Lactose levels in breastmilk

[Readytoburst]

My 11wo is showing signs of a cow's milk/lactose intolerance. She slept through the night last night for the first time (hurrah) but has vomited every drop of milk she's had from me this morning. No warning just brings the whole lot up. She's not bothered and doesn't want any more. I'm wondering if, as the milk has been in there a while, it's got too much lactose in it for her? Would colief help? She was on it but it ran out and takes a few days to get a prescription. Am tempted to buy some this morning. Any ideas?

If this is the first time this has happened then it could be a whole host of things. Including being a one off and 'just one of those things'.

It's not the first time but hasn't happened for a while.

Lactose intolerance in a bf baby is incredibly rare (and if congenital it would hopefully picked up with the heel prick test or shortly after birth). Other signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance are discussed here.

Has reflux/phyloric stenosis been brought up by HV/GP with regards to her vomiting?

If she has a cow's milk protein allergy then you would need to go on an exclusion diet and eliminate diary in all it's forms (milk, butter, yoghurt, cheese, whey powder, etc, etc). Colief would not help with CMP allergy though unless also present with lactose intolerance.

If there was a long break between feeds then it could be oversupply or that you have a fast let down, this sometimes happens with DD2 if I leave it too long between feeds because she takes it too much too fast and then suddenly projectiles everywhere. More info here

I've been to the dr regarding reflux but they were useless and gaviscon made her very sick! She has some silent reflux but the main problem is with dairy. I had wanted to be moving over to formula by now but can't as it makes her sick. I avoid most dairy. I'm seeing a paediatrician on Tuesday for an unrelated problem but am hoping she'll help with this too.

I think too that it is really unlikely to be lactose intolerance in such a young breastfed baby. It would do her no harm for you to go on a complete dairy exclusion diet just to cover all bases but personally I think it is more likely a reflux problem.

Is she gaining weight ok?

Have you spoken to a BF counsellor? They should be more knowledgeable than your GP. Here is a list of LLL groups.

Weight gain is fine. Reflux isn't a huge problem, dairy is. She is rarely sick but shows many signs of cows milk intolerance and I was gluten intolerant as a child it's likely I'll have passed on some sensitivity. I want to stop bf so I'm not sure what a bf counsellor can do to help. I just wondered if the 'old' milk that had been building up over night could have been higher in lactose therefore upset her.