Infantreflux.org | Gut Health & My Baby (Forceful Let-Down, too)

Forceful Let-Down Gut Health & My Baby

Kelly C. Fernandes
May 2015

A few weeks ago Laura (of infantreflux.org) asked me to share my story. I was so new to reflux, I just didn’t feel I was qualified to share, as I felt our journey was still a work in progress; it still is, as I write. We have yet to see the Pediatric GI and I finally got two calls on Friday, after 6 weeks of waiting, that they can schedule us an appointment. Here’s our journey thus far…

I’m a researcher by nature. I ask lots of questions to anyone I know that’s been in my shoes on any given situation, to pick their brain. I utilize google, social networking, and books. For the last two weeks I felt defeated with my daughters reflux. I was eliminating foods (I was already gluten, soy, and dairy free), giving her Zantac and probiotics.. But this wasn’t enough. My daughter spends 4-6 hours every morning coughing, choking, refluxing, and her poops are green and mucousy.. (She’s never had normal exclusively breastfed poops)!

Two weeks before her delivery, I contracted MRSA and had to take a very strong antibiotic, one so strong, it was advised by my doctor that I may contract CDIFF, because all my good bacteria would be wiped out, so be careful to notice anything different. My last dose was the day she was born. We had a very normal, quick, vaginal birth, but my body wasn’t able to give her the good gut flora that happens vaginally from all this. (Having/how to have good gut health prior to delivery is discussed here, too.)

Despite trying two different meds, we still have issues. Yesterday I realized (through discussing it on a breastfeeding FB page) that I have a forceful let-down. This is something I would never consider with my breastfeeding past. So, we’ve incorporated block feeding and baby is for the first time, comfort feeding, has less gas, and seems happier overall. Forceful let-downs can cause a fore and hind milk imbalance resulting in green, foamy, mucuosy poops. She has yet to poo, so we will see if that improves.

I also stumbled upon the importance of gut health in the mother of the nursing baby in reflux or colic. I’ve had leaky gut most of my life (I was formula fed, had undiagnosed gluten intolerance since childhood, and ate mostly fat or low fat foods for years before I knew better.) All this contributed to my overall health over the years. Formula instead of breastmilk did contribute to some of my issues, but in the same breath, it was life saving and the best thing for me because my mom could not breastfeed from having toxemia after my birth. (Having/how to have good gut health prior to delivery is discussed here, too.)

So here I am.. I am eliminating even more foods that were making my body not work as best it could; I’m going back to healing my gut: I drink a 8oz glass of aloe Vera juice first thing in the morning, I take two probiotics: (1) Davinci Labs: Mega Probiotic-ND (2) Garden of Life Primal Defense ULTRA together with one digestive enzyme, with every meal. I also take Chlorophyll to help clean out the blood and bowel, 1 teaspoon in water daily. My diet is free of: processed-sugar, gluten, dairy and soy.. Next I’ll try grain-free if needed, and do TED for fruits, vegetables..long story and post.. But, through my daughters reflux, I am getting the chance for my own optimal health, which is a blessing. I also take Vitamin D (I have a deficiency), DHA and omega 3’s, from my doctor. My head and stomach already feel better, my lower half feels as if it’s healing and on the mend with a ways to go. We see a chiropractor weekly, our PCP monthly, waiting on the GI, and have a holistic Practitioner scheduled for Friday.

I finally feel like we are on the right path to figuring this all out. I’m a believer in our bodies having the inate power to heal within given the right food, supplements, and environment. Giving my baby Zantac for the rest of her life isn’t good enough for me, or her. She deserves more. A chance to heal. If nothing else heals her, and she doesn’t grow out of it like so many do.. Then so be it, but I need, as her mother, to exhaust all and every other possibility to sleep well at night.

What I give baby (three months old): a teaspoon of the aloe vera juice, when I drink a small glass, first thing in the morning. Then she gets this probiotic, ‘RAW’, as directed for her age. She gets this, too (DHA), because omega 3’s are great for healing the gut, too. This one has Vit D as well, since i have a deficiency.

The journey continues… All I can hope for is that one day I won’t have to hear her choke, cough, and cry in pain.
Many blessings to you all that know the struggle! It’s very real.

Click here for Naturopathic Treatment by Christy McCulloch

Click here for Natruropathic Route by M.C.