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Dear Lactation Consultant:
My baby is 3 weeks old and has become extremely fussy over the last week. She gets very hungry, latches well, but after 3 or 4 minutes starts wriggling and pulling. I take her off because she is hurting me and relatch her but she’ll continue to do herky-jerky nursing (I hear her swallowing so I know she is getting milk) for about another 3-4 minutes, then she pulls off and cries uncontrollably. I have tried burping her, sometimes as long as 10 minutes and sometimes I will get a burp (dry) but most of the time she spits up a lot. After calming her (this usually takes about 10-20 minutes) she goes to the other breast without fussing, for about 15 minutes. She usually falls asleep, but I feel it’s important to burp her and the burp is usually spit up. She does go back to sleep after that. Her poops are always green and she poops at every nursing. She only takes cat naps and wants to eat every hour to hour and a half. We are going to see the pediatrician next week but I thought I’d ask you first because you have been so helpful when I have called you with questions in the past. I’m glad you have the blog up and running now so I don’t always have to call you.
Sincerely,
Susan Sweet,
Great Neck, New York
Dear Susan:
First of all, you never have to feel guilty for calling me with questions, but I also like the blog because it is a way to share common concerns with all our readers. From what you are describing and from other questions we have discussed before (foamy poop, blood in her stool) it sounds like your baby may have a true dairy protein allergy. Although not always the case, it is usually hereditary, so if there is a family history of such an allergy, it would make my assumption more likely.
In order to determine a TRUE dairy protein allergy, you must cut all dairy out of your diet for THREE FULL WEEKS, as that is how long it stays in breast milk. This is much longer than all other foods, which usually remain in breast milk just 72 hours.
Does your baby have a lot of hair on her head? If so, is it sticking straight up? I know this sounds like a ridiculous question, but if it is, this is what we refer to as “chicken hair,” and it is a sign of a dairy protein allergy. As you get closer to the 3 week mark of eliminating dairy from your diet, her hair should go back down. Take pictures of her every 3 or 4 days and watch the hair flatten.
Take a poopy diaper with you to the pediatrician and let her culture it for blood. The blood should also disappear over the 3 weeks.
Unfortunately, you will have to eliminate all dairy from your diet the entire time you are breastfeeding, including reading labels for any dairy in packaged goods; it will make for a healthy, happy baby, and you will learn what foods you can substitute to get your calcium, vitamin D and other minerals that come from dairy.
Good Luck,
--Leslye
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