Breastfeeding Lactose intolerant /cow's milk protein intolerant bubba???

[Tracey]

We have just spent the day in at the Royal childrens Hospital with Zyon..

He had fed well & gained plenty of weight, then around 2-3wks he began screaming inconsolably all day & night.. I tried colic drops, colic relievers etc...
I spoke to MCHN, whom said I needed assistance with settling techniques, I ignored these comments as it was obvious that he was in pain, not just being a PITA!
I spoke to my friend a LC, whom said it could be over supply/ fast flow, etc & I tried a few of her suggestions, we took him to a GP, as his nappies were constantly full of very wet green poo (But not necessarily frothy!)
He told me colour is no need for concern & that he was fine! Just a normal baby!
So I have tried to persevere but Zyon is totally exhausted, his eyes are rolling in his head he will fall asleep for 15 mins after a feed then scream inconsolably for hours on end, I tried spacing out his feeds, I tried feeding more often, I tried boiled water, a dummy, letting him cry for 3-5 mins...
So today DH & I went to the RCH.. After many hours of waiting we saw a Paed, whom asked me lots of questions, she was all for continuing breastfeeding but thinks he may be lactose Intolerant but likely having issues with the protein in the cow's milk passing through!

I would like any thoughts, advice fropm anyone whom has experienced this or similar etc..
As this is all new to me...

I am to stop all dairy, I am seeing the midwives on Fri so the Paed from RCH wrote a letter for them, rather than travelling back there!
So we will first start with removing all dairy from my diet, but also I have given him a bottle of lactose free formula, I will express over the next day or 2 & dump my milk (boo hoo) but I wnat to keep feeding him my milk if possible, but ultimately I need sleep as does my poor exhausted man...

Anyone with any info, I will be forever grateful!!!!

[Phteven]

Oh no!! poor little Zyon and poor you - what an awful way to spend father's day

This is an article on BB, by the ABA. I'm not sure if it will have anything in it that you don't already know.

Lactose Intolerance Your Baby and Lactose

[Tracey]

I think we kinda agree it seems more the Protein that's causing the issue & not so much the lactose!

Thanks Dach..
She printed this all out for me as well..

I will pop Ted's clothes in mail soon, just not having much time ATM!!!

[Danni]

poor bubby! BUT, if this IS the problem, i guess its a simple fix.

Definitely cut out all dairy and try to subtitue for soy so you maintain your calcium intake.

I hope it sorts itself out real soon

[Tracey]

Danni as it seems it's the Protein in the milk, soy milk is no good as it has the same protein, so I need to take calcium tablets!
will do whatever!

[tiffanny]

I cant remember the name of the brand but there is a product called rice milk that you might be able to try. It can be found in the long life milk aisle in woolies or coles. Its watery and tastes ok, its something to have in your tea, coffee, on cereal etc

[Tracey]

Thanks Tiffany...
I literally will do anything, I do not WANT to stop feeding, BUT I want my baby to be out of pain....

[Trillian]

Tracey, does goat or sheep milk have the same protein as cows milk? That could be another option too. Poor little fella, I hope he improves soon.

[curl]

My SIL/BIL had a similar problem to what you've described. The baby started out just fine and then would scream in agony shortly after feedings and wouldn't sleep for long and then there would also be a very thin streak of blood when they wiped her bottom after a messy nappy. A rush to the hospital led to visits with a specialist paediatrician and a nutritional expert. SIL was told to persist with breastfeeding and cut out all dairy and soy products. They were told that sometimes if there is an intolerance to dairy protein there is often one to soy too. After a few days the offending products were out of SIL's milk and the baby finally rested well (and of course everyone else!). The blood continued for a few weeks in the baby's stools and then nothing. The dr's were happy with baby's progress and said to continue on the special diet until baby reached around 12 months of age which was in April this year. Since the reintroduction to dairy and soy, there has been no symptoms to indicate there is an actual allergy or intolerance. I don't know if this helps eliviate any of your concerns but I hope it gives you some positive info to work from. There was also a prescription for a formula 'neocate' if they decided to venture down the bottle feed route but due to the expense of the product they persisted with breast.

On another note; This elimination of all things dairy and soy led to SIL losing all baby weight gained and a bit extra as a bonus in a few months and she still looks great. Baby is doing really well too of course! and is absolutely gorgeous!!

[curl]

Tracey, you will need to even check what bread etc you eat too because many don't have milk but contain soy. I found at a green grocers some breads that could be consumed by SIL without a problem as they didn't have dairy or soy. Crumpets are 'safe', so too are most turkish breads and mountain bread (you know the flat ones). As for the calcium supplements... SIL ate lots of extra vegies rich in calcium and almonds. I can pick her brains for more info if you like as I don't remember all the details. At Christmas time I made her a dairy-free chocolate mint slice as choc/mint is her favourite and I told everyone that it was for SIL only. If you love chocolate and can't live without it, bournville cocoa is good for all things chocolate and there is dairy/soy free chocolate in some supermarkets.

[Danni]

yep goats milk!

[Tracey]

Thanks Curl, thats exactly what I want to hear.... If you could pick her brain etc, I'd ne thrilled, we leave for 3.5wks in Bali on Sept 15th & I want to have a bit of a holiday!!!!
I know there's worse things, but having this new experience is stressing/worrying me....

