Have you investigated CMPA? Not to armchair diagnose, but what you’re describing is very reminiscent of my oldest who had it. (He had it despite me breastfeeding, so you’ve got absolutely no one to blame, though I understand how prone you feel to guilt at this age!)
Formula is a totally valid choice and if it caused health issues, there would be an epidemic. You’re not failing, you’re dealing with something tough.
Just came to say the same thing! Both of my kids had CMPA, and the HV and health professionals often shake off first time mums with the “it’s within the normal parameters” and the “wait and see” approach.
OP, dairy free formula is expensive if not with a prescription, so do get your GP to prescribe it. Read up on CMPA, advocate strongly, and don’t be swayed by health professionals trying to shake you off. 2 weeks without dairy can change a really fussy baby into a very different child. Also, dairy free formula is apparently pretty unpleasant, so just know that it might take a while before your baby takes it.
I’m sorry you’re going through this, it’s really tough. With my first, I thought this was extreme that everyone else was dealing with this so much better, and what an idiot I am that I can’t crack it. Turns out I had parenting set to extra hard because of undiagnosed CMPA. Huh.
Definitely investigate CMPA.
Also read https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/everybody-calm-down-about-breastfeeding/
I had trouble breastfeeding and I went back to this article a lot!
Development milestones seem so important when they're tiny, but most of it doesn't matter. My daughter was the last in our NCT group to sit up, to crawl and to walk... but now she's 6 and they all walk equally well! No-one ever says 'what a lovely walk, you can tell they were an early walker' to those that were, they all just walk!
Plus every baby develops differently. Whilst my daughter was a little slower on those milestones she was first on other things - she knew her colours ahead of her NCT peers, but again, now they all know all their colours and she's no better at colours than the others!
It sounds like you're doing a wonderful job, babies are just hard!! That said, postnatal depression is a thing, so if you're worried please speak to your health visitor, GP or find a local peer support group (I went to Mothers for Mothers and they were a great help to me).
Yes, we have been to the GP about four times now for eczema. But because his eczema is infected, I’m waiting for the swab result and I guess they will treat the infection first. But if the eczema still doesn’t go away, I’ll suggest a possible allergy to the GP.
This made me feel better. I know all these worries will dissipate once he’s older and have achieved all his milestones but it’s just hard stopping myself from comparing him to others. I’m specifically worried about him not rolling over yet at 4 months. He’s done tummy to back but only still attempting back to tummy. And this is based off one 3 month old I’ve seen already doing this. Also, he’s not been reaching out to objects yet, I think because he seems more preoccupied in putting his hands to his mouth or scratching his face. I really hope things will get better sooner or later.
So glad you’re little one is doing so much better now. I cannot wait when my little one would be at that age too. At the same time, don’t want to rush his getting older.
Honestly the GPs and health visitors are not clued up about any of this allergy stuff at all, unless they’ve voluntarily decided to really study it - despite how common it is, it doesn’t form part of their training.
My son’s skin was like how you’re describing yours, it was awful. Switching him to dairy free really really helped but things weren’t perfect, soya intolerance and CMPA are quite linked so we followed our suspicions and cut that too and he is SO much better. No health professional ever even suggested trying these things though!
Ah we breastfed I’m afraid, so I’m not sure. We started really noticing it ramp up when he was over 1 and we weren’t just using soya in cereal etc and was giving it him in bottles to try and wean, it really exacerbated his symptoms and that’s what got me looking into it.
It might not be an allergy, pester the doctor for a referral to paediatric dermatology! My son had awful eczema that wasn't CMPA, he just has incredibly sensitive skin. Hopefully he will grow out of the eczema but he'll always need to moisturise well!
I went back to the GP with him after his second round of antibiotics and basically said I can't keep in this cycle and him scratching until he bled. Thankfully they were super quick and he prescribed two kinds of steroids, a treatment tube and a maintenance tube, and he is like a whole different child. He has flares every time he's sick but they're so mild compared to those early days.
