Dairy Sensitivity

Firefly9 · August 2011

I'm pretty sure my DS has a dairy sensitivity. He gets really angry in the middle of a feeding (I pretty much EP, but even when nursing he'll get angry), spits up a lot and the spit up is usually sort of mucousy, and has been having green poops with a little bit of blood in them. Everything I've read says that points to a dairy sensitivity. So, I'm cutting out milk and dairy. For 24 hours only, we are giving him formula to see how he reacts--he's getting one of the free samples we got in the mail, the Similac for milk sensitive babies. He's already reacting better--no freaking out during a bottle, no blood, and no spit up. I want to get him back on breast milk ASAP, though. I'm unreasonably pissed that I'm feeding him formula, especially since the main ingredient in it is corn syrup solids. For some reason, that just annoys the heck out of me.

My question is, how long does it take for the dairy to not be in my breast milk and affect him? I had only a little dairy yesterday--some buttered green beans at lunch and breakfast was pancakes with milk in the batter and creamer in my coffee.

Also, how long might it take for him to get over the sensitivity? I have a stash of pumped milk I don't want to lose, both fresh and frozen. I'll freeze the refrigerated stuff for now.

faith194 · August 2011

My question is, how long does it take for the dairy to not be in my breast milk and affect him? It can take up to two weeks.

Also, how long might it take for him to get over the sensitivity? It depends on the child. My Pedi GI said we could challenge DS with frozen bm around 6 months(it was dairy and soy free, though). DS is on Elecare, as the elimination diet did not work for him. I still have frozen BM that I may challenge him in the next few weeks.

Good luck!

NewMommaNat · August 2011

my dr said a week

Firefly9 · August 2011

faith194:
My question is, how long does it take for the dairy to not be in my breast milk and affect him? It can take up to two weeks.

NewMommaNat:
my dr said a week

What can I do in the meantime? I really don't want to keep giving him formula--like I said, irrationally annoyed by this. Is there something I can give him if he's starting to get irritated by my milk to help him feel better? Obviously, I don't want to cause him discomfort, but I really don't want to keep doing formula, either.

faith194 · August 2011

MrsMcB926:
faith194:
My question is, how long does it take for the dairy to not be in my breast milk and affect him? It can take up to two weeks.

NewMommaNat:
my dr said a week

What can I do in the meantime? I really don't want to keep giving him formula--like I said, irrationally annoyed by this. Is there something I can give him if he's starting to get irritated by my milk to help him feel better? Obviously, I don't want to cause him discomfort, but I really don't want to keep doing formula, either.

Per my pedi GI, we exclusively gave ds Elecare(but this was after a month of being dairy free with no relief) for two weeks while I pumped during an elimination diet. We reintroduced BM two weeks later, and the painful gas immediately returned.

I think the good news for you is that your dc is doing well with formula, so he may not have the soy intolerance as well.

I don't think there is anything you can give him. You can still bf, but know he may react for those two weeks.

I completely understand where you are coming from! Hang in there.

Valleybugt · August 2011

My DD is dairy sensitive and while it takes 2 weeks to fully leave your body you will probably see improvement much quicker. My DD was fully cleared of her full body eczema and mucus in her stool within 4 days of starting my elimination diet. You have to cut out everything though. Not just dairy such as milk, cheese, or butter, but you must be diligent to read every label and not eat anything with dairy in it...and let me tell you they put dairy in some pretty crazy stuff.

Go to www.godairyfree.org and you can look up all the alternate names for dairy such as casein etc.

Firefly9 · August 2011

Valleybugt:

My DD is dairy sensitive and while it takes 2 weeks to fully leave your body you will probably see improvement much quicker. My DD was fully cleared of her full body eczema and mucus in her stool within 4 days of starting my elimination diet. You have to cut out everything though. Not just dairy such as milk, cheese, or butter, but you must be diligent to read every label and not eat anything with dairy in it...and let me tell you they put dairy in some pretty crazy stuff.

Go to www.godairyfree.org and you can look up all the alternate names for dairy such as casein etc.

