Lactose, Reflux and Colic – My Breastfeeding Nightmares!
I have two sons and breastfed both – Noah for almost four weeks and Ethan for eight months. Although I struggled to breastfeed as a new mother, that wasn’t the reason I fed Noah for such a short time.
As you may remember from a previous blog, Noah was lactose intolerant. He also suffered from reflux and colic, and this trio of ailments made breastfeeding impossible for the two of us.
It was so hard to give up breastfeeding, but after all the dramas we’d had trying to fix the problem, lactose-free formula provided a much-needed reprieve. I was sleep deprived, in pain from his constant biting and utterly bewildered. And I just kept wondering why wasn’t breastfeeding natural like everyone said it would be?
I’d spoken to experts and other mums about breastfeeding while I was pregnant and Harvey and I attended an Australian Breastfeeding Association seminar on the subject. We were all for breastfeeding, but had no idea it wasn’t always as straightforward as it seemed.
I assumed the problem was that so many different midwives and consultants were telling me alternative solutions to my breastfeeding problems – and that I was inexperienced. After a series of visits to the clinic and doctor Noah was diagnosed with reflux and lactose intolerance, so we tried lactose-free formula and we had a different baby.
The decision to put Noah on formula wasn’t taken lightly, even though he was much was happier, slept better and wasn’t in so much pain after feeding once we did. It took many days of soul searching, tears and an incredible sense of failure as a mother, before I agreed to formula for all feeds.
Noah also had to be given Mylanta for a while until his body decided it was too much and he exploded while out shopping one day (not literally, but the mess looked as if he had). He was then put on liquid Zantac, which we gave him for months until his reflux subsided. The poor bub even had to sleep upright in his capsule for a while (we stood it up against a wall). After things got better we put a brick under his mattress so he was more upright. Eventually everything calmed down, he progressed as a normal baby and now he can have as much dairy as he wants.
All of this is why I HAD to breastfeed Ethan. We managed for eight months until I was prescribed antibiotics which upset his stomach. We put him on formula for a week and I religiously pumped and discarded milk at every feed. When my body was clear of medication he refused the breast - too happy not to work for his milk with a bottle. That was the end of my breastfeeding days, but we lasted eight months and I was pleased with my effort that time.
What were your family’s experiences with breastfeeding? Did you get help when you needed it, or did you find breastfeeding was natural?
__________________________________ Johanna Baker-Dowdell is mum to two boys – Noah and Ethan – and combines looking after them with her work as a blogger, journalist, writer and public relations consultant. She owns and manages Strawberry Communications which started small in the third bedroom, but has grown into its own office space (in the converted garage).
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Monday, 17 May 2010
Monday, 17 May 2010
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Candice I discovered reflux was hereditary once Noah was diagnosed too. Both my husband's father and brother have bad reflux and it seems it continued to our eldest son. I found by cutting out some foods in my diet while breastfeeding it made a difference to our babies as well. It makes sense now, but in the first stages of motherhood everything can seem tough with little sleep!