Express foremilk to reduce nappy rash?

D

deasy_h

Registered User
Hi,

Does anyone have same problem with watery & acidic baby's poo that makes him/her having severe nappy rash?
I saw one GP that recommended us to go straight to hospital for further investigation. Later, the PD in hospital advised me to express the foremilk before breastfeeding. He told me to express about 10-30 ml.
It's just been 3 days & the only difference is the stool becomes a little bit sticky, sometimes seedy. But the nappy rash is still there & spreads to the top side (so there are nappy rashes on top & bottom part now).
I also have applied zinc oxide at every nappy change (every 2 hours), tried to take off the pants for 30 minutes each day, and changed the diaper whenever I notice she has poo.

I'm really confused about this. I think I have tried my best but my LO still has this problem.
 
You need to be careful about doing that kind of thing because you are messing with the natural "consistency" of the breastmilk. Some people try to give less foremilk for a variety of reasons - to help their baby put on weight faster, etc... but the foremilk has its own nutritional benefits and one of the main ones is keeping the baby hydrated. I personally would question this kind of logic and try other ways to deal with the problem before messing with the kind of breastmilk that the baby is getting. I would be getting a second opinion on that one!!
 
I totally agree with Nicolejoy, I do not believe there is any medical basis for this recommendation - and it could actually be harmful. Unfortunately some babies are just prone to nappy rash, which i know is really horrible. I totally would get a 2nd opinion. You don't say how old your baby is, my 2nd had terrible rash as a newborn (exclusively breastfed) but did grow out of it quite quickly. Maybe try changing nappy brand if you are using disposables, as sometimes this can make a difference. Good luck but I would definitely see someone else for a 2nd opinion
 
My little girl went thru a bad phase of nappy rash. My best advise is to do as much diaper free time as possible. By some disposable change pads to lay her on to minimize clean up (if not mobile yet). Use a blow dryer on the "cool" setting to make sure she is DRY when you put a clean nappy on. Then slather on the cream. You can't use too much! You can make your own concoction using zinc oxide, some hydro-cortisone cream (for the swelling/inflammation) and Vaseline or Lansinoh cream and use twice a day for a couple of days. Mix in your hand and apply.
 
Deasy, I also got a surprising recommendation from a pediatrician I took my son to - to schedule his feeds because his stools were slimy. I was skeptical but it did work. At least give it a week before you ditch it...I don't think a week will seriously harm your baby. Also, while the stool problem may be solved, the nappy rash may take a while to sort out. I've heard that once it comes, it's a pain to get rid off. It's true that foremilk has its purpose - since we don't give our babies water, it helps their thirst for one - but it's also true that some women have too much foremilk and maybe the doc is trying to see if that is it. I was advised for example to only feed on one breast per feeding.
 
Dear all,
Thanks for all your replies. I see dramatic improvements on the nappy rash & frequency of bowel opening (& also the shape). I've done the treatment for a week and will continue until the rashes are completely cured. Btw my baby is 6 weeks old.

Actually this is the second doctor I saw. The first one also mentioned that the watery stool that kept coming out would make it difficult to cure the rashes. Then this 2nd one is a PD in public hospital. Since my LO was admitted to hospital, so this PD has already consulted his diagnosis & recommendation to the more senior one. As for medical reason, he said that the baby has imbalance consumption of foremilk & hindmilk.

Anyway, I'm so glad that she's getting better now.
Thanks a lot ladies!!!
 
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