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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Colief lactose free milk

28 replies

Cupcakesandlove · 18/12/2015 10:11

Hi,

I have birth to a little girl 4 weeks ago and she had always had problems with wind, as I increased her formulae she became irritable and in pain. Of an evening she would take 4:5 hours to settle and would cry constantly and we were unable to settle or comfort her... After much googling I tried infacol and gripe water they all helped with the wind but not what appeared to be a chronic gut ache, she would projectile vomit go red in the face bring her knees up to her chest clench her fist and arch her back all signs of colic... I then read up on colief which breaks down the lactose in the milk. This is now working fingers crossed I'm now wondering is it worth putting her on lactose free milk... Has anyone done this and it cause problems? May I add my cousin also suffered from this when he was born and while I was pregnant I was unable to tolerate dairy (this may be linked)

OP posts:
tiktok · 18/12/2015 10:14

This sounds like it's been a hard time, cupcakes - poor wee dd :(

Speak to your HV or doc about lactose-free milk. It's normally only used with babies who have a diagnosed inability to digest lactose.

Original poster
Cupcakesandlove · 18/12/2015 10:18

Hi yeah I did speak to her she thinks she can't digest the milk and we have a review on Tuesday.
I was just wondering if anyone had gone from using the drops to lactose free milk and found out it didn't work. It's just such a pain to make the bottles as I have to keep them refrigerated for a min of 4 hours before use so I'm throwing away milk - of course if it works for the baby I don't care but would like to be able to feed on the go which again is hard as I have to wait 30min before feeding...

OP posts:
Original poster
Cupcakesandlove · 19/12/2015 21:08

Hi I've just thought If I put my daughter on the lactose free milk will she forever be lactose "intolerant" I know she technically isn't and just can't break down the lactose...but I've been advised that she should grow out of it by 4/6 months however if she's on the lactose free milk is this how it will stay for us forever

OP posts:
Original poster
Cupcakesandlove · 19/12/2015 21:08

I'm shattered sorry if it didn't make sense

OP posts:
NewBallsPlease00 · 19/12/2015 21:15

Are you BF or ff?
I am I. Similar situation, BF, since giving up all dairy a few weeks ago we've seen a huge improvement
I think I have accident it had some dairy (have eaten out and places are shockingly poor at actually understanding what it is.., eg potatoes drowning in a buttery sauce not mentioned on menu sent back only to be resent with it on the side) and straight away it was the same discomfort again
Keep your baby upright post feed, baby massage, use a dummy as the acid is reduced when the saliva goes frequently into guy, and I rave about a sling I've borrowed as my dc will sleep in it and I'm hands free...
This phase will pass

Original poster
Cupcakesandlove · 20/12/2015 02:56

Hi I'm FF, what about later on though shall I change her milk? If so do I change it forever or only a few months? Will she ever be able to digest the milk? I would get a gp appointment but I can't as Christmas

OP posts:
frangipani13 · 20/12/2015 03:10

My baby had reflux and we have tried the colief drops they seemed to help the had but the only thing that has helped the projectile vomiting is omaprazole and special hydrolysis formula (nutramigen). You are only supposed to keep made up feeds for 2 hours so try to make up feeds as you need them...the tommee tippee perfect prep machine has helped us immensely with this. Definitely keep on at your Dr with this- we have tried everything so far!

frangipani13 · 20/12/2015 03:10

Apparently most grow out of their intolerance after a year

ParsnipSoup · 20/12/2015 03:30

It's incredibly rare for a baby to be lactose intolerant (almost never happens), what babies tend to have is cows milk protein allergy. This means they react to the protein in cows milk products rather than not having the right enzyme to break down lactose which is a sugar.

Worth trying to see a paediatrician and seeing if they will prescribe a hydrolysed formula. The lactose-free formula won't make things totally better because even though it's slightly easier to digest it still has the cows milk proteins which cause an allergic reaction. Most children do grow out of this and manage fine on normal milk later on.

Original poster
Cupcakesandlove · 20/12/2015 19:46

Frangipani thank you for replying the instructions in the colief bottle state that I have to keep it in the fridge for 4 hours prior to feeding to DD - also I was told that a made up bottle could be stored for 24 hours.... Is this not right? If I were to make feed up there and then I have to add the drops and wait 30 min before feeding but as you can imagine I can't pin point exactly when she will want feeding it is every 4 hours but may be out by half our or 10 mins... It's hard to keep her from crying for half an hour so the drops work!

