lactose in breast milk?

[DimpledThighs]

is there lactose in breast milk or is it a different protein and lactose is exclusive to cows milk???

Yes there is lactose in it.

But it's not the same as cow's milk IYSWIM - it's human milk so different size and shape of protein molecule.

Just wondering why - are you concerned about intolerances?

afaik, lactose is the name for the sugar found in all milks.

yes there is lactose in breast milk. i've been told to not breastfeed if i have another child as both mine have lactose intolerances and the likelyhood is that another child would too.

some babies are fine with lactose in breastmilk ut not formula milk. i think it's trial and error!

This has got some info on lactose intolerance and why most babies don't develop it until after weaning (if they're going to).

Lactose (like anything ending in 'ose') is a sugar. And it's the same for cow's milk, people milk, whatever. It's milk sugar.

Most babies who have problems digesting cow's milk have issues with the proteins, not the sugar.

I have a similar thread going, am unsure whether it's the lactose or protein in dairy that I should be avoiding, gp said today that it can't get into milk as protein too big, but homeopath said to definitely cut it out

I am pretty sure that something from cow's milk gets into the milk. I don't know whether it is the protein - but allergies are generally to proteins, aren't they? (Dear god, I am agreeing with a homeopath. This surely is a sign of the end times. )

I have known one woman who had a child (one of her three) who was violently allergic to lots and lots of foods, and would vomit copiously if her mother ate any of those foods. This sort of reaction is really really rare, though - I'm pretty sure she's the only one our local BFC knew.

mmm, NQC, the gp said proteins are too large and are digested in the gut, therefore CAN'T get into breast milk, but I don't really believe her, there seems to be so much evidence against that

GPs are hardly experts. This article isn't exhaustive or anything, but implies that some cow's milk proteins are there to be detected, iyswim.

Aha! Here is a pediatrician's page, from Canada (obviously more convincing than a Brit ), saying that small amounts of cow's milk protein get into breast milk.

Another good article.

What symptoms is your baby showing, anyway?

DS1 and DS3 are intolerant, as am I. DS1 lost loads of weight during BF, I dont mean the little bit you expect- at one point he weighed 4lbs 9oz!!!!!

We took him off BF (well, come one- there are limits!) and put him on soya. He thrived (can I jus point out sd3 bf until 16 months- how paranid am I on these Mn threads???)

Everything I have learned through reading etc suggests that lactose can indeed pass into milk. Personally, I think the benefits of BF are such that I would want to give it a try as a first resort, and see what happens. You can always swap after. For ds1, there was no option. For ds3 though it was brilliant despite the intolerance- because intolerances are set at different levels.

hiya,
both mine were (and still are) lactose intolerant....acid smelling poo, runny poo, stomache cramps etc. I did breastfeed mine but used to put 3 "colief" drops in a little ebm before i fed them. It breaks down the comple sugars that some seem to have a problem digesting, it worked a treat. hth, xx

Lactose doesn't 'pass into' breastmilk! It's the sugar in breastmilk. If you didn't eat any dairy, there would still be lactose in it.

'Normal' lactose intolerance normally sets in around 7. I know mine did. No sign of it in either of my boys, although I guess I'll have to keep an eye on them for it as they get bigger.

Mine set in at 25 (whilst pg), but the biys ahd it from birth. Ours seems to be of the Asian genetic type, thoughw edon't know how we got the gene.

Mine is (I think) from my Amerindian ancestry. Who knows. It's not severe, I eat dairy now, I just don't eat loads all at once.

I'd be amazed if cow's milk proteins got through the gut and into breast milk completely intact to be honest, so I can see what the GP means, but presumably there are breakdown products of the proteins that cause the problems. And I don't think lactose would differ between cows and humans as it's a simple sugar molecule.

The proteins in milk are way to big to pass into breast milk.

protiens have to be broken down into their constituent amino acids before they can be absorbed inot the blood stream, and from there get transported to where they are needed in the body.

Lactose is a sugar found in all milk

Twins separated at birth mb, as I've said before

Ok, so what's up with the tools to detect cow's milk proteins, then?

I did know about proteins being broken up into amino acids etc. But I also know one mum whose daughter vomited if she (the mum) ate the wrong foods ...

scary!

Dna scarf going well. I tend to knit it when dh is waiting for his chemo.

the irony amuses me

ds2 was found to be lactose intoerant at 8 months. i had bf exclusivly till 4 then half and half till 7 month then formula when needed. as a bf babe he was sick alot to the point that our carpet whas ruined. his nappies were bad and in hindsight total intolerant to formula but i have wondered if he was infact intolerant to me as well. was put on peptid junior and within 48 hours we had for the first time 'normal poo'. have just been back to gp for further assessment. ds2 hates the peptid juior and has really weaned himself of milk which worries me. we are going to be referred to dieticans in case we need supplements. all dairy gives him a bad tum. have been buying the lactose free milk from the chiller cabinet but he does react to that as well.

The protein is casein. I have no idea if that gets through.

Its quite likely then I suppose that a lactose ijntol baby will react to bm? The only thing that worked for DS1 was soya, do it could be the case. DS3 had lower level intol at that point (I assumed it was as I was dairy free but perhaps not) but he was eventually prescribed enfamil lactofree formula, which I will song the praises of elevenfold and we combined with that, and he still has it now at 3.8.

I have been advised to BF but keep any future baby dairy free until 3 for unrelated health reasons, but she didnt say not to BF.

Apparently the clue to casein / intol is that lactose free people can often stick milk and cheese.

Dur. Milk. Butter.

I find, buying a bottle of lactofree milk good though to work it out- if youre still ill, its casein.

what tools to detect cows milk protein?

protiens are bloody big things, on the whole. the lining of the intestine can't absorb them until they are broken down small enough.

Small molecules like water and alcohol can be absorbed directly. So small molecule components of foods could be absorbed i would have thought

This article. I'm assuming, by its existance, that these things are present in breastmilk to detect?