Courtney and Cooper's Story

As soon as Cooper was born, I knew he had a sensitive stomach.  Right as I was about to start feeding him for the first time, he burped soooo loud.  I remember thinking "that's wierd".  For the next several weeks, I just kept telling everyone what a sensitive stomach he had.  He was uncomfortable, but in no way a colic baby.  I then noticed that his diapers starting becoming more mucousy.  After he had a very rough weekend at my in-laws, and just saying "he's so sensitive to something", the mucus got worse and I decided to talk it over with my pediatrician.  We tested his diaper and it was positive for blood.  I was still kinda skeptical until I actually saw blood a few days later!  I figured I would try to change my diet. 

 

So, I dropped dairy and soy first.  The first week, he was much happier.  The second week not so much.  And after our  next diaper check, he still tested positive.  So our pediatrician wanted me off the top 8 allergens (dairy, soy, wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, eggs) and citrus.  I'M SORRY....YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT???  I think I almost passed out at this point.  But I thought....okay...two more weeks, I can do this.  So I did.

 

At our next check, his diaper was negative and he said I could add one thing back in at a time.  I was slightly excited (i really needed WHEAT) but had a "mother's intuition" moment/feeling that this was not correct.  He was acting the same.  THANKFULLY I did NOT add anything back into my diet.  I kept it the same and sure enough, 3 days later, I actually saw more blood in his stool. 

 

 

 

This meant we bought ourselves a visit to a pediatric GI specialist and the earliest they could get us in was a month later!!  So, i bit the bullet and continued on. 

 

At our appointment, Cooper had more blood upon examination and we were ALL very, very discouraged.  He wanted us to do a two week trial of a partially hydrolyzed formula.  I was very upset. I was a worried for him and sad for both of us.  He was 3 1/2 months old.  I was not ready to give up breastfeeding at this point.  I knew, however, that whatever made him better, I was willing to do.

 

So for the next two weeks, we did this trial. I continued to pump and freeze, getting to add back wheat to my diet...yipee!!! And Cooper did NOT like the formula, took less than recommended and actually lost weight.  But we powered through and after two weeks, he STILL TESTED positive! AHHHHH!!!!!  HOW? WHY?

 

 I, then, started researching A LOT!!! Which would end up forever changing

my thoughts on food (another post for another day.....)

 

 

The next step was to do a trial of the completly hydrolyzed formula that is available at pharmacies.  So, I called and got nauseasted when they told me the price.  However, they were not able to receive it until the following day and we were going out of town.  God had made this decision for us!  I would just go back to breastfeeding during our trip and "see how it goes" He did great and continued to do great.  He was content and gaining weight.  Yipee.  We returned to the GI specialist and we never checked another diaper.  He said as long as his symptoms are better and we've not seen any blood then we'll just continue on and begin to introduce solid foods. So we did....

 

Almost immediately, Cooper started having eczema breakouts.  I didn't really think too much about it because I have it too.  However, at our next appt, our GI was concerned because of the timing and he sent us to an allergist.

 

At our first visit to the allergist, we did skin testing.  He tested positive for milk (4+) , peanuts (1+), strawberries (2+) and bananas (1+).  So then sent us home with an EPIpen and to get some bloodwork, a RAST test. I was a little stunned but still hopeful that there was a mistake or something, ha, I'm such a skeptic.

 

 A week later, we found out that he was indeed positive for peanuts(class 4) and milk (class 3). 

 

I was in shock.  No one in our family had ever dealt with this. I felt very uneducated I knew one other child who had but that was really it.  Our lives were going to change A LOT.  My diet had already changed but now it was going to affect a lot more people!!  I was sad for him.  Sad that he may never get a chance to eat a Reese's cup.  Worried that he would be the poor kid in the corner of a birthday party that is not allowed to eat ANYthing. Of course, since then I've come to grips with it all and realized that is not always the case =)

 

And after all of this.... It was (kinda) relief to know that we had an explanation for his continual positive diapers.  My knowledge about allergies and intolerances have exploded as I have researched like a mad woman!  Our family has made several lifestyle changes to protect Cooper and our long term health.  And Cooper is thriving!!!