Hi parsnip- thank you as well. Yeah I am aware that lactose intolerance is very rare I'm not sure what the problem is all I know is the colief is what is working for her so I'm only assuming I will ask for a referral on Tuesday

OP posts:
frangipani13 · 21/12/2015 05:01

No definitely don't keep bottles for 24 hours, 2 at the most. As long as you aren't putting the drops into very hot milk you should be OK. Agree with the advice to see a paediatrician we are waiting for a referral too.

frangipani13 · 21/12/2015 05:02

Before I got the perfect prep machine we were keeping a flask of warm boiled water ready to make up feeds as and when needed

captainproton · 21/12/2015 05:16

It sounds like cows milk protein intolerance. You need to speak with your GP as they can prescribe formula for those babies intolerant. Be aware that soya protein is similar to cows milk protein and it's not recommended to use soya formula as a replacement.

Be warned though that the formula such as neocate or aptamil pepti is expensive and the GP will try you on infant gaviscon first and perhaps other medicines. If you push for a paediatric referral you will probably get the right formula quicker.

Also you are going to need proper advice when it comes to weaning as things like milk, soya and egg products have to be introduced slowly. This is because these babies have a greater chance of a food allergy.

As referrals can take months it's best to start pushing now.

dementedpixie · 22/12/2015 08:49

Made up milk can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours. It can be at room temperature for only 2 hours. If kept in a cool bag with an ice pack it can be kept for 4 hours.

From nhs site:

  • If made-up formula is stored in a fridge, use within 24 hours.
  • If made-up formula is stored in a cool bag with an ice pack, use within four hours.
  • If made-up formula is stored at room temperature, use within two hours.
Original poster
Cupcakesandlove · 22/12/2015 18:37

Thanks pikie I thought as much Grin

I've got her a peads referral today for her tonge tie it's been rushed through with imperial college. With regard to the CMPA I'm going to wait on the advise from the HV we have been advised to keep on with the colief for a few months then wean her off slowly and see if she takes to the milk

OP posts:
soloula · 22/12/2015 21:31

Colief breaks down the lactase in milk not lactose. DD had cmpa (thankfully outgrown at 18 months). She was ebf and on colief too until about 4/5 months (tried weaning her off it several times before we succeeded). She got the aptimil cmpa formula as a 'just in case' and it has the proteins removed but lactose added to improve the flavour. So a need for colief doesn't indicate a definite problem with lactose. :)

Original poster
Cupcakesandlove · 22/12/2015 21:50

Hi how did you know it was cmpa?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 22/12/2015 22:07

Lactase is the enzyme in colief that breaks down the lactose in milk (the sugar in all milks) so I think the pp is a little confused

dementedpixie · 22/12/2015 22:09

What is the aptamil cmpa milk you are talking about?

Original poster
Cupcakesandlove · 22/12/2015 22:24

Hi - agh it's really so confusing for me! I am lead to believe that colief is lactase enzym that breaks down the lactose (milk sugar) and produces sugar that they are able to digest....???
My question is if the colief js relieving my DD symptoms does this mean she needs to go on the aptimil pepti or likewise formula, and If she does is she more likely to always need it, therefore will need to lead a lactose free life?
My HV is under the impression that as my DD had a low birth weight it is common at this age to not be able to break down the lactose and when she is 4/5 months she should be able to, so it is therefore best that we stick with the colief and normal aptimil and wean her off of it at a later date and if this causes issues I will then need to either continue with colief or go onto "special" formula

OP posts:
CupcakesRule · 22/12/2015 22:31

My son was/is the same. Colief works wonders so I tried lactose free milk and it make him constipated so we're back on normal with Colief. He's 17 wks now and we're hoping to try reducing the drops soon.

dementedpixie · 22/12/2015 22:35

Aptamil pepti has broken down milk proteins and added lactose so would only help if there is a problem with cows milk protein and not if the issue is lactose. It could just be an immature digestive system too

captainproton · 23/12/2015 14:41

Well it's not very common for babies to be lactose intolerant it is much more likely a baby is intolerant to the cows milk protein. They are not the same thing. The only way to determine if it's one or the other is to exclude them from the baby's diet. You try cows milk first so if FF you need a formula like aptamil pepti which has broken down milk proteins, you give it to the baby for 2 weeks. Or if BF the mother cuts out all dairy for 2 weeks.

If no improvement then you try removing lactose from your diet.

This is why paediatricians are the best to ask because HV don't always know the correct advice.

dementedpixie · 23/12/2015 17:30

No point reducing lactose in your diet as breastmilk contains it anyway and is unaffected by what you eat

captainproton · 23/12/2015 17:45

Obviously I meant your baby's diet

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