(Sorry to bore any readers with all these details, but I'm trying to keep record for my own sake.)
We had been praying throughout the pregnancy that Carter would not have the allergy issues that Blake did. I decided to maintain a "normal" diet throughout the pregnancy and not remove dairy from my diet in the 3rd trimester, which some doctors advise for subsequent pregnancies if older children have dairy allergies.
Shortly after bringing Carter home from the hospital, as his stool changed from the black muconium to the yellow-ish baby stool, I noticed that his stool was very mucusy. Blake had chronically mucusy stool until I removed dairy from my diet, so I was concerned that this was an early sign that Carter had allergies, too. I decided to make an appointment for him with Blake's GI specialist and immediately take dairy out of my diet, knowing it would take 4-5 weeks for the dairy to be out of Carter's system. But I was grateful that Carter seemed okay; we didn't notice any pain. Yet.
By week 2, however, Carter was noticeably uncomfortable, wrything and passing gas, and the stool was increasingly mucusy, so much so that it looked like his diaper had been slimed. One night it seemed so clear that Carter was in pain, that the following morning Mike and I agreed that we should try to give Carter some of Blake's hypo-allergenic formula and stop nursing, at least until we were able to see the specialist. Gratefully Carter took the bottle, and so I stopped nursing and pumped to maintain my milk supply. Carter seemed to do much better on the formula over the next few days, however he was clearly constipated (which often happens when breast-fed babies transition to formula; breast-milk is a natural laxative). On the morning of our specialist appointment I nursed Carter just to make him poop. Over the past few days I had even begun to doubt that my initial observations were valid and that he needed formula - perhaps that night he was crying just because he was hungry and not in pain afterall. But that day, after I nursed Carter, he was clearly very uncomfortable once again, and my doubts were removed - there was a clear connection between my breast-milk and his crying.
When we went to the specialist, unfortunately she confirmed our fears. She agreed that his stool was far too mucusy, and she found traces of blood in it (both indications of food allergies) and she recommended that I immediately stop nursing and move to the amino acid formula (EleCare). Mike and I were prepared for this and we agreed - we certainly did not want Carter to suffer through the pain and delayed growth and development that Blake had endured, and none of us wanted those months of sleepless nights. The alternative was for me to continue pumping for another 3-4 weeks until dairy was out of my system completely, then try to nurse again, hoping that it was dairy that he was allergic to. But I was suspicious that the real allergy issue was something other than dairy, and it would be painful for Carter to re-introduce allergens and then try to remove them by process of elimination (not to mention it would be challenging to pump for 3 weeks to keep up my supply).
So I enjoyed the sweet blessing of nursing my newest baby for less than 2 weeks. By God's grace I think I'm handling it very well - for Blake I mourned (and delayed) this transition for months. For him I supplemented heavily with formula for 2 months while continuing to nurse at least once a day. It is just so hard to even grasp the concept that something other than breast milk would be better - even necessary - for my baby. But eventually I saw with Blake that his pain disappeared and he started to thrive on formula, and I guess this time I actually believe that this is best for Carter. And my experience with Blake has taught me that my relationship and bond with my son is not dependent on nursing.
Actually, I am even appreciative of the freedom and physical relief that bottle feeding affords me. Mike (and grandparents) can help give bottles, we can get away on (longer) dates, and I won't feel drained and desperate for food for the next "x" number of months since I am no longer eating for two! I am freshly aware of the sacrifice so many of my friends make as they give of their bodies to nurse their babies well into the first year. You ladies are amazing, and your sacrifice honors the Lord.
By God's grace, Carter takes a bottle very happily. His stool is slowly losing its mucus, and the belly pain seems to be diminishing (I didn't expect it to disappear immediately, since diary and other allergens could stay in his system for a number of weeks and it takes even longer for his intestines to heal). We are all sleeping a little better. And I am enjoying sweet times of cuddling with my little one, even without nursing! We are praying for healing for Carter and Blake from their allergies, and I realize that it is because we live in a fallen world that these kinds of illnesses (allergies) exist. But I also thank God for the blessing of experience, and doctors, and very specialized infant formula.
