[tenecwalker]

I'm almost certain Luke has a milk allergy or at least a sensitivity. Since my supply has been down so much due to my pregnancy we tried introducing milk. Well, it caused him to poop constantly including several times in the middle of the night. It was so bad his butt was bleeding. We cut it out as soon as I figured out the connection. He also has some formula when he still acts hungry after nursing. He is still pooping around 3-5 times per day, occasionally at night. He used to only go once a day or every other day. I think it is the formula since it is milk based. He refused to drink soy formula. Can't say I blame him and I really don't want to do soy anyway. Any idea on what I should try as a milk alternative? I thought of goats milk, but from what I read it has the same properties as cows, but with smaller proteins. So, it makes it easier to digest, but that it is common for those that have cow milk issues to have goat milk issues. I plan on talking to the ped about testing and what she thinks at his well baby check next week, but I figure she will just suggest soy and I don't really want to go that route.
He has been a horrible sleeper since birth and is also on meds for reflux. What type of testing should I seek?

 

[Mrsboyko]

As a nursing mom, are you off dairy too? If he is just reacting to it directly, not through you, he may only have a sensitivity, not a true allergy. The good news is that it means he would probably be fine with goat milk. That said, if he is not, you would know pretty fast. Google "rice milk formula" for supplamentation if he can't have goat milk. We have had DD on rice milk a few times a day since about 14 months old, mostly at day care. I am not sure how old your son ins, but if you have him on any soilds, adding fat (oils) to them will make up for any lack of fat in the supplamental formula. We cover most foods DD gets with olive oil, she loves it.

 

[tenecwalker]

I am not off dairy, because this has all happened within the last couple of weeks. It all started after we introduced the straight cows milk and then the formula. We have cut out the cows milk completely. He is still getting a small amount of formula, because right now I don't know what else to use. He wasn't having the excessive pooping/nasty butt rash when just nursing. But he was sleeping horribly and has reflux. He will be one on Friday.

 

[changingseasons]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrsboyko As a nursing mom, are you off dairy too? If he is just reacting to it directly, not through you, he may only have a sensitivity, not a true allergy. The good news is that it means he would probably be fine with goat milk.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with both of those points. They are possible, but definitely not probable.

If your babe only reacts directly and not through BM, it just means that you don't have a leaky gut that is allowing those proteins through into your BM. It could still be a true allergy.

And there are actually very few babes that can tolerate any kind of milk if they have a cow's milk allergy/intolerance.

I think that if you have to supplement with formula, you should probably look into an elemental formula. Or I think there is a rice based formula that someone around here found at Whole Foods.

I also would not do soy formula- many babes that are allergic to milk are also allergic to soy.

Oh- and the poor sleeping and reflux are most likely because of the dairy allergy, so those should improve if you cut out dairy 100%. Check my blog (link in sig) for some 'hidden' dairy ingredients (like processed meats, coating on non-organic produce, etc.)

 

[tenecwalker]

Thanks. I will check out the links. From what I had read most cannot do goat or sheep milk. I don't know that he technically needs formula since he is a year and eats solids well. But I feel like he needs something at least until my milk comes back, since he often is not satisfied after nursing. I definitely want to steer clear of soy. What do you think about hemp or rice milk?

 

[Mrsboyko]

Of rice or hemp, i would go with hemp milk. We had no local source for hemp milk till recently and now DD will not drink it. Hemp is higher in fats, lower in sodium and lower in sugar than rice milk. I am still trying to get her to take it, but she is stubborn.

 

[changingseasons]

I would go with hemp too. Rice milk, even enriched, is basically water with synthetic vitamins added- it has almost no nutritional value. Hemp milk is pretty yummy too- especially the chocolate!!

:

 

[Ruthla]

Rice "milk" is nutritionally more like juice than milk. It's fine in moderation, is great for baking with, but it's NOT a breastmilk substitute.

If you're not vegetarians, you might want to take a look at a homemade meat-based formula, or at least substituting lots of bone broth in lieu of milk. IIRC, bone broths are high in minerals and fats, but don't contain as much protein or carbs than milk. Actually, I'm not sure about the protein part. But if the baby is also eating solids for extra carbs and total calories, then broth can be used in place of milk as a beverage to "top off" after nursing.

 

[tanyalynn]

We eat a lot of eggs, they're nice for fat and cholesterol--my kids are older, 2.5y and just turned 5, and I know at some age dietary cholesterol isn't considered technically required, but I feel good about the cholesterol anyway. And Ruthla's point of homemade stock/bone broth is a good one, it's very soothing on the digestive system, so it's good for all of us with allergies, and it's high in minerals that are in an easily-digestible form. It's not an easy, drop-in replacement for milk, but the nutrition is similar.

 

[tenecwalker]

Thank you everyone for all the replies and ideas. I think I will look for hemp milk for now and go from there.

 

[kjbrown92]

If he's had reflux and poor sleep from birth, I would definitely take milk out of your diet (and personally, I'd take out the soy too). If you go to www.reflux.org there are forums there for reflux kids, and SO many of them (I'd say close to 95% if not 100% and those people who say they aren't just haven't found the triggers, but that's purely speculation) have food intolerances, mostly dairy and soy (gluten is the next one on the list, then corn). He's probably been reacting to it in your diet all this time (with the reflux and sleep issues) and you just didn't realize it until he had the big dose of milk.

At 1 year, we did enriched rice milk for DS and DD, though knowing what I know now, I should have forced them to nurse longer (both weaned early and wanted no part of me or my milk after that) and I would have done formula for the second year of life. Not that they were ever in danger nutritionally, but I think it would have been healthier.