A Little Favor

Violet is going to the pediatrician today and we are finally (I think I hope) going to get a chance to really hash things out and get some questions answered. Each time we took her in previously it was either for a sick visit that we couldn't get until late in the evening, or a 'well'-visit (her six-month), and it always felt really rushed.

Finally we have a visit scheduled at a decent hour and specifically for this issue. After the doctor saw her growth chart (she has slowly slid down from the 96th to the 9th percentile in weight over the months) she was really concerned. We were told to supplement with a hypoallergenic formula in between feedings (Similac Alimentum), but V wants nothing to do with it. I don't think the weight issue is an lack of intake, as my supply is fine and we nurse constantly - she pretty much has an unlimited access pass to the boob 24/7. Rather, her weight issues in my non-medical-professional opinion are due to diarrhea and vomiting.

[V and her Grammy]

The Hubster and I believe that she is allergic to dairy, rice, and possibly soy. Since deducing this and changing my diet to be dairy/rice/soy-free V has been a different baby. No small feat let me tell you - I am a cheese and butter queen, PLUS it's the season of mashed potatoes and pie. And soy? Soy seems to be in EVERYTHING.  But it's been totally worth it. Instead of 7-9 poops a day we are down to 2-4. And they smell like a normal breast-fed baby's diapers should - which is hardly at all (as opposed to one whose stench could fill the entire H-Haus). She is also sooo much less fussy. I can leave her in her exersaucer and get a whole sink-full of dishes done. Miraculous. I had always wondered how other moms kept such tidy houses...

A lot of people are surprised about the rice thing, as it's supposed to be one of the least allergenic foods, but we think V has something called Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome, or FPIES. It's fairly rare, but she fits the symptoms - a delayed allergic reaction to certain food proteins that causes violent vomiting and diarrhea. It's usually about two hours after eating one of the offending foods that V gets sick. AND rice is one of the big triggers (along with dairy, soy, and sometimes poultry, beans, legumes and more). We don't have a formal diagnosis yet - it's just our theory for now, but we go to see an allergist and a GI specialist soon, so hopefully they will know more.

Anyway, about that favor. V had to get blood drawn on Tuesday and it was traumatic - for her and for me. They needed three tubes but were only able to get 2 and a bit from her wee arm. Please keep your fingers crossed that it was enough, because I don't know if I can let anyone else dig around in her arm with a needle until they find a tiny vein again. Thanks so much!