Mila has been having intestinal problems since late December. She had blood in her poop the day after Christmas and a few times since then. I took her to her pediatrician (we use an alternative pediatrician) and she said it was possibly a milk allergy and acid reflux (she spits up A LOT and was not gaining weight). So she wrote up an order to have a barium swallow done. I called to make the appointment and found out that the patients have to have an empty stomach for a certain amount of time before the procedure. I can understand why that is necessary but I couldn’t bring myself to not feed my two month old just for a test, so I cancelled the appt.

We tried Reglan but she became constipated and even fussier after a day or two. At that time she was 3 months old and 9.12 pounds. Our doctor recommended that we see a specialist so we tried to get an appt with Dr. Vartabedian ( he wrote Colic Solved) but he didn’t have anything available until June so we went with another doctor in his practice.

Our appt with the specialist was last Wednesday. Mila weighed a whopping 11 lbs so she’s still on the really small side. The bloody poop is caused inflammation of the colon due to allergies (Colitis). The doctor prescribed Prevacid for the reflux (GERD) and recommended Nutramegin formula to help both the colitis and the GERD . Since we’re breastfeeding I decided against giving her the formula so I’m on a restricted diet. I can’t eat soy, nuts, strawberries, dairy, or eggs. I thought the eggs and dairy would be the hardest to avoid but it’s the soy that’s killing me. It’s in everything!
The doctor sent us home with some cards that we smear her poop on. We are supposed to do 3 samples on 3 different days about a week after I started the restricted diet and then bring in the samples and they’ll check the stool for blood to see how much the diet is helping her intestines to heal from the colitis.
She’s still crying in pain several times a day and sometimes while she’s sleeping. She seems to be spitting up less frequently though. I’m looking for probiotics and natural alternatives to the Prevacid so if anyone knows of something please let us know!

Lead testing law won’t apply to thrift stores

(According to LA Times)

“After a barrage of complaints, federal regulators shifted gears Thursday and said they would no longer require that used children’s clothing, toys and other items sold at secondhand stores be tested for lead.

Thrift and consignment store operators had protested that they couldn’t afford to pay for the testing, and that doing so would require them to stop selling some goods or even go out of business.”

To see the full article go here http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-thrift9-2009jan09,0,7588285.story

Other info on the lead law

http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/legislation.html
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-4040

And a mom’s perspective that is easier to understand!
http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read.php?post_id=1320853

Thanks to Nici H who provided these last three links in an email she sent out to spread awareness.

Recently I was having a conversation with someone about sippy cups and they told me that their grandchildren only use stainless steel sippy cups. This idea seemed strange to me at the time. I went home and did some research and found out about the controversy over BPA (Bisphenol A).

I was shocked to learn that even at low and short-term doses BPA is linked to breast cancer, prostate disease and cancer, compromised immune system, miscarriage, impaired female reproductive development, sperm defects, Down’s syndrome, reversal of normal sex differences in the brain structure, increased aggression… and that is only some of the potential side effects.

So I know what BPA is and I know that it can be dangerous, my next question; how can I avoid the negative side effects? Bisphenol A is used to make polycarbonate and can be found in baby bottles, baby formula containers, sports water bottles, baby food jars and plastic containers, and other plastic products. After a certain amount of being washed or exposed to heat the chemical can ‘leach’ from the product and contaminate your food or drink (such as breastmilk or formula).

A lot of baby bottles and sippy cups now have a label that lets you know whether that product is BPA free. If the product you are considering doesn’t make it clear then you can check the recycling label for plastic #7 (which DOES contain BPA).

Using stainless steel sippy cups doesn’t seem like such a strange idea to me after all.