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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Dairy intolerance in BF baby or unwell?

4 replies

Imnotbeverley · 04/02/2014 09:31

I am waiting for the doctor to call me back, but wondering whether anyone has experience of this (sorry for the long post)-

8week old DS EBF up to 6 weeks when we introduced a bottle of expressed breast milk mixed with formula at bedtime. Typically the mix will be 50/50 but can be more or less depending on how much I have been able to express the evening before. He isn't keen on the bottle but I may have to start doing occasional days at work in a couple of months so wanted him to be okay with taking one. No problems with his happiness or health. We use powdered aptamil first milk.

I suspected that he might not like cows milk products after I ate macaroni cheese when he was 3 weeks old and he sounded very congested the following night. I then cut out most dairy (but still ate a yogurt each day), no congestion since. Then on Sunday night I ate a fair bit of cheese. Yesterday DS was unsettled, barely slept and posseted a lot on 2 occasions (ie soaked his hair by doing it when on the changing mat). He typically poos whilst feeding and a couple of times I thought he was getting tummy pains and he would come off the boob and scream suddenly, then pass a small amount and carry on happily. He went to sleep fine in the evening but then throughout the night has become very very congested when lying down, coughing a lot (also when lying down).

No temperature, or obvious infection. I am wondering whether this is a simple cold, or if he is reacting to the cheese I ate? But if it is dairy, wouldn't the small amount of formula he's been getting have caused symptoms before now? Am I just overreacting to a cold?

Any advise or experience gratefully received! (Also, he is due to have his jabs today- should these be delayed if he isn't well?)

OP posts:
HighVoltage · 04/02/2014 09:38

Sounds like a cold to me - try making the room more moist by using a humidifier or just sticking a damp towel on the radiator at night. Raise the cot at the head end as well, that made the biggest difference for my DD - the sickness could be mucus collecting at the back of the throat and being at an angle will help it go down).

I used to think two of my DCs reacted when I had cheese but you're right, if he's ok with the formula it would indicate he's fine with dairy.

It made me feel better to cut down on dairy but if you do, do make sure you get enough calcium (fish with bones is a good source like tinned sardines and salmon).

Hope you're all feeling better soon.

stepmooster · 04/02/2014 09:41

My DD had cows milk intolerance. Her weight fell through the centiles, thankfully she was a big baby at birth. She was jaundiced and had to have lights, then she just used to scream hour after hour, arching her back, sick, possetting, it was awful. Lots of dirty, runny nappies. I was trying to BF but also trying to give her FF but she just wouldnt take it. I could tell she was in agony during those first 2 months of her life.

We tried everything for reflux, and we used gaviscon in her EBF and FF bottles. It just didnt solve the issue. In the end a very experienced HV told me to try and cut out all cows milk from my diet, and that includes the stuff they add to things like stock cubes and bread. It worked, she fed better, and started to gain weight properly.

On the other hand I hear that cows milk intolerance can also cause constipation as well. And each baby is different.

I think it can take up to 2 weeks for the protiens to leave your milk properly, and maybe up to 2 weeks more for it to leave their system.

My DS has always had congestion problems since birth, it means he is always taking in air when he feeds and therefore gets hideous wind problems. It's eased off now he is older but he has a cold now and he is definitely having problems feeding. We use that calpol nasal spray.

I think your best bet is to take your baby to the doctor for some advice.

stepmooster · 04/02/2014 09:42

oh yes if you do give up dairy, you must do so with doctors advice, you need proper calcium supplement tablets.

naty1 · 04/02/2014 10:25

I agree allergies seem to cause some babies reflux.
Only you can really say if its a cold.
Coughing could be reflux.
I wouldnt vaccinate today if you thing he is ill.
Any allergies in the family?
How long has he been on the formula?
Mine reacted to soya which is in a lot of milk products and formulas

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