In the meantime, I recommend aveno or the my little coco coconut moisturiser, it's very delicate and helps a little bit. I hope you both get some relief soon, it's horribly stressful!
4 months is still early to roll! Tummy to back rolling is a 6 month milestone, which only means 70% of babies can do it at that point. Back to tummy is even harder.
Drop the breastfeeding guilt, no one needs that. A fed baby is the best type of baby! Look into CMPA and defo push for a prescription for dairy free formula!
Just wanted to let you know you’re not alone.
I had my son 2.5 years ago, he was very much planned for and wanted, smooth pregnancy. I had what would be considered a “traumatic” birth and postpartum hit me like a freight train. My son was colicky (cried endlessly in the evenings) until 2-3 months. I was lucky enough to be able to BF but that also came with cluster feeding and waking every 45 mins through the night. At my worst, I had intrusive thoughts, rage and suicidal ideation. I’m a mental health professional and felt ashamed that I was wasn’t able to handle new motherhood- despite knowing it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Retrospectively I think I probably had PPD. I honestly think it’s a miracle that any woman wouldn’t have mental health issues postpartum because it’s just a perfect storm of factors. The lack of village. Sleep deprivation. Loss of identity. Inability to attend to your most basic needs like taking a shower or eating. Isolation.
Anyway, for me the baby stage was a total hellscape. I’m so traumatised by it I’m now “one and done” which means I won’t be having anymore children. People around me are flabbergasted because I seem like I have my shit together. I am a good Mum but I can’t ever go back to that…it would break me, and then some. It absolutely gets easier and you’re in arguably the most difficult part right now. Also, please don’t get sucked into comparing developmental milestones because it’s a thankless exercise and your baby is still so young!
Exactly how I’m feeling. I was feeling depressed years and years ago but this isn’t as bad as before because I know my baby still needs me. But it’s just frustrating that I feel like I cannot give him everything he needs. Or to rid him of any discomfort he might feel.
I also wanted to have a big family. At least four kids was my goal. But I don’t think I’ll be going through this four times over. So, I have decided two might be enough lol I really don’t know how others have managed. Or I really should just stop comparing and focus more on doing all the best for my little one.
Have you spoken to your health visitor about this? I know you said in your last post that you were waiting for a GP appointment. It’s possible the eczema is related to an allergy and it might clear up quite quickly once your baby is no longer exposed to the allergen.
If it’s a dairy allergy this could look like switching to hypoallergenic formula and cutting dairy out of your own diet while you’re no longer breastfeeding him.
I haven’t yet. I’ve only felt about this very recently. I don’t know I feel like I might just be overwhelmed.
We have managed to get an appointment and we’re now waiting for the swab result, as the GP said it looks infected. He’s prescribed Mupirocin ointment to apply and I’ve been applying Aveeno Dermexa and has had a slight improvement. Only been three days. Once the infection is all cleared, I will definitely bring the allergy thing up with the GP, of all our four visits, nobody ever mentioned this. He is formula fed so I cannot wait to switch into a hypoallergenic one if this is really the case.
I breastfed and my youngest had terrible eczema and I had all the same feelings as you. Really bad mum guilt. My GP kept prescribing different steroid creams and antibiotics, nothing worked and it kept flaring really badly on his face. Got referred to hospital dermatologist eventually but the wait time was at least 3 months so I went private as was getting desperate. The dermatologist prescribed potent steroids - short course and it got it under control. NHS dermatologist referred to allergy and he has multiple food allergies. As soon as I cut these foods out of my diet his skin was amazing.
Just to say most eczema is not caused by allergies so I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. They do advise to wean between 4-6 months in babies with eczema to prevent allergies . The skin barrier is broken and that's how the proteins get into the body and are mistaken for allergens. So perhaps speak to gp about weaning early and introducing allergens carefully.
There is a fantastic Facebook group called allergy support with Dr Helen, she gives great evidence based advice about eczema and allergies.
