Best probiotic/other supplements to help optimize 8 month olds digestive system

[DeChRi]

I will save the long history here, but DD3 is 8 months and has some severe and unidentified GI issues.  Initially it was presumed allergies, but likely is not.  They are now discussing eosinophilic disorders.  She was my 3rd BF baby (first two nursed a total of 6 years), TED's didn't even make a dent. She had failed 9 of 9 foods. Most meds make her sick. She currently is healthy and only on Neocate.  She has thrived on Neocate and been on that for 4 months.  I pumped a couple months, tried nursing her again, she became violently ill, and I quit.  Now that we are 4 months down the road, and they have yet to come up with a definative diagnosis (well, a few, but no main cause), I have decided to relactate and try BF-ing again.  She cannot stand the taste of BM (how ironic) so I have started take 1 oz BM to 5 oz Neocate to get her to take it. I am using frozen "clean" milk from my TED pumping days.  Likely it will all fail, BUT....

...what can I give her to really optimize her system?  She has been on so many meds to get her healthy, including a low dose of erythromycin for DGE that has left her with reoccuring thrush.  We still have a long road ahead, feeding therapy, etc....but I would really like to get her system in it's best shape while I am attempting to relactate and get her back on neutral ground.

Is there a specific probiotic supp (allergy safe) or any other things you would recommend to help?

Many thanks!

[crystleyz42]

Good for you for trying relcatation.  Sounds like you've been through a lot!  Hugs!

I just found this while snooping around in this forum today: http://journals.lww.com/jpgn/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=1999&issue=10000&article=00069&type=fulltext

I went to the health food store and bought some enzymes for myself since I'm suspecting part of the problem with our issue is my leaky gut -- not DS's.  I think my gut may be passing things into my bloodstream and milk that are irritating to his body.

http://www.nowfoods.com/Products/M102852.htm (says right on the label that it helps digest casein, whey, and soy protein).  And this: http://www.nowfoods.com/Products/M077103.htm

I can't tell you if they work or not yet, but I'm hopeful.

[bodhitree]

The probiotic I'm giving DD is Bio-K+. It's liquid, so it would be easy to give your little one. We get the kind that is grown on rice to avoid the soy and dairy that the other flavors are grown on. It does not say gluten free, but the only possible source of gluten that I see in the ingredients list is nutritional yeast (if it happens to be grown on barley). I'm not sure if it would be ideal for your DD with all her reactions, but it seems better than a lot of the other probiotic supps that I've seen.

Have you considered doing any home fermentation? I just started making water kefir and coconut yogurt, and DD loves them both. That would be another way to get probiotics into your DD's little belly where you would have a lot of control over what the ingredients are.

[Orionsmama]

So sorry to hear that your LO has so many tummy troubles. We use a probiotic in powder form called Maxi Baby-dophilus by a company called Country Life. It is in powder form. I usually put some on my nipples when BFeeding but it can be put into milk or cereal too. It does have trace amounts of Lactose and milk (what it states on the bottle) We picked it up at Whole Foods. I think it is in the refrigerator aisle. We keep ours in the fridge at home to keep the cultures active.

[momofmine]

I would consider Pharmax Neonate.  These are very high quality probiotics, although this one does have lactose, so maybe that wouldn't work for your little one.  I might call the nutritionists at this company and ask them which one they would recommend.  They are super helpful.  I know that some of their probiotics are dairy free and are grown from human strains.  Bifido bacteria are the type that is predominant in the infant gut.

http://www.rockwellnutrition.com/HLC-Neonate-Powder-by-Pharmax-Non-Returnable_p_60.html#tablist

[riomidwife]

unfortunately pharmax neonate has milk. i've heard this brand is awesome and i've been thinking about switching

http://www.customprobiotics.net/

[momofmine]

We used a plain acidophilus from Custom Probiotics in our early days on SCD years ago.