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What Is Causing Distended Belly Of A New Born Baby?
We have a newborn grandaughter with a distended belly. She has been in NICU for 3 days. After several tests and x-rays, a barium enema that finally relieved her of gas and feces, they were going to send her home with no real answer as to why it was distended.(The xray should her intestines full of gas, but no obstruction) Hirschbrungs has not been ruled out (no biopsy yet), but she shows no other signs or symptoms so they don't really want to do the biopsy until everything else has been tested. This morning her mom was able to nurse her and her belly swelled up again so they kept her in NICU. By the way, she has an identical twin sister not really showing signs of distention but she is restless after nursing also. They have a 2 year old brother with severe dairy allergies (lethal reaction). Just wondering if they (the twins) could be allergic to dairy in their mommy's breastmilk and this could be the cause of the distention?
Mon, 10 Aug 2015
HI...I congratulate you on providing me a detailed hjistory. it was very useful. By what you quote I put forth 2 possibilities -
1. Hirschsprungs Disease. - as you said it needs biopsy.
2. Cow's milk protein allergy.
I was expecting that there should have been a history of cow's milk and formula feed (this too contains cow's milk protein) given to the baby. I feel that your baby is having cow's milk protein allergy. Unusually babies grow out of this sort of allergy by 1 year of age.
My suggestions for you -
1. Mother should go off cow's milk protein completely. This means that you should avoid consumption of anything and everything related to cow's milk - like - milk/ curds/ ghee/ butter milk/ chocolates/ biscuits/ ice creams etc. Even while buying commercial food products, you need to see the ingredients and if they contain milk - do not consume them.
2. Feed you baby only exclusive breast feeds till 6 months of age and then start rice based feeds.
3. If this is followed scrupulously - the baby will stop having diarrhoea in another 3-4 days and then start gaining weight too.
4. If you feel your feeds alone are inadequate for the baby, then Zerolac is the only option till 6 months age.
I request you to keep me posted about the recovery of the baby and follow of the case.
Regards – Dr. Sumanth
1. Hirschsprungs Disease. - as you said it needs biopsy.
2. Cow's milk protein allergy.
I was expecting that there should have been a history of cow's milk and formula feed (this too contains cow's milk protein) given to the baby. I feel that your baby is having cow's milk protein allergy. Unusually babies grow out of this sort of allergy by 1 year of age.
My suggestions for you -
1. Mother should go off cow's milk protein completely. This means that you should avoid consumption of anything and everything related to cow's milk - like - milk/ curds/ ghee/ butter milk/ chocolates/ biscuits/ ice creams etc. Even while buying commercial food products, you need to see the ingredients and if they contain milk - do not consume them.
2. Feed you baby only exclusive breast feeds till 6 months of age and then start rice based feeds.
3. If this is followed scrupulously - the baby will stop having diarrhoea in another 3-4 days and then start gaining weight too.
4. If you feel your feeds alone are inadequate for the baby, then Zerolac is the only option till 6 months age.
I request you to keep me posted about the recovery of the baby and follow of the case.
Regards – Dr. Sumanth
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