Lactose intolerant bf baby - does DSis need to give up lactose herself?

[Sahkoora]

7 week old DNephew has a lactose intolerance, and my DSis is struggling to find any decent advice so I thought I would ask the wise MNers for her.

Our HV is notoriously useless when it comes to dishing bf advice, both of us are experienced bfers so we usually know when she's talking bs, but this is the first time (with 5 kids between us) that we've dealt with intolerances and googling has turned up conflicting advice.

Should DSis go lacto free herself? Dnephew has the occasional bottle of lactose free formula while DSis is at work and he seems much less uncomfortable and gassy than he does after a bf. HV insists DSis does not need to change her diet though.

Thanks to you all.

has it been confirmed as lactose intolerance as its extreamely rare. lactose intolerance
this is a good page also

Lactose intolerance is a fairly common thing in babies which they tend to outgrow, and yes mum should go lacto free if she is breast feeding.

You sure it's not cows milk allergy?
There is lactose in breastmilk (whether you eat it or not, there is lactose in all milk) so no point in her giving that up, although if it's an allergy to cow's milk protein then small amounts of that can be passed through, I think.

No need for mum to be lacto free. Pointless and difficult. Very rare for babies to be born with LI. Your sis needs some better advice.

There is lactose in all milks, unrelated to the maternal diet.

Babushka, where have you got your info from?

Sorry. Babashka. Channelling Kate bush there :)

Lactose intolerance is a fairly common thing in babies which they tend to outgrow

A friend of mine's LO was lactose intolerant and was told that it's very, very rare. She just couldn't bf (it contains lactose with or without it in her diet) and he had to be on a prescribed and enormously expensive formula. He was really sick and is allergic to numerous other things when weaned. Has your Dnephew been diagnosed/treated by a paediatrician? Sounds like your sister needs better advice.

As PPs have said, lactose intolerance is extremely rare. It is far more likely to be an allergy to cows milk. It is very important to get the baby to a paediatrician so they can be properly diagnosed. Breast milk contains lactose so if it is a lactose intolerance then the baby may need to be fed on prescription formula only. If it's dairy intolerance then your sister can just avoid dairy if she wants to continue bf-ing, or paed can prescribe something like Neocate. Good luck

DS has a cows milk protein and soy allergies. I breastfed him for 2.5 years by excluding them from my diet. It's not for everyone but you soon adjust to what you can and can't eat. Kellymom has some good info on it. Feel free to PM me if it helps.