Five-Month Appointment

It was back to Dr. Owen again today for Elsa's five-month appointment. She weighed in at 13 pounds, 13 ounces, and measured 26 inches long -- a 13 ounce and 0.75 inch increase since her last appointment. Her head circumference measured around 16 inches. She is still in the 75th-90th percentile for height and 50th for head circumference, but has steadily dropped from around 75th to now around 25th for weight. This is not a huge concern for the time being, and I will discuss why in more detail later. She only received one shot today, which was her second dose of the diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis vaccine (DTaP).

The yeast is back (or perhaps it never completely went away). After giving Elsa the oral antifungal medication for two weeks, in combination with me cutting dairy out of my diet, it had substantially cleared up. So the medicine stopped, and I eventually -- ahem -- reintroduced dairy. Apparently that was a mistake. It is apparent in her diaper area, and she also has some dots extending to her abdomen and even up around her chin and ears. Dr. Owen said that as she thinks about the fairly bad bout she had with acid reflux, and now the battle with the yeast, and also the fact that the eczema is still quite bad on her arms and legs, that it really all lends itself to an allergy issue. So what does this mean? Yep. Yours truly is off dairy (and soy) again -- this time for six to eight weeks. I nearly teared up when the doctor told me this. She asked if when I was off it before if I craved dairy, and I told her that, yes, I definitely did. She told me that this could be a sign that... and I finished her sentence for her... that I probably shouldn't be eating it myself -- that I might have an allergy too. I told her that when I did start eating it again (and I probably went overboard when I did) that I started getting stomach cramps after every meal. But I asked her why this would happen now if I have been eating dairy my entire life. She said that she used to have a yeast problem that was linked to gluten, and when she finally decided to bite the bullet and give up gluten, the problem went away. Now when she eats something with gluten in it, she breaks out in hives. Even though she ate gluten her entire life, she is now experiencing a new side effect. She said that when you give your immune system a chance to work the way it's supposed too (by avoiding foods, etc., your body just was not built to deal with), then it revolts when you try to reintroduce these substances. So now I wonder... am I lactose intolerant? Kill me now. But, hey, maybe I will become an even healthier individual? Dr. Owen thinks Elsa's slow weight gain can probably be linked to this issue as well, and that the allergy causing the overabundance of yeast in her gut is likely causing inflammation of the stomach lining and, thus, not allowing all of the nutrients and proteins from the breast milk to be absorbed. If all of this has not improved by our visit next month, then we are going to do an allergy test (for Elsa). I asked if there was a reason not to do the test now (as Dr. Owen did give me that option), and she said it costs $400, and insurance typically does not cover it. I think I might call our insurance company and ask them about it. If they will cover it, we might as well do the test and solve the mystery a bit quicker. For now, though, no dairy or soy for me, and we are also going to put Elsa back on the antifungal medication for four more weeks.

Now some people are probably asking why I don't just give up with the breastfeeding and try formula since we are experiencing these issues. I firmly believe that since I am able to breastfeed, that I should continue to do so because it contains the most nutrients Elsa could possibly get from any food source. That, and it is boosting her immune system like nothing else, and she has not been sick yet (knocking on wood). I also have come to somewhat enjoy nursing [insert gasp here]. I didn't really realize this until Elsa one day refused to eat and it actually saddened me. Despite the aggravation, pain, and sheer misery I experienced during the first months of feeding my dear Elsa, I have really come to value the bonding time it gives us. I am sure feeding her a bottle of formula would still give us that time together, but I just don't think it would be quite the same. And I am not saying that those mothers who decide not to, or cannot, breastfeed are lesser mothers than me -- all I am saying is that since I have the ability and desire to do so, I am going to sacrifice in certain areas and continue nurse. I just think it is the best thing for me and for Elsa. This is a hurdle we have to jump just like the difficulties we had to face in the beginning, and I know we will get through it.

So there is that. I am also supposed to introduce oatmeal cereal into Elsa's diet in the next week or two, as well as give her a vitamin and continue the probiotics. And despite the yeast/eczema issue, Dr. Owen said that Elsa looks absolutely wonderful and healthy.