[curl]

I'll call her tonight. I could call her house-husband but I think speaking to the source is probably best. I'll let you know what words of wisdom she has for you and any other dietary thoughts. I know how stressed the whole family was for my little niece and I sympathise with yours. As for your holiday... things should have settled down nicely by then, I'm sure your dr will tell you the same. My SIL also found that the baby would sleep better when she was elevated at an angle like with reflux.

[Tracey]

Thanks, I could handle 4 hours of screaming at night, tis has been going on 24/7 for 3wks & I am slowly deteriorating myself...

Well lets hope nodairy in my diet over the next few days improves my little mans pains....

It has truly shattered my heart seeing him like this....

So Christy may have some tips/ideas too?????????

[*Efjay*]

Tracey, Sorry the info I pm'd you must have been a real help hey, LOL What am I like the 3rd person to direct you to that artical.

Let me know what the best email is to send an attachment & I will email you some other stuff I have that might be useful.

[MantaRay]

Tracey, big hugs to you. What a terrible time you are all having. Yes, Christy should be able to give you good advice - she had to eliminate all dairy from her diet due to Jovie's intolerance, and she has now discovered that Matilda has an allergy to dairy so she has cut all dairy from Matilda's diet too. I thought of her as soon as I read the thread title. Hopefully she'll see this thread!

I hope that in a fews days things are settled for you. It is great that you are so committed to doing whatever it takes for Zyon. I know he appreciates his wonderful mummy!

[christy]

*Trace* sticking my arm through cyber space to hold your hand.

I'm crying atm sitting here because we have been dealing with this for so long, and its so hard to find the "right" person to help.

I saw a LC with Jovie when she had breast refusal and was screaming heaps. I was told she had a milk allergy, not lactose intolerance, but a cows milk allergy. She was amazing. She put me on a diet and said to trial soy (no good... Jovie's worse with soy) and goats milk (no good, Jovie's still bad with goats milk) so in the end I have been diary free living since December 31st. Every once in a while I think "whats a doughnut going to do???" or "just a few squares of the milk chocolate" and Jovie breaks out in a huge ezcema rash within a few hours after the next feed & screams for the next few nights.

It took around 4-6 weeks for her to recover. In the meantime I got help through alternative therapies. I found acupuncture (acupressure for babies) to be the best thing, I found someone who specialised in children & would go & then for the next 2-3 days she would be the most settled. Then she would gradually get worse until the next appointment. I did it weekly during that 4-6 weeks and then found that it got longer in between appointments.

My LC also suggested kinesiology which I was hesitant in doing because I don't understand it entirely. Anyway... we didn't do it until we have seen teh allergist.

We took Jovie to an allergist that I found through the food allergy expo and while we were there, he took one look at Matilda and started asking me questions. After a huge amount of testing, blood work and hair analysis, we have found that Matilda is severely allergic to milk.

What a milk allergy does is destroy the lining of the guts. So they aren't able to process foods and absorb nutrients. It can cause ezcema, reflux, ear infections, anaemia and like Matilda thyroid disorders as well if it goes on long enough.

I have HEAPS of information... I will try to compile a PM for you.

[Mel6374]

*Trace* sticking my arm through cyber space to hold your hand.

I'm crying atm sitting here because we have been dealing with this for so long, and its so hard to find the "right" person to help.

I saw a LC with Jovie when she had breast refusal and was screaming heaps. I was told she had a milk allergy, not lactose intolerance, but a cows milk allergy. She was amazing. She put me on a diet and said to trial soy (no good... Jovie's worse with soy) and goats milk (no good, Jovie's still bad with goats milk) so in the end I have been diary free living since December 31st. Every once in a while I think "whats a doughnut going to do???" or "just a few squares of the milk chocolate" and Jovie breaks out in a huge ezcema rash within a few hours after the next feed & screams for the next few nights.

It took around 4-6 weeks for her to recover. In the meantime I got help through alternative therapies. I found acupuncture (acupressure for babies) to be the best thing, I found someone who specialised in children & would go & then for the next 2-3 days she would be the most settled. Then she would gradually get worse until the next appointment. I did it weekly during that 4-6 weeks and then found that it got longer in between appointments.

My LC also suggested kinesiology which I was hesitant in doing because I don't understand it entirely. Anyway... we didn't do it until we have seen teh allergist.

We took Jovie to an allergist that I found through the food allergy expo and while we were there, he took one look at Matilda and started asking me questions. After a huge amount of testing, blood work and hair analysis, we have found that Matilda is severely allergic to milk.

What a milk allergy does is destroy the lining of the guts. So they aren't able to process foods and absorb nutrients. It can cause ezcema, reflux, ear infections, anaemia and like Matilda thyroid disorders as well if it goes on long enough.

I have HEAPS of information... I will try to compile a PM for you.

Hi Christy
Any chance I could have a look at the information you have. My baby, Jack is 7 months old and since starting solids a month ago has been suffering constipation. I went to a dietitian last weekend in desperation and after speaking with her for a while it became apparent that maybe Jack's been having issues since birth ( he has had eczema and also had heaps of wind and was hard to setlle etc) but it's really starting to manifest itself now that he's on solids with constipation. She thinks he might be intolerant to dairy through my breastmilk... although all the stuff I read about this usually says the symptoms are the opposite to constipation... anyway, i've gone off dairy since last weekend but in the meantime he's still suffering constipation (despite the massive amounts of pear i'm feeding him!) Does this sound similar to what you've been through? Do you have some info that might help me? Much appreciated.
Cheers