“…finding a good pediatrician is really important. It’s because of [this] we were able to discover Luca’s milk allergy so quickly.”
– Luca’s mom, Meghan
Luca was diagnosed [with cow milk protein intolerance, GERD and soy allergy] at 3 weeks when Dr. Kelly Brower decided to test his stool for blood, which came back positive. This, along with other symptoms he was experiencing like low weight gain, inconsolable crying and excessive loose stools, confirmed the diagnosis. In those early weeks, we saw Dr. Brower once or twice a week for weight checks and lactation support.
We have received nothing but exceptional care from Dr. Brower. We were so fortunate to see her for Luca’s first appointment after bringing him home. During that visit, she took the time to answer all our new-parent questions and even helped me with my breastfeeding challenges. I was struggling to get Luca to latch, and Dr. Brower worked with us patiently during the appointment.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that, in addition to being a compassionate and caring pediatrician, she is also a Certified Lactation Counselor.
Dr. Brower is an amazing lactation consultant. What I love most about Dr. Brower is how easy she is to talk to! Breastfeeding was much more difficult than I ever anticipated, and I was struggling during the first few weeks. It was a huge comfort to know Dr. Brower was there to answer all of my questions, no matter how trivial. Beyond being incredibly knowledgeable about my newborn, having her understanding about breastfeeding made our appointments so much easier. She made me feel like my concerns were legitimate and encouraged me every step of the way.
Working With Your Nemours Pediatrician and Specialist
Once my son was diagnosed with Cow’s Milk Protein Intolerance, Dr. Brower helped me learn what I needed to cut from my diet and how to build my supply back up once the allergens were out of my system. She also gave me great techniques to try using and, in time, breastfeeding became more enjoyable.
Dr. Brower has been a godsend to my family. She caught Luca’s allergy so early and has been so helpful during this difficult journey as well as breastfeeding. We are still working though Luca’s GERD and allergens. Dr. Brower recently sent us to see the specialists in the Nemours gastroenterology team [Dr. Rosario in GI]. With the help of GI and Dr. Brower, we are in good hands.
We look forward to Luca feeling better and being able to sleep more. We are still working closely Dr. Brower and GI, but now that we have identified his allergens of both milk and soy, he is more comfortable and hopefully with time the GERD will improve. We are thankful that we will have Dr. Brower to guide us through this year, and into Luca’s first year mark, which is when these infant allergies typically go away.
Advice for New Parents
My advice to parents going through this with their newborn would be to not be afraid to call your pediatrician if you feel something is wrong. I thankfully felt very comfortable with Dr. Brower and knew Luca’s crying and discomfort wasn’t normal. Even as new parents it’s important to trust your instinct.
I would also say that finding a good pediatrician is really important. It’s because of those two things we were able to discover Luca’s milk allergy so quickly.
Learn More About Lactation Support and Breastfeeding
Kelly Brower, MD, CLC is a Nemours board-certified pediatrician who also holds the Certified Lactation Counselor® credential (CLC). Learn more about the Healthy Children Project/Center for Breastfeeding and the CLC certification. For more about lactation and breastfeeding, visit our All About Breastfeeding page which offers articles and answers from the experts at Nemours KidsHealth®.
