[Mama Poot]

I'm new to this area, so I apologize if this question has already come up before. Here is the story: My 12 month old was weaned at 6 months due to a new pregnancy, severe illness, I tried to continue but was just too weak and ill. So formula was started. We started with cows milk formula, but it made him extremely constipated and fussy, so we switched to soy. That's what we've stayed with until now, but we want him off the formula because even the soy still causes problems. So I talked to the ped and he said give whole milk a try- just an ounce or two mixed in with the formula. So last night I did just that....even though I was worried about the results. Well the results were disastrous. My poor son woke up about an hour and a half after ingesting the cow's milk screaming in pain. DH could feel him passing gas and his stomach grumbling and gurgling as he tried to calm him down. He passed a not-very-nice looking bowel movement, but was still distressed. I just gave birth a little over a week ago to our second son, and I decided to pump some milk for DS#1. Of course it calmed his stomach instantly and he went back to sleep.
So what on earth happened last night? Was this an allergic reaction or is my son lactose intolerant? I am very scared and I can't stand to see my baby in pain, and the thought of going through all sorts of tests..

We are considering goat's milk for DS and have already located a source, however the ped told me if this is lactose intolerance then the goat's milk won't help because the proteins are the same. ANY advice and experience you have with this is greatly appreciated.

 

[mhr1406]

Try hypoallergenic formula maybe......Nutragenimin (not sure of spelling)

 

[MovingMomma]

It isn't likely that a 12 month old is lactose intolerant, so I'd lean towards allergic. This page has lots of info: http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns...nsitivity.html

I hope the ped didn't actually call lactose a protein. The proteins in cow milk and goat milk are similar enough that most people who are allergic to cow milk cannot tolerate goat milk either, but lactose is a milk sugar that is present in cow milk, goat milk, breastmilk, etc.

If you are open to the idea you might try reintroducing him to the breast. Or at least pump more for him. If you do this, though, be aware that it is possible for the proteins in diary products that you consume to pass into your breastmilk.

 

[Mama Poot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MovingMomma If you are open to the idea you might try reintroducing him to the breast. Or at least pump more for him. If you do this, though, be aware that it is possible for the proteins in diary products that you consume to pass into your breastmilk.

I have tried to get him to nurse again, but no luck. He's very attached to his bottle. I am going to start pumping a little after every time his brother feeds. So far I've only been doing it either in the morning or evening. I did think about the dairy in my own diet, and I am ready to give it up entirely if its going to cause a problem. Another post mentioned hypoallergenic formula... I don't know if a doctor could actually write a prescription for this, but WIC doesn't have it, and that's the only way we've afforded the formula we have him on now. Maybe insurance would cover a portion of the cost...I don't know.

 

[Missy]

Nutramigen and Alimentum both contain intact dairy proteins; so if it's a severe dairy allergy, there's a good chance they won't work for you. Also, many soy formulas still contain dairy protein, so conceivably that could have been an issue.

And like MovingMomma said, I really hope your ped didn't refer to lactose as a protein. But, over 90% of people with dairy allergies are also allergic to goat's milk so that usually not an option. I think it's awesome that you're willing to try to eliminate and pump for your son and, if that works, that's definitely your best option.

Missy

 

[Mama Poot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Missy Also, many soy formulas still contain dairy protein, so conceivably that could have been an issue. Missy

OMG... Ok how would I find out if the formula I give him has dairy in it??

 

[flitters]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MovingMomma It isn't likely that a 12 month old is lactose intolerant, so I'd lean towards allergic. This page has lots of info: http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns...nsitivity.html

I just wanted to point out that there are more ways to be intolerant to milk than true lactose intolerance, or true milk allergy. My son, for instance, has been extremely sensitive to dairy since he was born (I still don't drink milk or eat cheese because at 21 months that still bothers his tummy). He happily consumes yogurt and butter. He does not have a milk allergy. He digests my (human, hahahha) milk very well. He does not have a lactase enzyme deficiency (lactose intolerance). Uncultured dairy wreaks havoc on his tummy. Neither milk allergy or lactose intolerance, but another form of dairy intolerance.