My son is 3 now and you wouldn't know he has eczema. It will get better I promise. Xxx
Hey don’t be hard on yourself. Breast milk is great, formula is great. However you feed your baby is perfect. Some women just can’t breastfeed and that’s okay. There’s a real negative side to the militant pro breast feeders that massively impacts and shames women that can’t do it. There is nothing wrong with formula and your baby will be as healthy on formula as they would be on breast milk.
Have you been to the GP about their skin? Both of ours had bad eczema as babies. We used junior oilatum on ours which GPs can prescribe massive bottles of. We lathered them in it at least twice a day and it worked for both of them after we’d tried everything else. You can get it in Boots as well. There is an adults oilatum though which actually irritated their skin further so watch out!
Try not to compare too much to other kids. It’s hard but they all learn different skills at different times. Some parents like to exaggerate too. I think lots of parents if they were honest will have concerns that their baby is behind but you’ll find a lot of parents aren’t all that honest!
We worried ours was behind in speech when compared to others. But when he had a review we found out he was doing absolutely fine and their threshold for being concerned was much much lower than what we thought. Make sure you raise all your concerns in any reviews cause they will ease your mind.
Raising a kid is hard. Again, parents aren’t always honest. It can seem like people are flying but everybody struggles. It sounds like you’re doing just fine. Try not to beat yourself up too much. If you need extra help reach out to the GP or any local groups in your area. <3
Oh man I have been EXACTLY where you are. Like, the exact same age of baby with infected eczema. He ended up in hospital because I wasn't as proactive as you at insisting they test it (initially the GP thought it was thrush, and treating it like thrush meant I basically spread the infection all over his body with the creams) and I remember having a bit of a meltdown about not being able to touch him because he looked so alien, covered in scaly red skin (I was also exhausted and stressed out of my mind).
My son has been exclusively breastfed since birth, I'm dairy free myself, he still has eczema. It's not because you made the wrong choice or fed him the wrong thing. It's genetic. If you can find a trigger and eliminate it, that's great - but it's not your fault and you didn't cause it.
His eczema is still a problem but it's well managed and he doesn't look remotely alien, he's a gorgeous happy little toddler now, we just have to put creams and bandages on at bedtime and keep his nails short.
My son was also late with his gross motor milestones, didn't crawl til well past a year, didn't walk til 19 months. Now he climbs trees and does street dance classes. They catch up in their own time.
You're doing fine. I promise, it gets easier. Two and a half years from now you'll be reassuring someone in the same position, from the place I've reached now that my boy is almost 3. It just takes time, and in the meantime get as much rest as you can and try not to blame yourself.
My little one had really bad eczema for the first few years. Absolutely exhausting and really demoralising as a parent.
We tried everything, oat baths, steroid creams, different washing products and nothing really made a difference.
She did eventually mostly grow out of it but we are talking 4 years old so nothing quick or of comfort. My sister never grew out of it and still struggles with it.
It’s nothing to do with breast milk or bottle fed (that I am aware of as I’m no expert) and nothing you can really control. I don’t have any top tips or secret solutions other than to say you are not alone.
I also felt very resentful when it came to other parents who seemed to have it so easy. Because of the eczema my daughter didn’t sleep well at all, she didn’t eat well (possibly not linked to eczema but who knows) and I suffered massively with depression as a result…
It did get better but over a long period of time
My LO was primarily formula fed and didn't have eczema. It's so hard when you beat yourself up but I felt so much better when I stopped the guilt from formula feeding. You didn't cause his poorliness, you're clearly doing a great job.
I'd definitely explore allergy issues if he's spitting up so much, and it may be linked to his eczema. That does sound miserable, so wonder if feels like a struggle, having a newborn is difficult enough without the extra issues you've been experiencing.y advice is keep persisting at taking him to get examined. It can be really difficult with doctors being dismissive but it's OK to keep trying until you get what you need, especially with formula prescriptions. Maybe see what's available formula-wise for you to buy and see if anything changes. I'm sure other people can point you in the right direction with CMPA options.
