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any lactose intolerant little ones?

kursemkursem member
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months

Is anyone in the same boat i am?  LO and i were doing beautifully with BFing, she latches perfectly etc...but then she started getting sick.  Mostly constipation and really painful gas, but sometimes some spitup too, which the doc said was weird because it was sudden onset and hadn't previously been happening with breast milk.  We had to supplement early on because of supply issues, and she couldn't even handle similac advance.

 We tried a gradual approach, taking dairy out of my diet, decreasing amount of BFing or pumped milk bottles, and then changing to soy formula.  The only way her tummy has been okay is when we took out breastmilk and stayed on soy entirely.  Unfortunately, this issues has run in DH's family (he, sis and other daughter all had same issue).

I've tried re-introducing some breast milk (doc said to try again when she was closer to a month old and she is 3.5 wks) - just a bottle a day because now we're having laziness issues with nursing.  I could INSTANTLY tell via her frequency of bowel movements that it's constipating her.

What did/would you do in this situation?  I want her to have the antibiotics from my milk, but I don't want her to be miserable!  Right now with the one bottle she doesn't seem in pain, just a bit constipated.  Should I continue?  I'm going to ask my doc too just wanted some other mom advice...and possibly people to commiserate with.  I SO wanted breastfeeding to work and have worked really hard at it (with two different LC's also).  /sigh

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Re: any lactose intolerant little ones?

  • Kailab273Kailab273
    Breast Feeding ( in my opinion ) is best. .. and I tried with everything I had but I was not able to ... my list of reasons why is not even worth putting up .. one of the prime reasons however is that my son (lucky boy) got my extreme allegies. Within days of birth what I ate would cause him to vomit everything he had in him, after battling my issues and his I changed to formula ... 4 formulas later he is on a hypoallergenic one that has been a life saver ...he can go to the bathroom easier, gas issues have ben resolved, and the vomiting AND spit up is almost no longer. Just this week the doc wanted to give milk based formula one more try ... my son was so sick I had to call the hospital. My advice to you is do what you feel is best in your heart ... no matter how hard you try or how much you want to sometimes it just is not meant to be ... and from the moment you found out you were preg you have done whats best for your little one and this situation is no different. You are the mom and you and your heart know best thats the only advice I can give ... just wanted to let you know you are by far not alone
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  • SusieQ1982SusieQ1982
    I think my son has lactose intolerance. We were using Similac Advance formula (supplementing with BM) and he was horrifically gassy and in pain. We tried Similac Sensitive lactose free and he seems to be a lot better on it.
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  • Kailab273Kailab273
    Nutramigen is what I have been using and in all honesty I could kiss the person to make it he is much better ... day care can actually give a good report
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  • meshlmeshl
    I'm kind of in the same boat.  We have been on a non-milk formula (the most expensive one, of course) as a trial for two days seeing if that helps LO.  I went through hell getting the BFing to work and, although I hated it, I miss it now and want to figure out a way to go back.  I really want her to get the benefits of it.  It's been a hard two days trying to figure out what to do.  I'm giving her one more day on the formula and then calling the dr. to see what our options are.  Of course, I have to do what is best for her, even if that means being on the special formula if she can't handle my milk.  : (
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  • les&jusles&jus
    Do some reading on the LLL website.  I have read there and in other articles that babies CANNOT be lactose intolerant.  It is a disease that ails only adults.  Apparently, we are born with the ability to break down lactose, and as you grow older, that ability diminishes, which is why many adults are intolerant.  I looked into this because I was having similar issues as you, only I have an oversupply of BM.  I still haven't resolved it, am attending an LLL meeting tomorrow in hopes of doing so.  It sounds like your baby may have other issues, perhaps reflux?  I am considering that for my LO as well.
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  • les&jusles&jus

    imageles&jus:
    Do some reading on the LLL website.  I have read there and in other articles that babies CANNOT be lactose intolerant.  It is a disease that ails only adults.  Apparently, we are born with the ability to break down lactose, and as you grow older, that ability diminishes, which is why many adults are intolerant.  I looked into this because I was having similar issues as you, only I have an oversupply of BM.  I still haven't resolved it, am attending an LLL meeting tomorrow in hopes of doing so.  It sounds like your baby may have other issues, perhaps reflux?  I am considering that for my LO as well.

    I should add that while a baby cannot be lactose intolerant, he can take in too much lactose, causing an upset stomach.  A baby can only break down so much lactose.  I am having this problem because I have so much foremilk (where all the lactose is) that my baby doesn't stay on the breast long enough to get the hindmilk.  It seems you wouldn't have this problem.

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  • kursemkursem member

    oh yeah sorry about my terminology - doc said she is lactose sensitive and explained all that stuff you just said.  Hence the trying no dairy in my diet, etc etc.

    He also suggested sleeping her at a small incline and that has helped as well, so reflux might be part of it.  Good luck with your meeting, I think it's great that they have those.  Myself, I wouldn't go - they have some good info but I've found members of that organization (read: one of the LC's i worked with) to be very militant.  She told me give my kid the breast milk even if it makes her ill, and I just can't buy into that.  I've been seeking help elsewhere (another two LC's, books, doctor, etc.).

    As for the others who posted too, I'm glad to hear I am not alone.  I guess the bottom line is, whatever our grandiose plans, our job as a Mommy is to keep our little ones fed, healthy and happy by whatever means possible!  

    For anyone looking for alternatives...we use the similac isomil advance (soy) formula and it was going beautifully until I re-introduced BMilk...lol

    My doctor also suggested that you always heat a bottle when it's for a sensitive tummy...that way they don't expend calories warming the milk themselves.

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  • 16mosprob16mosprob

    My DD is in the same boat. Same symptoms and we have tried many formulas. We are using the same formula you are right now and have been for a week now. The gas and spit up is gone.

    Just today I tried to feed her 1/2 BM and 1/2 formula and she started spitting up again - alot. As much as it bothers me I think I may be moving to just soy formula and giving up on pumping and freezing. I have even taken dairy out of my diet and it did not help. I

    am struggling with this decision internally but need 2 do whats best for my little one!

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