6 week milk update - CMPA

Looking back through the archives today I stumbled across my first ever blog post that I did 6 weeks ago on Luke's new milk. Things have changed so much in that time so I thought I'd do an update post on how Luke is getting on. Hopefully it'll give any fellow mummies out there a little bit of hope in a potentially dark and difficult time. 

After exactly 6 weeks exclusively on the amino acid formula, Luke's reflux has almost completely disappeared. We have gone from violent projectile vomiting every hour to a little bit of sick once or twice a day (usually after meals and as a result of bouncing or rolling around on the floor like a lunatic baby!) 

I think this is the biggest difference we have noticed on the new milk and I am so thankful - I was beginning to think I'd never catch up on washing!

The other major difference we have noticed is Luke's skin. Since he was 5 weeks old he has had terrible eczema which got no better despite the various lotions and potions we plastered on him. 

Although his skin isn't quite 100% (we still get bad face flare ups when he's teething) it is so much better and with the help of Aveeno moisturiser we are able to keep the worst at bay. 

Another big change I have noticed is Luke's weight gain. He has always been a clothing size below what he should be, however now at the grand age of 7 months old he is in the 6-9 month clothing that he should be! This is a major breakthrough for us as he was still in 0-3 month clothing at 5 months old! We have a health visitor appointment next week so I'm super excited to see what my chunky monkey weighs now! 

Smiles and giggles now just get more and more every day and Luke is turning into such a happy little boy, that the nightmare first months of motherhood that almost broke me are slowly becoming nothing more than a distant memory. 

If any of you out there have a little one who is suffering with CMPA keep going, it does get better and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Sometimes it's hard... And that is all.

 No one tells you how painfully exhausting the nights will be during sleep regressions. 

Nobody tells you how often you end up crying along with your baby at night. 

No one tells you how hopeless and powerless you feel when your child is ill and has to go to hospital. 

No one tells you how desperate you'll feel when you're the only voice your child has and the doctors won't listen. 

No one tells you how much it will hurt when your child refuses to eat the food you've spent hours preparing. 

Nobody explains the sinking feeling you get when you hear them cry out again and you just want to lie down after 6 months of sleep deprivation. 

No body tells you what a failure you'll feel if you can't breastfeed. 

No one tells you how often you snap and shout at your husband even if he's done nothing wrong. 

No one tells you about the days where you feel totally isolated, as if you're doing it all alone. 

Don't get me wrong, my son is my world and I love him more than words can describe. There are so many positives to being a parent: getting to have cuddles in the middle of the night just you two, seeing their faces light up when you look into their cot in the morning or having your baby cling onto you as they fall asleep in your arms are amazing things which make all of the above seem irrelevant. 

But sometimes you just need to be able to say that being a mum is hard. No justifications or buts followed by the positives of parenthood. Sometimes you just need to be able to say that being a mummy is really hard and soul destroying. Because sometimes it is. And thats OK - it does not make you a bad parent. Just an honest one. 

New tastes - milk free weaning.

My little boy had to be weaned earlier than recommended due to a cows milk protein allergy. 

Weaning at 4 months wasn't the most exciting as they're only allowed fruit and veg, but now Luke has hit 6 months it's so much fun! He absolutely loves his food (although refuses to do BLW and will only be spoon fed - typical lazy boy!) 

Here's a few new things we tried this week. 

Roast dinner. 

Luke had his very first roast dinner this week and loved it. This was so easy to make as I just cooked up some extra of what Pete and I were eating. This is a great way of getting a whole range of vegetables packed into one meal. 

Porridge:

We've both started having porridge for breakfast and Luke LOVES it! I usually mix in some sort of puréed fruit to make it less bland - we tried Apple, pear and mango. 

Salmon:

I was unsure about What Luke's reaction to salmon would be as its quite fishy. But he really enjoyed it. I used an Annabel Karmel recipe which mixed it with carrots and tomatoes. 

We also had a bit of an allergy break through this week. Last month Luke had an allergic reaction to banana. We were told to try it again after a few weeks so we had a little taste this morning and good news - no reaction! Hopefully one day we'll have a similar experience with milk one day.