What To Do If Your GP Stops Your Baby's Reflux Prescription Milk?
GPs are stopping the prescription of specialist milk for babies with reflux.
Twice this last week, I read of doctors stopping specialist milk for babies, one 6 and the other 9 months old. Both of whom had confirmed Cows Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA).
I immediately reacted with my internal siren blaring, “What is wrong with these doctors? And who are they to determine the point at which it’s appropriate for a baby to stop specialised milk?”
You see, this really aggravates me a lot.
So why are GPs doing this?
Typically, your standard GP is not a dietician, not a paediatrician (although they may have taken further study into paediatrics), is not a gastro-intestinal specialist, is not a breastfeeding counsellor, and is not a tongue-tie practitioner. And all of these are really important to understand and remember.
Without the additional, substantial study of diet and nutrition, YOUR GP is UNQUALIFIED to make this judgement.
I do not say this lightly. Some medical schools only provide a few hours of information on this topic to doctors during their 5 years in university. Bear in mind that to become a dietician, it is usually about 4 years to achieve degree status.
So, what should I do if my GP stops my reflux prescription milk?
If you are faced with a doctor who will not provide your baby specialist milk to support their needs or decides to stop a previously agreed and working formula, then ask what qualification do they have to make that decision.
We trust our doctors to be the source of all knowledge. Sometimes wrongly. We go to our doctors and demand an answer that they may not be qualified to give.
The real problem here is that there are not enough dieticians’ in the UK NHS to quickly assess, diagnose and support babies with milk intolerances and allergies in a reasonable timeframe. Too many babies end up in A&E, where their symptoms have escalated, and only then do they prescribe the appropriate milk.
Why does it have to come to this before babies get the support they need?
Babies and babies are being targeted and are victims of the NHS cutting costs. Individual doctors are being forced to meet their targets by reducing costs wherever possible.
How does this add up?
An allergenic baby will suffer far too much, with a high risk of ending up in A&E. This costs the “system” much more in the long run, notwithstanding the life-long impact of consuming an allergen or something that is constantly irritating the inside of their precious little bodies. Adding into this the growth and development delay that may happen with CMA and the emotional distress, fatigue and exhaustion in parents. It is a cocktail for a not-so-happy family.
The NHS is happy to dish out strong, unproven, untested and unrecommended medications for babies because of the volume of the kickbacks they get. There doesn’t seem to be the same market for prescribing the specialist milk that actually benefits the patient. (Few PPIs are actually proven as safe for under 12 months by the manufacturers of the drugs.)
What is wrong with our world when it is our most vulnerable babies and their parents made to suffer unnecessarily and all too often brushed off?
My mission is to #EradicateBabyReflux.
A Cow's Milk Allergy (CMA) is often a cause of reflux, and so this subject is very relevant to my mission. I cannot reduce or affect CMA. I can, however, affect the treatment, assessment and support that these babies get in the early days so that long periods of infancy are not overshadowed by pain and discomfort.
If you are affected by any of the above, I would love to hear about your experience. You can come and share it on my Instagram.
If you are struggling and you need help, I am here. If you are ready to invest in freeing your baby and family from reflux, let me help you.
How can I help?
In the 'Reflux Free Baby' Workshop, I walk you through all the symptoms you need to observe and record for your baby, what they mean, and how to use them as clues. The course is suitable for both bottle-feeding and breastfed babies who are suffering from baby reflux.
I tell you what the clues mean individually and when they occur with other groups of symptoms.
And this leads us to be able to say what is causing each baby's reflux with much more confidence.
Based on this, I tell you what specific action to take for them.
If you're on the fence, start with our Free Symptoms Tracker. Document just how many behaviours and symptoms are directly related to your baby's reflux and how much discomfort you can expect to resolve by addressing the root cause of their reflux. Download it here.
Head to the links below for similar suggested blog titles:
Get your free Reflux & Colic Symptoms Tracker
We will never sell your information, for any reason.