Thanks for the website!!! I'm surprised by what has dairy and what doesn't. This is going to be tough, giving it up. I love all things dairy.

I am having a rough time with this because I don't want to keep giving him breastmilk that makes him suffer while I eliminate dairy but I also don't want to give him formula for two weeks. DH is really insistent on not giving him breastmilk and wants me to just pitch everything I have stashed. I don't think he gets just how valuable the milk is. If he were attached to a pump or a nursing baby a couple hours a day maybe he'd get it. I guess we are going to just do formula for two weeks and go back to breastmilk.

Valleybugt · August 2011

If it were me I would be concerned about not putting him at the breast every day bc he may refuse it after 2 weeks of bottles. I would try and nurse him at least once a day. You will also need to pump diligently to keep supply up. I donated my whole stash to another mom who adopted and couldn't relactate through Human Milk for Human Babies on Facebook. It was an awesome experience.

amy259 · August 2011

Honestly I would just keep breastfeeding if that's what you want to do. Yes, you don't want to see him in spitting up or with green/bloody poops but you also don't want your supply to tank. He will show signs of improvement in no time like the pp said.

Firefly9 · August 2011

amy259:

Honestly I would just keep breastfeeding if that's what you want to do. Yes, you don't want to see him in spitting up or with green/bloody poops but you also don't want your supply to tank. He will show signs of improvement in no time like the pp said.

I pump, mostly, and would keep pumping. I need to convince DH that I should keep giving breastmilk. He thinks I'm being mean because I want to continue to cause him discomfort while weaning off dairy. He wants an unbiased source to say that we should not switch to formula temporarily.

We both want what is best for him--just think what's best is different. I think it's best to stay giving him breastmilk, he thinks it's best to temporarily stop while the dairy leaves my system.

I talked to a lactation consultant and will talk to his pediatrician tomorrow.

funchicken · August 2011

amy259:
Honestly I would just keep breastfeeding if that's what you want to do. Yes, you don't want to see him in spitting up or with green/bloody poops but you also don't want your supply to tank. He will show signs of improvement in no time like the pp said.

This. It took me a couple of months to figure out everything that was bothering DD2. I kept nursing. It was really the only way for me to tell what she could and couldn't tolerate.

Christine&Chris · August 2011

DD was on only BM as I came off dairy and she did fine. You'll see immediate improvement, the rashes will go down, the fussiness and gas will subside, etc. within 24-48 hours. But you have to be vigilent and research for hidden dairy too - my pedi gave me a page long list of products and alternate names to avoid.

DD had blood in her stool and we tested it weekly until it was virtually gone (about 4 weeks, but I had some slip-ups in there with hidden dairy), but that was the only symptom that took a long time to go away. It never seemed to bother her though.

I also lost my stash - it's hard to give up, I know. Good luck!

Firefly9 · August 2011

Christine&Chris:
DD was on only BM as I came off dairy and she did fine. You'll see immediate improvement, the rashes will go down, the fussiness and gas will subside, etc. within 24-48 hours. But you have to be vigilent and research for hidden dairy too - my pedi gave me a page long list of products and alternate names to avoid.

DD had blood in her stool and we tested it weekly until it was virtually gone (about 4 weeks, but I had some slip-ups in there with hidden dairy), but that was the only symptom that took a long time to go away. It never seemed to bother her though.

I also lost my stash - it's hard to give up, I know. Good luck!

This is exactly what I need to know. DH is still insisting that DS get soy formula for a week until the dairy is gone. I've done some research and haven't had dairy since Sunday morning and want to put him back on breastmilk. We had an argument over the issue, I thought it was better to keep him on my milk, DH thought otherwise. Sigh.

www.godairyfree.org has lots of great info.

My stash is going to DH's grandma's deep freezer until we decide he's over his dairy issue. Hopefully, it won't wind up going to waste!

Want a personalized experience?

Dairy Sensitivity

Re: Dairy Sensitivity

Choose Another Board

Search Boards