Navigating Food Intolerances in Infants
Hello everyone. My little one is currently 11 weeks old. Around two weeks ago, I observed that her gas, along with the frequency and characteristics of her stools, seemed abnormal. As the weeks progressed, I noticed her stools were consistently mucus-filled. I eliminated dairy from her diet, yet there was no improvement. I also removed gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, and eggs with still no changes in her condition. By the time she reached 8 weeks, her daytime sleep was excessive, and her nights were somewhat better, but she endured a troublesome period before bed, often appearing unhappy when awake. I decided to cut out corn, soy, rice, and legumes, but her situation did not improve. I then hired a private dietitian who recommended eliminating chicken, beef, and oats from her diet. Despite consuming many "that’s it" fruit bars, my daughter still didn't return to her baseline health. The dietitian suggested it might be a case of leaky gut syndrome, a concept I found hard to grasp, leading me to also stop high oxalate foods. Thankfully, I finally got her back to a baseline diet of fish and quinoa! So far, my daughter has had reactions to eggs, soy, legumes, oats, and chicken. The only food I've been able to reintroduce successfully is rice. I also discovered that strawberries upset her stomach after tracking the flavors of the fruit bars I’d been giving her. I'm currently waiting for a referral to a pediatric allergist, as I'm seeking more clarity on her situation. Living in Canada, I'm puzzled about which formulas might be suitable for her since she reacts severely to soy, and legumes seem to provoke the worst symptoms. Once, after I inadvertently consumed pea shoots, she had blood in both her stool and urine. It was alarming; she was in distress, and upon wiping, I noticed small flecks of blood at her urethra. In a panic during the night, I tried to collect a urine sample but had no success, only observing some mild staining. The following day, I took her to a walk-in clinic where they took a formal urine sample that indicated blood and leukocytes, but no nitrates were found. I consulted a pediatrician who dismissed my concerns, suggesting that I was too fixated on food matters and advised me to resume a normal diet. They also conducted a stool culture which yielded no significant results, and a fecal occult blood test that came back negative. The blood in her stool happened days after the blood in her urine incident. When she reacts to a trigger, she typically exhibits severe discomfort, facial rashes, eczema on her body, mucus-filled or green stools with flecks, and occasional nasal congestion. On a positive note, she is gaining weight wonderfully and her overall assessment is reassuring, so I feel relieved there are no major health worries. Despite not being diagnosed with Food Protein-Induced Allergic Proctocolitis (FPIAP) by the three doctors I’ve consulted or the dietitian, her symptoms strongly suggest it. My next appointment is in eight days, but this restrictive diet is quite challenging, and she absolutely refuses to take a bottle. I'm also curious about whether there is a formula that might be suitable for her, as well as how long it typically takes for an infant’s digestive system to mature enough to handle certain foods. Thank you in advance for any advice!
Answers (1)
4/3/2025, 4:50:43 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you are navigating a complex and challenging situation with your infant's food intolerances and symptoms. Your observations and proactive efforts are commendable, and it is understandable to seek clarity in this confusing time.
Your little one has shown signs that raise concerns about food intolerances or allergies, such as gas, abnormal stool characteristics, and reactions to certain foods. With the challenging symptoms and your child's positive weight gain, here are some prioritized actions and considerations for you:
Understanding Your Situation
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Symptoms to Monitor: The symptoms you describe—discomfort, rashes, mucus-filled stools, and blood—are concerning but can be complex. Since you are waiting on a referral to a pediatric allergist, gathering all the data you have collected so far will be crucial for that visit.
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Dietary Management: It appears that you have already made significant dietary changes, but those modifications are understandably distressing. Simplifying the diet while you assess for intolerances may help reduce your daughter’s discomfort.
Next Steps
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Continue Tracking Symptoms and Foods: Keep a detailed food diary of everything she consumes, along with any reactions. This will help the allergist make informed recommendations and understand patterns over time.
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Discuss Formula Options: Often, hypoallergenic formulas (like extensively hydrolyzed formulas) may be utilized, especially if breastfeeding continues to be challenging. Formulas such as Nutramigen or Alimentum could be considered, but consult with a healthcare professional or the pediatric allergist for personalized recommendations based on her intolerances, especially since she reacts to soy and legumes.
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Breastfeeding Considerations: If you're breastfeeding, you may want to consider a restricted elimination diet, which means you would also avoid potential allergens that could be affecting your baby. This typically includes dairy, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. Ensure you are still meeting your nutritional needs with alternative foods that you can tolerate.
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Wait for Professional Guidance: Until your appointment with the allergist, it’s beneficial to maintain a minimalistic diet for your daughter. After you’re able to gain more information and possibly get tests done, you will have a clearer plan moving forward.
Additional Support
- Support Networks: Joining a support group for parents dealing with similar issues can provide emotional support and practical advice.
- Reassurance: You’re doing a great job advocating for your daughter’s health. While navigating this process can be distressing, your responsiveness to her needs and symptoms is key.
Conclusion
It's normal to feel overwhelmed with restrictions and concerns. Sustaining a focused dialogue with the pediatric allergist and continuing your current supportive practices will help you reach a resolution. In the meantime, do prioritize her comfort and continue to observe her reactions to different foods, which will be invaluable information for her healthcare team. Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions or need further clarification.
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