CMPA breastfed to formula? Told doesn't exist?

[bumblebee2235]

Been struggling for 3 months, retired midwife thought it was CMPA, went to GP and she did too. Due to health issues I've gone onto allergy formula. Baby was blotchy covered in rash, screaming 24/7 never sleeping, refusing to feed, loads of eczema also lots of stomach issues, spitting up, clawing at me and writhing around ect..

But I'm being berated from a few professionals (midwives and nursery helper against GP and other midwives)

Who say a breastfed baby can't have a dairy allergy so they are all wrong and I'm bad for trying formula.

I'm so upset, I'm desperate for her to get better it's been hell and full of worry.

So can anyone confirm it is possible breastfed babies can have allergies? I'm getting told such contrasting advice I'm losing the plot.

BF babies can definitely have allergies. Are you DF yourself OP?

Have you read Dairy and other food sensitivities from Kellymom? It's pretty informative

Of course a breastfed baby can have allergies!!! My breastfed baby had CMPA - we switched to formula but normal formula won't work, you need Nutramigen, which is formula for CMPA babies (its vile smelling but my now healthy baby loved it once she accepted the switch). Be aware that approx. 50% of CMPA babies are also allergic to soy so soy based alternatives won't work either.

They most certainly can, my daughter even reacted to different forms of dairy through my breastmilk eg she was ok with butter or cheese but not dairy in other forms. I then tested all her foods through my breastmilk which made life a lot easier. She was diagnosed with FPIES.

I'm not but her dad is, and also allergic to nuts.. her grandparents have loads of allergies too and chrons..there are lots of allergies in our family 😭

Thank you, I ended up crying haha felt I wasn't doing the right thing. Felt quite attacked. But I'm at the point I'd try anything, it's been awful 😢 I started it last night and she does seem different this morning, she has a completely different complexion and hasn't screamed when I hold her, she's even been smiling!

Also this morning for the first time since she's been born, she is laying on my lap quietly, drifting off. Normally she'd be kicking and hitting me and i would have to bounce her non stop.

My breastfed twins both have a confirmed dairy allergy. HV first recommended cutting dairy. GP confirmed it and referred to hospital. Two dietician appointments. We’re just starting the milk ladder now (14 months).

I’m sorry you’re having such a shit time! I find the key to all health professionals is to work out who are the nice ones and who are the assholes.

Hang in there OP.

Have you tried cutting dairy and soya (check every label) from your diet? Allergens can pass through breastmilk. It can take up to 21 days to clear from your system. Useful info here.

A lot of little ones with a CMPA allergy also have a soya allergy hence cutting both. Dairy and soya are in a surprising amount of things.

Having a job as a health professional doesnt mean that magically every word that comes out of their mouths is the gospel truth!

Any baby can have an allergy to anything once they have been exposed to it. The immune system doesnt go ‘oh but this baby is breast fed so I cant develop an allergy to this food etc’

Just keep any eye out for soya allergy too and potentially other foods and environmental triggers (like dust mites). Neocate or another amino acid based formula is the least ‘allergic’ type of formula if the dairy free one works a bit but not completely.

Thank you, I'm using the allergy formula. I'm on a meal plan and supplement nutrient drinks for my health issues, so cutting out a whole food group which the main thing in my meal plan is a bit too risky. I'm under a dietitian so would have to wait a month to even start changing my diet, which I feel is too long to leave my baby suffering 😭😭

Thank you, I was second guessing myself :( and just upset anyway with everything so it felt a bit like they were rubbing salt in my wounds and dissing me 😂

My son has a egg protein, cmp, and soy protein allergy. He was a miserable baby, screamed every second he was awake. Could only sleep 45 mins. I was EBF.
My HW advised i completely cut cmp. It made zero difference. Then when we introduced solids at 6ms he has violet allergic reaction to eggs. After the hospital trip a nurse very kindly mentioned that often children who are allergic to egg protein have cmp and soy allergies. I totally cut them all from my diet. And my son was like a different child. We had to FIGHT for a paediatrics referral to get these confirmed. At which point the doctor tried to tell me that an allergy would have to be incredibly severe for these allergies to have affected a EBF baby as other than dairy they cannot pass through breast milk. The lived reality still didn't seem to mean anything to them!

My DS3 was tested as allergic to 14 things when he was 9 months old. He was breastfed for the first 4 months and that is the only way he could have been exposed to some of the things he was allergic to as he had never eaten many of them. He is now a strapping teenager who just vomits if he eats peanuts or kiwi and that is the worst of it. He was also very allergic to dust mites and dogs (we dont have a dog!) which has persisted as has some pretty significant hayfever. But all in all I think he got off lightly based on what he started with.