I'm Sure This Could Be Many Things, But....

[Joy2BMommy]

My daugther is 12 months old. She is growing, though slowly, in height and head size, but hasn't gained any since starting solid foods. She is only 16 pounds 10 ounces. When she was just eating rice cereal, bananans, avacados, applesauce, and basic proteins (along with breastfeeing) she was having normal bowel movements, but since expanding her foods she has since had frequent loose stools. She otherwise seems healthy and happy, though does sleep more than my other children did at this age.

I'm fairly certain that her issue is either with grains or with dairy (or both?). I'm currently cutting all grains and going only with gluten free items to see if she improves. Because I'm currently expecting again and my milk supply is rapidly disappearing, the pediatrician has asked that I give her soy formula (Enfamil ProSobee Lipil) in case she has an issue with dairy, but hasn't restricted other dairy. I'm not big on soy products, but that's a different story, and I'm hoping this is temporary. I'm not familiar with what ingredients have hidden gluten, does anyone know if this is formula is gluten free?

We've not done any lab work, our pediatrician wanted to see how she does with two weeks worth of increased calories. I really do love my pediatrician, but on this particular visit I couldn't get it through to him that it doesn't appear to be a calorie issue, but instead a BM issue. Not only does she have VERY soft BMs, somtimes watery, but she has them 5-7 times daily. She was eating pretty large portions at each meal, but she's just not keeping the calories in with that many BMs. I should mention the gluten-free diet is my idea, not our ped. His instructions were to just increase calories - I just feel it's a bigger issue than that. Motherly instinct? Maybe - she's my fifth baby and this is something I've not experienced before with any of the others. Because none of the other children seem to have any issues with grains, nor do my husband or I, is it pretty far fetched to think that grains could be the underlying cause here?

If it is a grain or gluten issue, how long before we should see some sign of improvement in her bowel habits? I realize that it can vary with each child, but at MOST how long should it take? I'd like to stick with this until we've been able to rule out grain intorlerance or celiac disease as a cause. If it matters, she's only been eating solids of any sort since she was about 10 months old and then the only grains were the cheerios. For the last 6-8 weeks she's had increasing amounts of grains (as well as other foods too) which is when the loose BMs started.

My understanding is that it's too early to get accurate results on tests at this point, but if I can rule out a few items by trial and error and stay clear of them then we can wait on definative diagnosis.

And if we should see improvement with a gluten-free diet and later decide to test, how long do we have to reintroduce gluten foods before we can get testing done?

Thanks,

Debbi

[KaitiUSA]

To get testing done you need to be eating gluten for about 3 months and everyday eating equalivalent to 3 pieces of bread.

Gluten can be hidden in alot of things. Shampoos/makeups/soaps/foods/etc.

This link will provide you lists of what to look for in foods.

https://www.celiac.com/st_main.html?p_catid=12

It's worth being tested for.

Everyone varies with symptoms. I can't tell you how long to expect because it could be days, weeks, or months. It took me 8 months to get back to normal but I saw major improvement by the 3rd month.

Hope this helps a bit. Good luck

[Guest Lucy]

To get testing done you need to be eating gluten for about 3 months and everyday eating equalivalent to 3 pieces of bread.

Gluten can be hidden in alot of things. Shampoos/makeups/soaps/foods/etc.

This link will provide you lists of what to look for in foods.

https://www.celiac.com/st_main.html?p_catid=12

It's worth being tested for.

Everyone varies with symptoms. I can't tell you how long to expect because it could be days, weeks, or months. It took me 8 months to get back to normal but I saw major improvement by the 3rd month.

Hope this helps a bit. Good luck

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Guest Lucy]

I don't know what I just did there. But this is my real reply:

I don't know about the celiac thing. But from my experience with soy formula it is almost all sugar. So....be careful. The first ingrediant is usually high fructose corn syrup. I would maybe give her something else. Carrot juice is high in all vitamens and calcium. I don't believe that all children need milk. There are other ways to get benefits. Plus they alter milk with so many chemicals now a days it is not healthy anyway. MY OPINION.

[Jnkmnky]

Open Original Shared Link

The Dangers of Soy Formulas

Since the late 1950's, it has been known that soy formulas contain anti-thyroid agents. Infants on soy formula are particularly vulnerable to developing autoimmune thyroid disease when exposed to high exposure of isoflavones over time. The frequency of feedings with soy-based milk formulas in early life is noticeably higher in children with autoimmune thyroid disease, and thyroid problems are almost triple in those soy formula-fed children compared to their siblings and healthy unrelated children. Fitzpatrick believes that long-term feeding with soy formulas inhibits TPO (thyroid peroxidase) to such an extent that long-term elevated TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels can also raise the risk of thyroid cancer. Not much is being done in the U.S. to make parents aware of the thyroid-relate dangers of soy formulas, or to alert the public that heavy soy consumption may be a danger to thyroid function. Other countries, however, are far ahead of the U.S. In July of 1996, the British Department of Health issued a warning that the phytoestrogens found in soy-based infant formulas could adversely affect infant health. The warning was clear, indicating that soy formula should only be given to babies on the advice of a health professional.

They advised that babies who cannot be breastfed or who have allergies to other formulas should be given alternatives to soy-based formulas. Why more information is not available about these concerns is probably a function of the tremendous strength of the large agricultural companies that dominate America's soy market. At the same time that health experts, and nearly every radio and television health program in the nation touts soy as the miracle health food of the new millennium, the United States pediatric and medical community needs to learn more about this issue, and counsel patients regarding the serious impact the use of soy products can have on thyroid function. A 20/20 investigation found that amid all of praise, some scientists are now challenging this popular wisdom, and suggesting there may be a downside to this "miracle food." "The safety issues are largely unanswered," says Daniel Doerge, a research scientist for the Food and Drug Administration and an expert on soy.

I've been looking into soy recently, because I wanted to eliminate dairy from my family's diet. I looked for the good, as well as the bad. I found many, many articles warning against feeding infants soy formula. You can do with it as you wish. Another thing I want to suggest is that you feed your child gluten containing grains UNTIL you get a blood test to check for celiac disease. I know they say the tests aren't great with really young kids, but a blood test MIGHT pick it up. And test yourself and your husband as well. See if there's a connection from either parent.

[Merika]

You are an experienced mom, trust your gut. It's not normal for a one yr old to have 5-7 bm's a day. It could be celiac. It could be something else. When we talked with a celiac expert about testing, she said a toddler needs to be eating the equivalent of ONE slice of bread a day - it has to do with body size. (Kaiti, maybe your info is for adults?)

I would do the blood test or endo test now, while she's eating gluten. You may get a real negative, a false negative (in either case, then test with dietary change), or a positive (in which case you'll know for sure). Since chances of immediate family having celiac if one person does is 1 in 10, it's entirely possible your dd is the only one with celiac (or the only one exhibiting symptoms....).

You may want to show your pediatrician the brochure for peds that was just listed on another thread here in the kids section. He sounds like he needs convincing that calories are not the only thing. Maybe it will get him thinking?

As for formula, personally I hate it all, and soy can be a problem for infants and an extra problem for celiacs. If she is one yr old, is it really necessary to use formula at all?? I strongly suggest checking out www.lalecheleague.org or www.kellymom.com to get info that will help you transition from breastfeeding to all table food.

If you are thinking of resuming breastfeeding after your baby is born, and your dd is on a gluten-free diet, you will need to be also.

Merika