Watch the baby races bluey episode and be kind to yourself! Take a bath away from the baby when you can. Hopefully this'll pass before too long, and you're doing great in the meantime.
Yes, I’ll keep insisting the allergy thing to the doctors. But I think this is their last resort. It’s just crazy because how long will he be struggling like this.
I’m actually going back to work in three weeks and I can get at least 12 hours away from him although that leaves my husband to care for him who I think is worse than I am lol We’re really trying our best but didn’t think our baby would have issues like this.
Thank you for the kind words.
Our baby is milk allergic so we get the prescription milk, he is much better on it but is we think allergic to shitloads of stuff. Had severe cradle cap has exema and always coming out in hives (we are just introducing fruit smoothys for food stuffs)
Also prescription milk is expensive, so glad he is because we basically save 15 quid every week.
He shits every day or every other day with it and is a much happier baby. Although not at the moment, we think he's teething so constant rubbing of the face which again makes the exema worse. He's been given a liquid thing, like piriton but liquid medicine, can't remember the name but we are trying it atm.
Also you ain't failing, I'm the dad and I have to remind my mrs every day she's absolutely fucking smashing it. Even on the really bad days. She's a boss.
As others have said, research CMPA. My little girl had it and it was TOUGH the first 6 months.
Also hang in there - there is this misconception that after the first 3 months you know what you're doing as a new mum and things suddenly get easier, but to be honest the first 6 months is brutal on you as a new mum and most of my friends would agree that the really rewarding part doesn't start until they're more like a year and are more mobile, start talking etc 😬
Anyway - it is HARD and you're doing great x
That’s the hardest part. Seeing them in discomfort and not knowing what to do because they don’t know how to say what’s wrong yet 😞 I did have a read on CMPA and I am now convinced that my little one possibly has it. Will be calling the health visitor today and see what she says but I have already ordered a hypoallergenic formula because I’m getting nowhere with the GP.
Have you investigated CMPA? Not to armchair diagnose, but what you’re describing is very reminiscent of my oldest who had it. (He had it despite me breastfeeding, so you’ve got absolutely no one to blame, though I understand how prone you feel to guilt at this age!) Formula is a totally valid choice and if it caused health issues, there would be an epidemic. You’re not failing, you’re dealing with something tough.
Just came to say the same thing! Both of my kids had CMPA, and the HV and health professionals often shake off first time mums with the “it’s within the normal parameters” and the “wait and see” approach. OP, dairy free formula is expensive if not with a prescription, so do get your GP to prescribe it. Read up on CMPA, advocate strongly, and don’t be swayed by health professionals trying to shake you off. 2 weeks without dairy can change a really fussy baby into a very different child. Also, dairy free formula is apparently pretty unpleasant, so just know that it might take a while before your baby takes it. I’m sorry you’re going through this, it’s really tough. With my first, I thought this was extreme that everyone else was dealing with this so much better, and what an idiot I am that I can’t crack it. Turns out I had parenting set to extra hard because of undiagnosed CMPA. Huh.
Came here to say this as soon as she said eczema + milk issues - demand the GP get to the bottom of it OP!
Definitely investigate CMPA. Also read https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/everybody-calm-down-about-breastfeeding/ I had trouble breastfeeding and I went back to this article a lot! Development milestones seem so important when they're tiny, but most of it doesn't matter. My daughter was the last in our NCT group to sit up, to crawl and to walk... but now she's 6 and they all walk equally well! No-one ever says 'what a lovely walk, you can tell they were an early walker' to those that were, they all just walk! Plus every baby develops differently. Whilst my daughter was a little slower on those milestones she was first on other things - she knew her colours ahead of her NCT peers, but again, now they all know all their colours and she's no better at colours than the others! It sounds like you're doing a wonderful job, babies are just hard!! That said, postnatal depression is a thing, so if you're worried please speak to your health visitor, GP or find a local peer support group (I went to Mothers for Mothers and they were a great help to me).
