Switching baby from formula to raw goats milk - how to ease tummy upset?

[Chakra]

My son was born with liver disease. I was told to stop breastfeeding when we were admitted into the hospital and I did (my biggest life regret). He was placed on a special formula for babies with fat malabsorption problems. I recently switched his health care over to a naturopathic doctor and she ordered him off the formula and on to goats milk. I found a woderful source that is free-range, grass fed and oragnic and raw. But....He is in pain from tummy upset. He eats a lot of solids so the milk is not his main source of food. Any tips to get his tummy to adjust?

[*Aimee*]

how old is he?

[Chakra]

14 months

[Panserbjorne]

If the pain is new I'd be concerned about a sensitivity to goat's milk. That's a red flag for me. It really doesn't matter how much "better" it is if he can't tolerate it, ya know?

Beyond that I would do a castor oil compress daily along with some soothing herbs (you can put fennel, anise, dill seeds in it)

I would also try homeopathy. Chamomilla, carbo veg and colocynthis are the remedies that tend to work really well for babies with upset bellies. There are more, but those are biggies.

Is he getting probiotics?

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by Panserbjørne

If the pain is new I'd be concerned about a sensitivity to goat's milk. That's a red flag for me. It really doesn't matter how much "better" it is if he can't tolerate it, ya know?

The person to ask, really, is the doctor who gave you the advice ... and while you may love this doctor or this doctor's methods, if she can't help you rectify the situation -- other suggestions, reversing the initial recommendation, whatever -- it may be time to move on.

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by Liquesce

The person to ask, really, is the doctor who gave you the advice ... and while you may love this doctor or this doctor's methods, if she can't help you rectify the situation -- other suggestions, reversing the initial recommendation, whatever -- it may be time to move on.

I would totally agree with that. Not everyone can tolerate milk, not even if it is raw or goats or whatever and if your dr' is of the mind that she doesn't understand that fact and accept it I would be seeing someone else. You shouldn't have to ease her into it, it is doing far more harm than good if it is bothering her tummy, creating inflammation and stress for her body.

[Chakra]

Well his formula is milk based so that can't be it. He eats yogurt and has no problems too. I'm not switching doctors. THats a little strange to suggest just bcus of a tummy upset... This doctor took a disease that has no cure and is curing it right before my eyes. Its amazing.

I have not asked her about his tummy pain yet. I do know he must get off the formula to heal. It's 45% corn oil solids and loaded with toxic junk. I know goats milk is better on the digestive system. I'm just not sure why he does not seem to like this milk.

No he's not on probiotics. He's doing a candida cleanse right now though (a gentle one and its not the cause of his tummy pain)

[Panserbjorne]

Okay mama. My two cents for what they are worth.

It could well be the milk. His formula isn't real food. It's totally predigested and scrambled and while the proteins are there what you are feeding him is far more pure and paradoxically can mean that he is far more reactive to it. As gross as it is it may be gentler for him and that's not something to toss out a window. And I say that as a mama that did have to use supplemental formula and went on to make my own.

Yogurt is a bit different too as it's fermented. It's broken down and in a far more digestible state than plain ol' milk. I'm not saying it IS the goat's milk, just that I am not ready to dismiss it as the cause. It may be better on the hypothetical digestive system, but it doesnt' mean it's better on his. Just an avenue to explore.

Why do you know that the candida cleanse isn't the cause? Not doubting you...just asking. Herx's aren't comfy and even the most gentle of cleanses can have icky moments. BTDT! Is she waiting until more is cleared out before recolonizing?

Talk to your doc. She may be able to suggest something that totally fixes the situation. She knows the whole case we just know this wee little piece. In the meantime though castor oil packs and homeopathic remedies can work wonders!

[Liquesce]

The suggestion, fwiw, isn't to switch doctors due to an upset stomach ... the suggestion applies only in the event that, upon asking her, she does not have ideas that help and will not acknowledge that he may have a intolerance being aggravated by the goat's milk. In which case, whatever else she may be doing for your child, her advice would be serving to make him ill, not healthy. It sounds as though you're quite devoted to this doctor, and I would just hate for you to feel like you are bound by her advice in this matter.

[Chakra]

I'm not too sure why she does not have him on probiotics. I know it's not the candida cleanse because he started that before the switch to goats milk. He had/has no trouble with it. It's just a sugar starvation diet and fungex from precision herbs. My other kids and I are on it too.

I'm gonna call her tomorrow. For some reason today his jaundice is much worse and he's cranky. Maybe it's something else. Thanks for the tips. I will do the castor oil pack. Just have to google it now. =)

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by Liquesce

The suggestion, fwiw, isn't to switch doctors due to an upset stomach ... the suggestion applies only in the event that, upon asking her, she does not have ideas that help and will not acknowledge that he may have a intolerance being aggravated by the goat's milk. In which case, whatever else she may be doing for your child, her advice would be serving to make him ill, not healthy. It sounds as though you're quite devoted to this doctor, and I would just hate for you to feel like you are bound by her advice in this matter.

Exactly.

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by Chakra

I will do the castor oil pack. Just have to google it now. =)

Sorry I didnt' see this earlier. IT's one of the greatest home remedies ever and can do just about anything. All you do is saturate a flannel or washcloth with castor oil and heat it up so it's nice and warm. Then just apply it to the belly (or any affected part) for anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes. It's lovely and can be customized to the situation.

I went to a lecture series in school by one ND who feels that it's so important to do this that it's a prerequisite for his patients. And one of my very favorite ND's who I have learned just about everything from feels the same. I have to say, it's served me well.

It's an inexpensive tool, easy and safe that one should always have on hand. Fabulous for an astonishingly wide range of ailments.

[Koalamom]

I got some goats milk from my mothers goat and she feeds it brush, grass, and organic grain. She got the goat from a mass produced herd. I do really bad on the milk even raw or cultured, and my nursing 3 month old doesn't do good either through my milk after I have had it. But then I got milk from a different person from a really good line of goats and we are fine with the milk. So even though I have a place to get the milk free, I pay for it because it is not worth the health problems. Could you try switching the source of milk? And I agree that straight milk no matter what is not as good as cultured milk. I really like the Villi culture starter from culturesforhealth.com. It is a really mild starter and might be an option if you still want to use goats milk. If I had a 14 month old, I would be goving cultured milk way over non cultured. For a ocasional treat straight is fine, but daily, no.
Also my dd prefers nettles infusions over milk in a bottle. You have lots of options for a 14 month old.

[Chakra]

Cultured milk like in fermenting it into kefir?

[Satori]

What formula was he on? I think people would need to be familiar with the formula he was on so we know the original Dr's line of thinking as to why it was prescribed. Was it just a low fat formula? Or an elemental one? hydrolyzed? Fat malabsorption can be treated in different ways but in a kid with any kind of fat malabsorption there not doing to tolerate things with fat to well (ie, full fat milk like goats milk), it will often give them a tummy ache along with possible diarrhea or large/bulky stools.

I would be working on prescription strength digestive enzymes in a kid with fat malabsorption issues not increasing there fat load which will make them sicker.

Honestly I would seriously question that Dr's knowledge of your child's condition, you don't increase fat intake in a kid with fat absorption issues to make them healthy, you give them the food in a way that lets them absorb the nutrients even if thats an elemental formula or digestive enzymes. Sometimes our need kids need modern technology to live happy healthy lives and no amount of natural healing is going to work and sometimes we have to accept that. Heaven knows I had to and so have many other mama's here.