Breakthrough!

I'm hoping I wont be eating my words but for the past 4 days I have a changed child and thought I'd share my story in case it helps others.

My daughter Poppy was diagnosed with a milk protein intolerance, silent reflux (confirmed by a barium swallow) and an uncoordinated gut.

We have suffered with 5 hourly screaming fits, dropping percentiles, weight loss and advice being thrown at us from every angle. We were in despair.

Poppy's milk was changed from Breast to Aptimal to Cow and Gate Comfort, to Infasoy to Nutramigen to Neocate and then back to Nutramigen.

We commenced weaning at 10 weeks, stopped weaning and then started again.

We have raised her bed, tried to regulary feed and leaving feeds for longer periods.

We gave her Infacol, Dentinox, Gaviscon, Ranitidine, Losec, Senna (not at the same time!)

Like most of you we tried everything and nothing worked, our baby would just scream in pain and break our hearts.

Then an old family friend who was a HV for over 40 years suggested we try cranial head massage (osteopathy). I am so not into hocus pocus but finally cracked and started weekly sessions. It was totally non intrusive and Poppy loved the Osteopath and although she screamed as the weeks went by it lessened. It may be conincidental but our non thriving baby is now a milk guzzler has finally gained weight and is so excited about feeding.

I also asked for a second opinion and was referred to a senior paediatician and Great Portland Street hospital who took one look at the notes and although he agreed that the Silent reflux was severe felt that all the medication was and could be making the situation worse. He also believed that the levels of medication were in some cases not enough based on the severity. We were asked to take Poppy off all medication for 1 week and put her back on normal baby formula. I was in tears, however the problems have changed so dramatically that I just had to write and let you know. There was no evidence that Poppy had a milk protein intolerance so why we were told that and given Nutramigen is a mystery but despite my lack of faith in the health profession I am so pleased I pursued every avenue available and we have reached this stage.

Perhaps it was simply a more maturing baby, cranial head massage or the pedrician's advice, I suppose we will never know. However, I would recommend cranial work because we really have seen a slow yet substainial improvement.

A mum who is still keeping her fingers tightly crossed.