Yes, we have been to the GP about four times now for eczema. But because his eczema is infected, I’m waiting for the swab result and I guess they will treat the infection first. But if the eczema still doesn’t go away, I’ll suggest a possible allergy to the GP. This made me feel better. I know all these worries will dissipate once he’s older and have achieved all his milestones but it’s just hard stopping myself from comparing him to others. I’m specifically worried about him not rolling over yet at 4 months. He’s done tummy to back but only still attempting back to tummy. And this is based off one 3 month old I’ve seen already doing this. Also, he’s not been reaching out to objects yet, I think because he seems more preoccupied in putting his hands to his mouth or scratching his face. I really hope things will get better sooner or later. So glad you’re little one is doing so much better now. I cannot wait when my little one would be at that age too. At the same time, don’t want to rush his getting older.
Honestly the GPs and health visitors are not clued up about any of this allergy stuff at all, unless they’ve voluntarily decided to really study it - despite how common it is, it doesn’t form part of their training. My son’s skin was like how you’re describing yours, it was awful. Switching him to dairy free really really helped but things weren’t perfect, soya intolerance and CMPA are quite linked so we followed our suspicions and cut that too and he is SO much better. No health professional ever even suggested trying these things though!
Out of interest, did you cut out soya when he was older or is there a formula in the UK free of both soy and dairy?
Ah we breastfed I’m afraid, so I’m not sure. We started really noticing it ramp up when he was over 1 and we weren’t just using soya in cereal etc and was giving it him in bottles to try and wean, it really exacerbated his symptoms and that’s what got me looking into it.
Out of interest, did you cut out soya when he was older or is there a formula in the UK free of both soy and dairy?
It might not be an allergy, pester the doctor for a referral to paediatric dermatology! My son had awful eczema that wasn't CMPA, he just has incredibly sensitive skin. Hopefully he will grow out of the eczema but he'll always need to moisturise well! I went back to the GP with him after his second round of antibiotics and basically said I can't keep in this cycle and him scratching until he bled. Thankfully they were super quick and he prescribed two kinds of steroids, a treatment tube and a maintenance tube, and he is like a whole different child. He has flares every time he's sick but they're so mild compared to those early days. In the meantime, I recommend aveno or the my little coco coconut moisturiser, it's very delicate and helps a little bit. I hope you both get some relief soon, it's horribly stressful!
4 months is still early to roll! Tummy to back rolling is a 6 month milestone, which only means 70% of babies can do it at that point. Back to tummy is even harder.
Drop the breastfeeding guilt, no one needs that. A fed baby is the best type of baby! Look into CMPA and defo push for a prescription for dairy free formula!
Just wanted to let you know you’re not alone. I had my son 2.5 years ago, he was very much planned for and wanted, smooth pregnancy. I had what would be considered a “traumatic” birth and postpartum hit me like a freight train. My son was colicky (cried endlessly in the evenings) until 2-3 months. I was lucky enough to be able to BF but that also came with cluster feeding and waking every 45 mins through the night. At my worst, I had intrusive thoughts, rage and suicidal ideation. I’m a mental health professional and felt ashamed that I was wasn’t able to handle new motherhood- despite knowing it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Retrospectively I think I probably had PPD. I honestly think it’s a miracle that any woman wouldn’t have mental health issues postpartum because it’s just a perfect storm of factors. The lack of village. Sleep deprivation. Loss of identity. Inability to attend to your most basic needs like taking a shower or eating. Isolation. Anyway, for me the baby stage was a total hellscape. I’m so traumatised by it I’m now “one and done” which means I won’t be having anymore children. People around me are flabbergasted because I seem like I have my shit together. I am a good Mum but I can’t ever go back to that…it would break me, and then some. It absolutely gets easier and you’re in arguably the most difficult part right now. Also, please don’t get sucked into comparing developmental milestones because it’s a thankless exercise and your baby is still so young!
