Lactose Intolerance? Who knows...

[entreat]

I took Jack to see the Dr on Tuesday (couldnt get an earlier appointment) because Jack has had some bloody mucus in his poo. He's also been fairly irritable in the evenings (I think mostly he gets really over tired, but sometimes my supply is low in the arvos, so he's hungry too - that's solved with some stored EBM). The doctor didn't seem to care there was blood in Jack's poo (even though the MCHN told me to get Jack to the doctor as soon as I could get an appointment). He straight out said he's lactose intolerant.

But I don't get it - if he was LI, woudln't he have a pain reaction after every feed, not just in the afternoons (which I think is more him getting ...over tired, or over hungry because supply is a little low)? And his poo is, 95% of the time, yellow (curdled looking), but frequently has a watery element to it (still has 'normal' poo, but leaves a wet halo in 'sposies). It's very very rarely green & frothy. It will go green after the poo has sat around for a while (a few hours). And the mucus/blood seems to be occuring only once a day now (and you have really look to see the blood now, except yesterdays).

And he's only had the blood/mucus & smelly poo since I had antibiotics in about week 2 or 3 after birth. That was worst of Jack's tummy upset where his poo went dark, and really smelly, and lots mucus (with and without blood).

He's got no problem gaining weight (BW=3.3kg, weight @6wks=4.6kg; put on 300g last week alone!), which I thought wouldn't occur with LI (even temporary LI).

(have to add right here that Jack is sitting in his cot cooing at his curtains & hiccuping. So cute!)

For me: I have itchy skin on my BBs around once or twice a day. My nipples have been quite pink, and a little tender (not an attachment issue), and about 10misn after a feed, I get a burning pain deep in the tissue. I know Dr Google is evil, but from what I've found, that can indicate thrush.

My suggestion might be: Jack got thrush after the anitbiotics went to him through feeding, and then he's given it to me (apparently there doesn't necessarily need to be any white blobs of thrush around mouth/genitals to have it intestinally). I've been on some homeopathics & probiotics, and it seems to be clearing (in me at least).

Does anyone else have any ideas?

[BellyBelly]

Lactose Intolerance - Your Baby and Lactose

Lactose intolerance is rare, because breastmilk contains lactose. Its very misunderstood, overdiagnosed and admittedly so by many doctors and more likely a milk protein intolerance. I'd find yourself a lactation consultant, preferably an IBCLC.

[BellyBelly]

Here's a recent article I posted.

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...treatment.html

[miss.cinders]

I think you are on the right track *nods* It does sound like thrush very much so.

After my DS's very first round of antibiotics his poo's changed the same as your DS's. He got thrush and so did I.

Are you treating both of you for thrush? Are there any white spots in his mouth/on his tongue you can see?

[entreat]

Thank Kelly - will read shortly.

Miss C - no white spots (but from what I've read of Candida infections, you don't necessarily need them), but occasional nappy rash (once a week). I bought Inner Health For Kids & Inner Health Plus for me. The Kids stuff is meant to be for 3months & older, but seeing as the doctor won't give me anything for the thrush (completely ignored my symptoms - didn't care, had already made up his mind), I figured that was better than nothing. I've been giving him a half dose.

I've also checked out some homeopath remedies, and found a forum where a naturopath described the exact symptoms Jack has. By all accounts, it's thrush, and it's treated with the same stuff that's in Brauer's Colic relief. Fortunately, it's the only colic meds he likes (starts licking the air when he smells it).

Do you know of any over-the-counter stuff I could take?

ETA: from ABA website on LI

Average recovery time for the gut of a baby with severe gastroenteritis is 4 weeks, but may be up to 8 weeks for a baby under 3 months. For older babies, over about 18 months, recovery may be as rapid as 1 week

So he could be better anywhere from next week to the end of August - but did didn't have gastro. So fingers crossed for sooner.

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

what I'm wondering is, what did the doctor suggest you do about it?
It is probable that the antibiotics have caused some mild damage to the gut, leading to the bleeding. It may even be a little secondary lactose intolerance as a result of this. However, the only treatment is to keep breastfeeding your baby. It will heal with time. It would absolutely not be recommended that you interrupt or cease breastfeeding. Your coctor is right - if there is not pain or discomfort then just time will heal - it's not a huge problem.
BTW, many mums don't realise that babies naturally cluster feed in the evening - our bodies make milk the same day and night - but babies are irritable in the evenings and want to feed lots - it cures all sorts of ills - from grumpiness to boredom and more.
All this is worrying and confusing it's good to ask the questions

[MantaRay]

I'm sorry your GP has scared you like this. It is really annoying that medical professionals give incorrect information so often.

The article on the ABA website is very good - I can't link to it at the moment but hopefully someone will.

[miss.cinders]

I think I use Daktarin with him [is that what it's called?].
I was very uneducated with that type of thing, I'd never dealt with it before with any of the other kids.
So didn't know of any other options I could try before using it.
It did work though pretty quickly