Milk intolerance - anyone know anything about it?

[MamaMia100]

DS (8mo) has been constipated since starting solids 2 months ago. Been on lactulose for several weeks which made no difference and eats loads of fruit, veg, prunes, prune juice etc. Recently his surgeon (had a kidney op - separate issue!) suggested it might be a milk protein allergy. Does anyone have experience of this? We are waiting for an appointment with an allergy specialist for tests etc but in the meantime I'm trying an elimination diet. What I am confused about is:

• can he eat eggs? Surgeon said eggs were dairy but I don't see why - they're not from cows!
• do I have to cut out everything (eg butter, small amounts of milk powder in foods etc)
• are sheep's milk, goat's milk, buffalo milk and cheeses ok?
• I am breastfeeding, presumably I also need to cut it out if my diet, which is v difficult as I'm vegetarian so if I can't eat eggs or cheese I'm not sure where I'll get protein from!

Any advice or info much appreciated!!!

Firstly, milk protein allergy and milk intolerance are two different conditions. If the consultant thinks it may be milk allergy then you will need to cut ALL dairy from your child's diet. Eggs are NOT dairy but they are another common allergen and a number of children allergic to milk are also allergic to eggs but I don't see any reason to assume that is the case with your DS. As for breastfeeding, it really does depend on the severity of the allergy. Some babies react to even the smallest amount of cow's milk protein passed through breast milk while others are fine. I would see how he goes after removing dairy from HIS diet and then if no significant improvement, try removing it from yours too. Sheep/goat milk etc is NOT suitable for those with cow's milk allergy as the protein is so similar. If you do have to remove dairy from you diet, you could try oat milk and dairy-free spread like Vitalite or Pure. It's very important to keep a diary during the elimination diet to keep a record of any changes in your son's symptoms.

freefrommum has pretty much covered it but I wanted to add that in my experience I need to eliminate all dairy from my diet as well.

My dd is 8 months too and as I'm now mix feeding she's only having about 3-4 bf per day. I've just tried reintroducing dairy to my diet, just in biscuits, and a little bit of cheese but she's been very itchy the last few days so it's back to dairy free for me again.

It does get easier to shop once you're used to reading labels and know which items are ok.

Also you it can take a few weeks to really see an improvement.

Is your son veggie too? DS appears to be dairy intolerant and we've just started weaning. Currently waiting for a dietition appt but there aren't any free until august. I bought a couple vegan resource books off amazon - the rose Elliot one which didn't help me much and another one on vegan diet for pregnancy, breastfeeding and weaning (cant remember what its called - might be published/endorsed by the vegan six) which was quite helpful.

is there an argument which says if he didn't react to dairy in your bm before, there's no reason to change your diet?
I really don't know.

I used to be veggie (now eat fish) and stopped eating dairy when DS was 6 weeks (back in November). He also has a problem with soya which is more limiting. I found pure butter, oatly, quorn chunks and mince (not fillets which have milk) were a godsend and peanut butter, veggie pate and baked beans.

When we go visiting folk I tend to take milk, pure and peanut butter because then I can always eat!

I am permanently hungry though and tend to crave salty fatty foods like crisps and nuts but I'm over half a stone lighter than I was when DS was conceived!

Wow! Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and advice :)

I think it was a milk protein intolerance he surgeon thought he might have (mainly because his own daughter had one that presented with constipation, not actually his area, he's a urologist). Would I need to stop eating dairy if it was an intolerance rather than an allergy, and would he (and I) still be allowed sheeps/goats milk or is that out whichever it is? TIA xx

I think it depends. I have friends who are dairy intolerant but are fine with goat cheese and milk although ds reacts the same to cow and goat. It caused some problems when we went to stay at new year and I offered to take milk - meaning oat milk - they said not to worry, they had some but when we got there they only had goats milk. Not insurmountable; I ate a LOT of toast that weekend!

As freefrom suggests, it depends on the severity of the allergy/intolerance as to whether you cutting things from your diet would make a difference. If you want to confirm whether he reacts to dairy, then you might both have to give it up and then add things in to see what he will tolerate from you and what he can tolerate directly. So you could give up all dairy for 3 or 4 weeks to see if it makes a difference and then try adding in goats milk to see if anything changes and they a week or so later try adding sheeps milk and then a week or so after try adding cow back in and then slowly try reintroducing the same things into his diet.

I know ds can tolerate me drinking lactofree formula; I have yet to try him on it directly (it is utterly disgusting) but his reaction to cows milk and goats cheese tell me not to give him those things yet. We're doing the same with sesame and soya too.

Did the urologist refer you to anyone or did he just sow the seeds of concern in your mind and leave you to get on with it?

My DD had constipation after starting solids and we were told by paediatrician it was lactose intolerance. We cut it from mine and my DD diet as I was BF but no improvement. We took her off lactulose and things improved. Her eczema didnt improve but worked out that was citrus. Just before we went to see paed again the letter came which said cows milk protein intolerance which is different to what he told us. He suggested we try her on milk again and see what happens. We now give her food with milk in and she has it with cereal but she cannot drink milk and cannot eat yoghurt without being sick so think tha must be too much for her. She can manage fromage frais but her poo has become very smelly since having it.

Without wanting to jump in on the thread does anyone know if smelly poo is linked to milk intolerance?

Dont really want to cut it out again as am concerned about calcium intake now she has turned 1 but don't want to continue to give her milk if it is upsetting her tummy!

Hope you are making progress! X

Worringfortherestofmylife - My Baby has very smelly poo if I have any milk by mistake (she's on solids, but still has my breastmilk). Her poo is usually lighter when that happens and much looser than usual (like runny scrambled egg). It only lasts one nappy, then she's fine again. She can get a sore botty/tummy cramps too. Depends how much milk has gone through me.

If concerned about calcium and can tolerate soya, try using alpro soya milk and yoghurts all alpro products (except organic versions) are fortified with calcium and vitamin D.

Hope that helps!

40% of babies allergic to milk r also allergic to soya which is something else to consider :)

Yeah! A lot of Babies are intolerant/allergic to both milk and soya, but I would deal with one thing at a time, unless specifically advised otherwise. Oh and re. protein, it might be worth consulting with some Vegans. They manage without eggs or cheese. I think nuts, beans & pulses are their main source of protein (which is why it may not be wise to cut out soya, just yet). The Vegan Society might be a good place to start. They seem to have recipes and stuff on their website. www.vegansociety.com/