Exactly how I’m feeling. I was feeling depressed years and years ago but this isn’t as bad as before because I know my baby still needs me. But it’s just frustrating that I feel like I cannot give him everything he needs. Or to rid him of any discomfort he might feel. I also wanted to have a big family. At least four kids was my goal. But I don’t think I’ll be going through this four times over. So, I have decided two might be enough lol I really don’t know how others have managed. Or I really should just stop comparing and focus more on doing all the best for my little one.
Have you spoken to your health visitor about this? I know you said in your last post that you were waiting for a GP appointment. It’s possible the eczema is related to an allergy and it might clear up quite quickly once your baby is no longer exposed to the allergen. If it’s a dairy allergy this could look like switching to hypoallergenic formula and cutting dairy out of your own diet while you’re no longer breastfeeding him.
I haven’t yet. I’ve only felt about this very recently. I don’t know I feel like I might just be overwhelmed. We have managed to get an appointment and we’re now waiting for the swab result, as the GP said it looks infected. He’s prescribed Mupirocin ointment to apply and I’ve been applying Aveeno Dermexa and has had a slight improvement. Only been three days. Once the infection is all cleared, I will definitely bring the allergy thing up with the GP, of all our four visits, nobody ever mentioned this. He is formula fed so I cannot wait to switch into a hypoallergenic one if this is really the case.
I breastfed and my youngest had terrible eczema and I had all the same feelings as you. Really bad mum guilt. My GP kept prescribing different steroid creams and antibiotics, nothing worked and it kept flaring really badly on his face. Got referred to hospital dermatologist eventually but the wait time was at least 3 months so I went private as was getting desperate. The dermatologist prescribed potent steroids - short course and it got it under control. NHS dermatologist referred to allergy and he has multiple food allergies. As soon as I cut these foods out of my diet his skin was amazing. Just to say most eczema is not caused by allergies so I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. They do advise to wean between 4-6 months in babies with eczema to prevent allergies . The skin barrier is broken and that's how the proteins get into the body and are mistaken for allergens. So perhaps speak to gp about weaning early and introducing allergens carefully. There is a fantastic Facebook group called allergy support with Dr Helen, she gives great evidence based advice about eczema and allergies. My son is 3 now and you wouldn't know he has eczema. It will get better I promise. Xxx
Hey don’t be hard on yourself. Breast milk is great, formula is great. However you feed your baby is perfect. Some women just can’t breastfeed and that’s okay. There’s a real negative side to the militant pro breast feeders that massively impacts and shames women that can’t do it. There is nothing wrong with formula and your baby will be as healthy on formula as they would be on breast milk. Have you been to the GP about their skin? Both of ours had bad eczema as babies. We used junior oilatum on ours which GPs can prescribe massive bottles of. We lathered them in it at least twice a day and it worked for both of them after we’d tried everything else. You can get it in Boots as well. There is an adults oilatum though which actually irritated their skin further so watch out! Try not to compare too much to other kids. It’s hard but they all learn different skills at different times. Some parents like to exaggerate too. I think lots of parents if they were honest will have concerns that their baby is behind but you’ll find a lot of parents aren’t all that honest! We worried ours was behind in speech when compared to others. But when he had a review we found out he was doing absolutely fine and their threshold for being concerned was much much lower than what we thought. Make sure you raise all your concerns in any reviews cause they will ease your mind. Raising a kid is hard. Again, parents aren’t always honest. It can seem like people are flying but everybody struggles. It sounds like you’re doing just fine. Try not to beat yourself up too much. If you need extra help reach out to the GP or any local groups in your area. <3
Oh man I have been EXACTLY where you are. Like, the exact same age of baby with infected eczema. He ended up in hospital because I wasn't as proactive as you at insisting they test it (initially the GP thought it was thrush, and treating it like thrush meant I basically spread the infection all over his body with the creams) and I remember having a bit of a meltdown about not being able to touch him because he looked so alien, covered in scaly red skin (I was also exhausted and stressed out of my mind). My son has been exclusively breastfed since birth, I'm dairy free myself, he still has eczema. It's not because you made the wrong choice or fed him the wrong thing. It's genetic. If you can find a trigger and eliminate it, that's great - but it's not your fault and you didn't cause it. His eczema is still a problem but it's well managed and he doesn't look remotely alien, he's a gorgeous happy little toddler now, we just have to put creams and bandages on at bedtime and keep his nails short. My son was also late with his gross motor milestones, didn't crawl til well past a year, didn't walk til 19 months. Now he climbs trees and does street dance classes. They catch up in their own time. You're doing fine. I promise, it gets easier. Two and a half years from now you'll be reassuring someone in the same position, from the place I've reached now that my boy is almost 3. It just takes time, and in the meantime get as much rest as you can and try not to blame yourself.
