BF Baby vomits all the time - Dairy Intollerance? Advice wanted from those in the know.

[BonzoDooTheyKnowItsXmas]

My DH and I have Asthma and eczema and (dust mite etc) allergies but no food allergies we know of. My nephew has a cow's milk intolerance but is happy with goat milk (may be mixed with lactose intolerance).

My DS is nearly 5 months old, exclusively BF, has eczema and vomits all the time. Vomits when he burps - a lot and then all the time as well - even up to 1 or 2 hours after his feeds .. not with wind and sometimes not a lot - I'd say 'a handful' (as I can usually catch it).
I gave up milk on cereal and in coffee for a few days and he puked a lot less (or so it seemed). When I started on the milk again it seemed he started puking again and after 2 days he had mucous in his nappy.

I've been to the Doctor who was hugely sceptical about a dairy intolerance but grudgingly sent the poo sample off for analysis. It came back borderline positive (0.5% reducing substances) so we are being referred to a paed for a RAST (?) blood test and a fresh stool sample.

Do these symptoms sound like anyone elses? What did you find? What did you do? I am BF so don't want to give up dairy and the calcium unnecesarily but will if I need to. Help ...

He's puked and puked and puked today ... about 15 times - creamy slimy stuff - not loads and he doesn't seem bothered but it is getting me down -everything stinks of sick.

could be reflux rather than food intolerance, it's unlikely to be an allergy as such. You could try goats and sheeps milk dairy yourself instead if being dairy free or try digestive enzymes like lactase. Make sure you do reflux things anyway like keeping him upright after feeds and raising the head of his cot.

Does sound possible reflux. As they were bottle and breast fed I was able to add Gaviscon infant to bottles. Was also prescribed medicine Domperidome which you could give before feeds via stringe into mouth or just off a spoon. Obviously has to be doc approved.

Sounds like my DD - she had reflux.

I gave him the gaviscon but he puled it back up again ... and it is really difficult getting it down a BF baby. The puking really did seem to reduce when I avoided the cow's milk. Will try again on the dairy free diet.

It could well be a dairy allergy or intolerance.

DS used to vomit a lot and it was diagnosed as reflux, but the meds did nothing. Turned out to be a dairy allergy. Unfortunately DD seems to be going the same way as she definitely pukes up more when I slip up and eat dairy .

There's no need for you to give up calcium as there are plenty of other sources. I have fortified Oatly in my tea and cereal and eat soya yoghurts. Oats and broccoli and dried fruits are also very good sources.

My ds was dairy intolerant when he was exclusively breast fed. The health visitor was , but he was.

He had such bad excema.I cut out all milk, but I still had cheese, and I think this is what did it - I feel so guilty when I look at his baby pictures.

I also could not have any tomato. He would power barf. The distance it could go!!!!

I would keep a food journal.

Good luck - I know it sucks!

BTW, he was quite sicky as well....he would just vom mucus alot. Poor little thing

trixymalixy (and LeoniedElf) how did you have the dairy allergy diagnosed? Were you BF exclusively? And How was weaning? thanks - will try the Oatly (Goat milk in tea is pukesville)

PurpleDuck Did you get diagnosed? Or just give up the dairy? My boy definately pukes less on the days I don't have cereal for breakfast. Will start the journal (does chocolate count as dairy

He didn't get diagnosed as no-one would believe me! Just gave me the standard "oooh, its very uncommon,,,bla bla bla" The first time he (accidently) had dairy you could see the welts forming as it went down.

I managed it the best I could, then took him to see a homeopath. This did wonders for him.

chocolate certainly does count as dairy unless you go for dark chocolate. After eights are dairy free though as are Sainsburys jaffa cakes.

You can get calcium supplements if you are worried about getting enough in your diet. Fish where you eat the bones (e.g sardines) are an excellent source of calcium.

google pyloric stenosis if its projectile vomiting.

my DD was milk intolerant and BF - and our bloody stupid HV told me to eat lots of dairy to help milk supply....silly sod. a BF baby can be milk intolerant. my DD lost weight, had seedy stools and terrible terrible colic with it. she ended up in hospital. it wasnt dx until she was 7 months though by which time id weened her in desperation.

explore all options.

Does sound like it could be reflux, both mine had it (DS1 was worse and projectile vomited after every feed). He also had eczema and we did a dairy exclusion (when he was 5mo and exclusively BF) which made no difference. RAST test was negative for dairy allergy (although came back highly allergic to egg).

When he went onto solids it did turn out that he had a mild intolerance to cows' milk -- he was fine with cheese, yoghurt etc but milk itself brought him out in hives. He has outgrown this, though, and is now fine with all dairy products.

If you are going to do an exclusion diet then it should really be done under the supervision of a dietician. You need to do it for at least three weeks and make sure that you eat absolutely nothing with any dairy in it.

Should add that with both DS1 and DS2 the reflux improved enormously around 6-7mo when a) they were on solids and b) were able to sit up.

Thanks all for the information.

vicarin he doesn't projectile vomit it just sort of slides out - usually about 2oz but up to 10 times in a day. He doesn't seem to even notice he's doing it so he isn't distressed by it (unlike my carpets). Your poor DD - you must really feel the Doctors failed her - to be sick that long.

tatt thanks for the sardine suggestion - and the jaffa cakes! VERY good to know.

