebug: yeah, blood might be a different case. I'm not sure. I'm sorry it's so thought right now. You have my sympathy, newborns are enough to deal with without also trying to accommodate a restricted diet :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1482750 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 07:36:34 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 1482750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: that's really interesting to hear about the poop! She never seemed fussy or overly gassy to me. I think the ped said there was blood in her poop so I guess something was irritating her? But she is gaining /eating fine. Something to ask her i guess. I'm super thankful for the natural/health food store options where I live. I was able to find coconut milk ice cream which is actually really good, just expensive. And I was able to find soy free margarine too. I'm just hoping it's not more than soy/dairy now. I was actually hoping to try soy out in a couple weeks to see if it affected her because it would make my life so much easier if I didn't have to worry about soy. I could eat out and have dinner at friend's houses without cross-examining every ingredient. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1482701 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 07:11:43 +0000 Silva 1482701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my friend just went through this. find some treat foods that you like- oreos are okay I think? go to a health food store- they often have a large allergen-free selection. look for coconut bliss ice cream, I think they make some soy free flavors in addition to being dairy free and its very good.<br /> Oh She Glows is a great blog for vegan / gluten free recipes and many of them are soy free or can easily be modified.<br /> Do you eat meat? Time for some steak!<br /> look up tasty recipes and get your husband to cook you some meals you can eat on the weekend, because you just had a baby and probably need a nap.</p> <p>I did an elimination diet early on and it didn't help, but after the first couple weeks things got a little easier in terms of adjusting to the diet. Its definitely hard and shocking at first, particularly if you are starving. I think several bees (Mrs. Jacks comes to mind) have done blog posts about this topic, and included lots of recipes.</p> <p>The only other thing to keep in mind- and this is totally up to you, is seeing a new pediatrician. My daughter had mucous poops for the first 6 months of her life. But- she was never fussy and was gaining weight appropriately on her curve. I did the elimination to see if it would help with sleeping- it didn't, and it didn't change her poop consistency either. So her doc was basically like, "we know next to nothing about baby poop. if she's not fussy and she's gaining well, there is really no cause for concern. she might have a mild intolerance, but if its not bothering her, don't let it bother you."<br /> Obviously this doesn't apply if she's uncomfortable or not gaining weight well. But I throw it out there because I was a little obsessed with my kids poop for a long time and it was pretty unnecessary in our case. </p> <p>I'm sorry its tough right now. It WILL get better. I feel like everything turned a corner for us at around 6 or 7 weeks. You are still in the midst of full on survival mode with a newborn. Try to take it easy on yourself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1482691 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 06:58:21 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 1482691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: thank you for the info about insurance. According to the neocate website Texas is supposed to require insurance companies to cover the formula. But like you said, they will probably give me the run around like they do. </p> <p>@knittingmama: I keep telling myself that it's only temporary since my ped said to do it until she's 6 months and we'll reevaluate then. Even still, August seems SO far away. But now I'm praying that it is only dairy/soy and not egg or gluten or something too because what else would I be able to eat?! Ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1482479 Sun, 09 Mar 2014 22:51:15 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1482479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope you feel better soon hon. So sorry you are having a rough time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1482386 Sun, 09 Mar 2014 21:39:24 +0000 knittingmama 1482386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>PS, My OB called in the thrush prescription over the phone without having to see me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1482385 Sun, 09 Mar 2014 21:38:51 +0000 knittingmama 1482385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man, I was there—my daughter had MSPI, I had thrush and I was so overwhelmed. At some point I just put my head down and cried. She turned out to be more sensitive to soy than to dairy so it's worth trying to eliminate both—mine also was allergic to all beans (soy is a bean) as well. But now at 1.5, she grew out of it and eats a ton of cheese every day. So there's hope. I'm not sure WHAT I ate for more than a year, but I did try to eat out now and then (generally Middle Eastern food is okay? But sometimes they use soy-oil, sigh). Also, I subbed in almond milk for everything. I also ate a lot of plain meat, but if you look there's a lot of soy- and dairy-free products, like ketchup and stuff. For cookies I ate macaroons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1482375 Sun, 09 Mar 2014 21:27:50 +0000 Anagram 1482375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abbydabbydoodlebug: I've been exactly where you are. EXACTLY. Complete with situations like fresh cookies in the house, and not being able to eat them. It sucks.</p> <p>However. If you LO does indeed have a dairy and soy intolerance--the only formula that will work is Neocate and Elecare and that stuff is $45/can. Doesn't come in read-to-feed, only powder, so you are looking at almost $400 a month in formula. Yup, that sucks more.</p> <p>What state are you in? Some states require insurance to cover medically necessary formula, but many states don't. I live in a state that is supposed to, but my insurance company has been giving me the runaround and so far has refused to cover it (still working on it).</p> <p>In the mean time, I am going on 4.5 months of this horrible elimination diet and I still HATE IT. But it does get easier. I'm not one of those selfless, "for the good of my child" people and I work full time and my idea of fun in my free time isn't whipping up cake frosting made from red bean paste and coconut milk, ya know? And I like COOKIES. Real cookies.</p> <p>So this has been difficult for me. But really. It gets better. I've started a few half-assed threads where I share the foods I've found that are dairy and soy free, but I keep forgetting to finish those threads (check my history of posts I've started).</p> <p>But you aren't alone, and you are allowed to vent. Let me know if you want any tips. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-overwhelmed-3#post-1482365 Sun, 09 Mar 2014 21:21:38 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 1482365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is mostly a vent I guess, but I'm open to any suggestions on what to do/ask my Dr about these issues.</p> <p>First off, I have a 5 week old. At her 2 week appointment, her ped saw her poopy diaper and because it looked stringy and mucousy she did some test on it and said she has a milk intolerance and to cut off dairy and might as well do soy too because often babies have intolerances to both. And left it at that, no further explanation, nothing. I was in such shock/dispair that I didn't think of anything to ask. Dh and I ended up calling the office back and speaking to a nurse who was helpful and gave us a print out of OK food. I'm annoyed at the ped for not being more helpful, but maybe I just have to be more prepared with questions. </p> <p>So I'm adjusting to this completely new diet because soy is in everything and I wish my ped had just told me to try dairy first like my 2 friend's Dr's told them to do. Now it's pretty much impossible to eat out or eat anything I used to. And my Dh's 30th birthday was this past week and I feel bad enough that I couldn't do anything special for him, he got fresh cookies delivered to the house, so the whole house smelled like cookies and I couldn't have any. It was like some sort of sick twisted torture. In addition to dealing with sleep deprivation and a newborn. Good times. And it's been 2 weeks and I haven't seen any difference in her poop like her ped said there would be and I'm terrified that I'm going to have to cut out more in my diet. I'm really considering switching to formula which makes me feel horrible for considering that. Breastfeeding was the one thing I really wanted to do and never considered the possibility of this.</p> <p>Not only all of that, but I think I have developed thrush. Which makes breastfeeding even harder to learn to enjoy. I think I got it from my c section incision because I developed a yeast infection there and I was stupid and didn't think to take probiotics. </p> <p>The only redeeming factor is that my LO has started smiling at me and it's pretty much the only good part of my days/nights. </p> <p>I'm calling my ped office first thing in the morning and I'm hoping to get an appt tomorrow and that they can write me a Rx for the thrush so I don't have to deal with making an appt with my Ob or the regular Dr office. </p> <p>I've just cried so much the past few days and I feel like I've been dealing with restrictions for so long with pregnancy and now this. </p> <p>Pity party for one please. :( </p>