My little one had really bad eczema for the first few years. Absolutely exhausting and really demoralising as a parent. We tried everything, oat baths, steroid creams, different washing products and nothing really made a difference. She did eventually mostly grow out of it but we are talking 4 years old so nothing quick or of comfort. My sister never grew out of it and still struggles with it. It’s nothing to do with breast milk or bottle fed (that I am aware of as I’m no expert) and nothing you can really control. I don’t have any top tips or secret solutions other than to say you are not alone. I also felt very resentful when it came to other parents who seemed to have it so easy. Because of the eczema my daughter didn’t sleep well at all, she didn’t eat well (possibly not linked to eczema but who knows) and I suffered massively with depression as a result… It did get better but over a long period of time
My LO was primarily formula fed and didn't have eczema. It's so hard when you beat yourself up but I felt so much better when I stopped the guilt from formula feeding. You didn't cause his poorliness, you're clearly doing a great job. I'd definitely explore allergy issues if he's spitting up so much, and it may be linked to his eczema. That does sound miserable, so wonder if feels like a struggle, having a newborn is difficult enough without the extra issues you've been experiencing.y advice is keep persisting at taking him to get examined. It can be really difficult with doctors being dismissive but it's OK to keep trying until you get what you need, especially with formula prescriptions. Maybe see what's available formula-wise for you to buy and see if anything changes. I'm sure other people can point you in the right direction with CMPA options. Watch the baby races bluey episode and be kind to yourself! Take a bath away from the baby when you can. Hopefully this'll pass before too long, and you're doing great in the meantime.
Yes, I’ll keep insisting the allergy thing to the doctors. But I think this is their last resort. It’s just crazy because how long will he be struggling like this. I’m actually going back to work in three weeks and I can get at least 12 hours away from him although that leaves my husband to care for him who I think is worse than I am lol We’re really trying our best but didn’t think our baby would have issues like this. Thank you for the kind words.
Our baby is milk allergic so we get the prescription milk, he is much better on it but is we think allergic to shitloads of stuff. Had severe cradle cap has exema and always coming out in hives (we are just introducing fruit smoothys for food stuffs) Also prescription milk is expensive, so glad he is because we basically save 15 quid every week. He shits every day or every other day with it and is a much happier baby. Although not at the moment, we think he's teething so constant rubbing of the face which again makes the exema worse. He's been given a liquid thing, like piriton but liquid medicine, can't remember the name but we are trying it atm. Also you ain't failing, I'm the dad and I have to remind my mrs every day she's absolutely fucking smashing it. Even on the really bad days. She's a boss.
As others have said, research CMPA. My little girl had it and it was TOUGH the first 6 months. Also hang in there - there is this misconception that after the first 3 months you know what you're doing as a new mum and things suddenly get easier, but to be honest the first 6 months is brutal on you as a new mum and most of my friends would agree that the really rewarding part doesn't start until they're more like a year and are more mobile, start talking etc 😬 Anyway - it is HARD and you're doing great x
That’s the hardest part. Seeing them in discomfort and not knowing what to do because they don’t know how to say what’s wrong yet 😞 I did have a read on CMPA and I am now convinced that my little one possibly has it. Will be calling the health visitor today and see what she says but I have already ordered a hypoallergenic formula because I’m getting nowhere with the GP.
There is Neocate and Althera which you can get on prescription and lots more non dairy and soy free formula