 

[flitters]

forgot to add:

my son also could not tolerate soy for the first year or so of his life (meaning I could not drink soy milk).

it sounds like you'll need to use a hypoallergenic formula. i'm not well versed in how much formula you need, as opposed to other foods, but one thing that may work for him (my son loves these) is the yobaby drinkable yogurts. they are whole milk, organic, and go through a straw quite well so would probably work with a bottle with a BIG hole. ???

good luck!

 

[JaneS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flitters I just wanted to point out that there are more ways to be intolerant to milk than true lactose intolerance, or true milk allergy. My son, for instance, has been extremely sensitive to dairy since he was born (I still don't drink milk or eat cheese because at 21 months that still bothers his tummy). He happily consumes yogurt and butter. He does not have a milk allergy. He digests my (human, hahahha) milk very well. He does not have a lactase enzyme deficiency (lactose intolerance). Uncultured dairy wreaks havoc on his tummy. Neither milk allergy or lactose intolerance, but another form of dairy intolerance.

:

There are many things which could be going on here rather than an "allergy" per se.

Pastuerized cow's milk proteins are packed more tightly together, harder to digest.

Lactose intolerance is a result of missing the enzyme lactase and is usually a result of damage to gut flora, intensive probiotics will restore it.

How your body digests food properly is greatly dependent on your gut flora. Of which formula can wreak havoc with.

Gotta go but will be back...

 

[Missy]

If the re-intro to dairy left him screaming, I don't see how it's worth the risk to try other dairy products at this point, regardless of the success others have had.

Some soy formulas still contain casein or whey; some, I've read, are x-contaminated because of processing. I wish I had more specific info, but our son is allergic to both dairy and soy, so neither would have been an option if I'd needed formula. I learned a lot from http://kidswithfoodallergies.org, which used to be the yahoo group POFAK. I'm no longer a member, but it's a great resource and definitely worth it, particularly at the beginning, when everything seems overwhelming. There are members who deal with the entire range of allergies and intolerances.

Missy

 

[flitters]

I mentioned the yogurt because I find it helpful to learn about feeding options for my [uncultured-dairy, gluten, berry, nut]-intolerant child.

If Mama Poot (or some future reader scanning this thread) decides one day to try dairy again for her ds, yogurt would possibly be a good starting point.

Yogurt does have nutritional benefits that can be considered if it is not a true milk allergy (which is may be, of course, in which case yogurt would be inappropriate).

Also, perhaps not yobaby, but other yogurt/kefir drinks can be bought / made on a budget.

Just information, not instruction.

 

[JaneS]

I want to speak to the "intolerance" issue:

While I'm no so sure you are not dealing with a dairy allergy, the *form* of milk that you are giving needs to be considered. Does the soy formula contain lactose? Breastmilk (and raw milk) contains lactose but also the enzyme lactase that help digest it. BM lactose is also a diff. kind. So I don't think you can rule out lactose intolerance here.

I assume is was regular grocery store milk you tried him on? Raw milk and pasteurized milk are very different milks. I'm constantly meeting people IRL who cannot handle pasteurized at all and do wonderfully on raw. Raw contains digestive enzymes, probiotics, etc. In addition to more nutrients b/c heat treatment of pasteurization kills off a number of them and make the minerals harder to absorb. And more easily digestable proteins and fats as well b/c heat makes them harder to digest.

www.Mercola.com has a number of great articles entitled, "Why you don't want to drink pasteurized milk." I personally think that because it's so hard to digest, it is responsible for milk allergies.

If you were always seeing problems with the soy formula, it's very probable that his digestive system is not working very well as a result. Continually eating a food that causes gut damage, only can lead to more gut damage.

How are his poops otherwise? How exactly is he not doing well on soy?

And yes, there are a lot of problems with soy, personally I think it should be banned. If I ever had to give my babe a "formula", it would be real food, based on raw milk or the liver formula here:

http://www.westonaprice.org/children/index.html

When my DS weaned at 26 mos, his digestion totally went down the tubes and he tolerated many many less foods than before. So I will tell you with this in mind, that although extremely hard, I vote for pumping for your DS b/c you never know what you may be facing in the future if he has digestive issues now.

I highly recommend getting some non dairy probiotics in to him to rebuild his intestinal lining, Natren and Metagenics make some. Also cod liver oil is excellent b/c the vitamin A is essential for rebuilding the gut and can contribute to gut damage as a result of deficiency (and no, formula vit. A is not sufficient b/c it's chemical form.)