Going lactose free

[WestYorkshireGirl]

I have been exclusively BF my 16 week old DD. She has been quite demanding from the beginning in terms of feeding well and then being settled for 30 mins or so and then will cry (starting with a grizzle and working up to proper crying). She never naps in the day unless in the sling or on a long car journey, but not bad at night waking between once or 2/3 times. I have always fed her when I can distract her no longer or when she gets really upset as was advised that she was unlikely to be hungry so soon after 30/40 mins feed. I was advised to make her go 2 hours from the end of a feed if I could, but she has never lasted this long - she lasted an hour once. She was 6lbs, 4oz when born and now is nearly 9lbs so is a slow gainer, but otherwise fine. [I have since met with a Lactation Consultant and she has pointed out how inaccurate this earlier info was and that babies don't follow timings and I should feed whenever she wants for as little or long as she wants].

The GP and the Osteopath have suggested that the fact she lasts only 30 mins before getting upset might suggest she has a lactose intolerance and that I should cut out lactose for 2 weeks to see if this makes her any more settled. I have been doing some research into this, but wondered if anyone else has done this and what affect it had? Also, any ideas on what meals I can make? Thanks

I think lactose intolerance is extremely rare in babies - lactose is the sugar in milk, so breastmilk is full of it. Maybe your GP meant she could be dairy intolerant/cow's milk protein intolerant? That's much more common - though usually there are symptoms like digestive problems.

Have you tried feeding her as often and for as long as she likes, offering both sides at every feed, and seeing if that helps?

Yes, lactose intolerance is really, really rare in babes. Kellymom has some useful info on it here. There's also some info on dairy & other food sensitivities in bf babies.

I agree that your GP might well have meant allergic to cow's milk protein, in which case you would need to cut out all dairy completely (ie milk, butter, cream, yoghurts). You need to be really careful reading labels - milk is in lots of surprising foods, including bread, most margarines, some stock cubes and gravy powders. I have lactose intolerance, and recent meals I've eaten have been: roast dinners, casseroles, pies/flans made with shop-bought puff pastry (most sorts are dairy-free), omelette, spag bol (without cheese), cottage/shepherd's pie with mash made using oat milk / rice milk / soya milk and dairy-free marg, fish & potatoes/chips, pretty much anything with rice. It feels daunting at first but it's surprisingly easy to adjust IME.

It's very normal to only sleep in the sling or car at this age (my DS would only sleep in the sling then). How many naps do you manage to give her a day? Most babies that age need 3 or sometimes even 4 a day. The upset behaviour could be at least partly to do with overtiredness from not enough naps if she's not getting that many. It's tough - I spent most of my days pacing the streets, but it was well worth it to give DS the sleep he needed.

HTH

Agree with comments, and also would point out that you going without lactose will make no difference to your breastmilk - that has lactose in it whatever you do because it is the sugar in all milks.

I'd would be wary of any GP or osteopath that does not know this very basic fact.

Your baby sounds fine.