MegBusset If you say I need to do the exclusing thing for three weeks then (selfishly?) I am going to wait til after Christmas (only 5 days away antway) - and then he will see the paediatrician in early January - so I can at least start the exclusion and see how we are by the time we see them. I may also try the Gaviscon again if you all think it may well be reflux ... cover all options.

It sounds like milk intolerance to me (common to have this and reflux together btw, so could be both).

You should see a diff within 2 weeks of giving up dairy. You will need to label check everything - milk is added to soooo much stuff. But it's worth it if that is the problem.

One of my nieces had terrible eczema that went when she was taken off dairy so it does happen.

In adults, excess mucous in poo can certainly be a sign of dairy intolerance, I'm not so sure about babies I'm afraid.

Remember too that it's not always just the lactose that causes intolerance. It can be the milk proteins such as casein and whey. Some people have more success they say with milk purely from Jersey/Guernsey cows as it is a different type of casein. Some stuff about it here www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/factsheets/FactA2milk.htm

Thanks Cantsleep have a consultant appointment in a week's time so can check with them and then do the exclusion if I need to.

AnAnutie that's a really interesting article. I'm going to track down some A2 milk and give it a try.

I was fairly intolerant of cows' milk until the age of about 7 and I am wondering if my baby is, too. She is exclusively breastfed and is 15wks old. She latched on perfectly for weeks then suddenly started to get hysterical and refuse the breast even when she seemed obviously hungry. At times - especially at night when she is half asleep- she latches on fine, but sometimes she still has problems latching on and screams but then usually goes on again. She has also been vomiting milk more. Her poo is a greeny yellow, not "korma" yellow. Planning to try giving up on cows' milk. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

Just to say it could still be reflux even if Gaviscon doesn't help - many babies with reflux respond better to domperidone and/or ranitidine (mine did).

Sorry Lexy can't really help as I'm just starting this myself.

Puddock thanks for the tips.

Hi bonzo, we have wipe clean floors / sofas and im thinking about some sort of waterproof tarpaulin affair for me with holes cut out in the appropriate places for breastfeeding

My ds is ohhh errr about 16 weeks ish and has been the sickyest of all of my 4.

You could have been describing him in your post!

He's perfectly happy, gaining weight, sole breastfed and voms constantly after a feed , before a feed, and anytime inbetween.

He is known as "The destroyer of bibs"

I have tried cutting out, caffiene,tea, coffee, curry, milk, oranges, tomatoes..... it goes on. I give up, it makes no difference to him at all. I have kept a food diary and he is randomly sickyer some days than others, I honestly cannot find even a vague link.

The gp has offered baby gaviscon to try in case it might help, but it just seems to make it projectile rather than the dribbley sick that was catchable!

I have come to the conclusion that, if he's thriving and growing and happy then I have to class it as a washing problem rather than a medical one.

We now have over 70 plastic backed bibs and a clothes peg type airer soley dedicated to drying them and a wipe clean house, I figure it can't last forever he is improving gradually! Hope you find an answer soon.

Oh btw, just in case it hasn't come up, never ever point your ds at your laptop. they are a bugger to clean.....

Thanks KitKat - you made me laugh a lot! Oh it is hard work and wearing isn't it. Like you say they are happy and healthy and gaining weight but just with this stinky vom coming out ... hmmm could you make me a tarpaulin when you make yourself one?

I haven't even bothered with bibs as the stuff rolls down him and onto whatever he is sitting in or lying on, or onto me. And with a bib most of it overshoots. We do have about 200 "sicky cloth" muslin squares though.

I'll let you know what the paediatrician says on our visit (if I can find you again).

btw how long did you give up any of your things you gave up? (I started a food diary but the amount of chocolate on there as it is Christmas made me blush .... must be stronger).

I'll make you one, but whatever you do don't answer the door it it!!!

I'm on here quite a bit i'm normally kitkatqueen so as you see I have a bit of a chocolate issue myself

I have been using the weight loss resources food diary for several months beause I needed to shift quite a bit of chub - 4 babies in 5 years, so i cut thngs out very reliably for a week or more at a time . (and lost 1.5 stone )

The best thing i've found so far for catching the vom is double bibbing. Asda do a pack of 20 cheap bibs with a waterproof back( dry in 10 mins), most of the time one is enough but if its a bad day i put an ordinary cloth bib on top to make it more absorbent, I have also been known to use a bulldog clip on a w/proof bib to hold it into a cup shape at the front. ~I also use a flexible tommy tippy bib with a w/proof one underneath (has stupid hole right at the top) on a normal day I get through about 30 - 50 bibs and it can take 25 mins to get him dressed because he voms on himself before i get the bib on.

The only think i have found that helps is feeding him so he is only laying on his left, seems to help the milk stay in his stomach, which thinking about the anatomy does make sense.

I also have a daft number of muzzys. I'tll pass even tho its a major nuisance.

Would love to know what the paed says. good luck

Good grief that's a LOT of bibs! But as you say it saves the clothes getting completely manked up. I may get some out of the bag and try the KitKatQueen double bibbing technique! Thanks.