Has anyone BF a lactose intolerant baby

[Ray81]

DS1 is 7 weeks, I started out BF but he screamed constantly and despite him being DC3 I thought he wasn't getting enough BM so I stared combine feeding. He still screamed 24/7 back and forth to the docs and them telling me nothing was wrong but I knew there was so I took matters into my own hands and tried infasoy milk. Well it has been like magic he is a completely different baby hardly ever cries unless hungry, I just can't explain how much things have changed. The thing is I have cut out diary from my diet but whenever I feed him he still screams afterwards, has anyone else BF a lactose intolerant baby and can you give me some tips or are we doomed on the BF front.ni am still producing so would like to try and increase the BF and get him off the infasoy if I can.

Should say docs now agree that he is lactose intolerant.

If they have agree he's lactose intolerent then you can give the emzine to help in diest the lactose and BF. In fact you should be able to get it on persciption form your GP, although you can buy it yourself I belive it's quit expensive.

This is what NHS direct has to say
'Lactose intolerance is usually caused by a deficiency of the enzyme called lactase (a protein that causes a chemical reaction to occur). A lactase substitute is available that can be taken to replace the lactase that your body cannot produce.

The lactase substitute comes in liquid form (usually as drops) that can be taken before a meal or added to milk. This can be very effective in helping your digestive system to digest the lactose in the meal. You can also take lactase pills (lactase enzyme capsules) before a meal.

Both lactase enzyme drops and capsules are available from most health foods shops.'

Breastmilk contains lactose - it's the milk sugar that's in all kinds of mammals milk (in differing levels though).

True lactose intolerance is very rare and is usually diagnosed within days of birth and is genetic - breastfeeding is not possible in this case.

Secondary lactose intolerance can occur after gastroenteritis (or similar) and will get better - particularly if you breastfeed as BM contains factors that can heal the gut (cow's milk & formula don't contain these factors) - SLI is not genetic and is in response to an illness which damages the parts of the gut which makes lactase (this is the enzyme that digests lactose). How much or little dairy the mother eats has no bearing on how much lactose is in her milk as the level is species specific and not related to diet.

Cows' milk protein intolerance (CMPI) is an intolerance to the proteins that are unique to cows' milk (different proteins in human milk although some CMP can 'sneak' through into BM if the mother consumes them). This can be controlled by the mother not eating dairy though it can take 2 weeks or so for all the CMP to be removed from the mother's body. BFing is fine with CMPI if the mother avoids CMP.

HTH

Mcgrill I will ask doc about that although they haven't been very helpful up til now and told me I would be unable to BF which based on what Truthsweet has said seems to be the case.

Truthsweet thanks for that he is just lactose intolerant they haven't done any tests but the doc said given the change in him being on infasoy which has everything bar the lactose it is pretty obvious what the issue is. I am going to ask about tests as would like to know for definite but if too invasive wouldn't want to ifswim being as he is so young. Looks like I am going to be unable to carry on BF because I have been avoiding all lactose foods and he is still screaming when I feed him but not on the bottle so must be the lactose in my milk too. I am so sad about that as was hoping to BF to at least a yr but know I shouldn't feel quilty as is completely out of my control I was realy hoping there would be away around it.

Ray your baby almost certainly doesn't have primary lactose intolerance. It is diagnosed in the first few days of life because babies are so very ill. We are talking intensive care rather than screaming.

If lactose is the issue coleif provides a solution. Infasoy is lactose free but is also cmp free, if you are rigorously dairy free for two weeks your milk is also cmp free as truthsweet says.

Cmpi looks like a better fit for your experiences imo. If you decide not to bf speak about formulas with Gp or better pediatrician as other hypoallergenic formulas exist and may well be safer for young babies.

Actually if your Gp thinks Infasoy is only free of lactose in comparison to bm maybe try and see a different (better) one.

Ray - sorry - I should have made it clear your baby would have been desperately ill if they had congenital lactose intolerance (primary relates to adults who outgrow the ability to digest lactose i.e. most ethnicities apart from Northern European).

Congenital lactose intolerance manifests itself as life threatening diarrhoea (i.e. so severe the baby is in danger of dying from dehydration not just a touch of the runs) that resolves once lactose is removed from the diet. This is the kind of Lactose intolerance that makes BFing impossible (and for very good reason).

I think seeking a second opinion may well be a very good idea as it sounds like your GP doesn't understand the differences between the types of lactose intolerances and Cows' Milk Protein Intolerance (which are completely different things).

If it is CMPI then all forms of cows' milk must be removed (so not just swapping to lacto-free foods) - so no milk, cheese, cream, yoghurt, dairy based spreads, butter, foods containing whey powder, milk sugars (because they contain traces of proteins), casein, etc. A referral to a dietician to discuss this may help (they can support you in becoming CMP free and help you to choose appropriate foods).

i see you've already had great advice from truthsweet who has said exactly wht I was going to regarding lactose intolerance!

i have 2 cow's milk protein intolerant children however, they're also sensitive to egg, but once both of those were removed from my diet they were absolutely fine!

it's hard, but it's certainly possible to do

I am also bf a cows milk protein intolerant dd and she is also particularly sensitive to soy as well. I have to be extremely strict with my elimination diet as even the smallest slip up makes her sick. It was difficult at first but now I'm used to it. It will take a while for the proteins to leave your body for us I had seen a HUGE improvement within 4 weeks. A slight improvement was seen by 2 weeks.
She's 8 months now

I breastfed 2 lactose intolerant babies, breast milk on its own does not cause problems, it is the lactose that you consume, I went dairy free and the problem was sorted, also much easier as once you are at weaning stage you will need to know a lot about lactose and it is a lot easier to experiment on yourself. dont give up hope, if you still want to breastfeed your baby can still get all the benefits (and I lost a few pounds too).