Joseph's stool sample analysis came back today and it was not at all what I expected. His stool had blood and white blood cells in it, as well as evidence of severe malabsorption. Basically his intestines are so irritated and inflamed that they are bleeding and his body is not absorbing nutrients which explains the halt in his weight gain. The GI specialist said that at his age, she thinks this irritation is from allergies, where his immune system is attacking everything he eats and his poor intestines are caught in the middle. Because of the gastroschisis and motility issues, he is very predisposed to food allergies. His GI specialist wants me to stop breastfeeding him and switch him to a special pre-digested formula to see if this helps him. She wants to try this before moving on to more invasive tests like an endoscopy and colonoscopy (camera down his throat and up his bum) where he would have to be put under general anesthesia.
I have worked so hard to be able to breastfeed my child and now that is being taken away. For the whole time he was in the hospital, I was unable to nurse him, and I worked my butt of around the clock to establish and maintain my milk supply. When Joseph could finally nurse, we had such a difficult and painful time learning because of how long he was on the vent and all the oral trauma he sustained. But we stuck with it and were eventually successful. It has become his one and only comfort - he doesn't have a special blanket, he won't take a pacifier, he is a boob baby! And now I am having to take away his only comfort and it's breaking my heart all over again. He was looking at me this evening, crying, wondering why I was doing this to him. It's ripping me apart. I'm trying to convince myself that I'm doing this for his own good and I'm trying to do what is best for him. Neither of us are ready to stop breastfeeding and this loss is going to take a toll on both of us. This morning, I had no idea that I would be nursing my son for the last time and I just want that moment back more than anything else right now.
Hello. I found your blog on Avery's Angels facebook page. My son, Elliot, was born on 12/16 of last year with gastroschisis. He also had a really hard time digesting breast milk and ended up having to be switched to formula. I had a really hard time with this and was adamantly against it, but the difference in my son after I finally agreed to switch was astounding. Just remember, even though you planned to breast feed, sometimes you have to do what's best for your son. At least he got all the extra nutrients and antibodies all this time while breastfeeding!
ReplyDeleteI hope your son continues to improve. My son still has digestion problems, eats a special formula, and doesn't fully digest most of the solid food that he eats. He'll get there, someday.