lactose intolerance

[LittleMrsGiggles]

My 6week old daughter has just been commenced on SMA lactose-free by the paediatrician. They are not sure whether she has lactose intolerance or cow's milk protein allergy (or both) so ae trying this as a first step. (There is family history of allergies, asthma and intolerances). Prior to starting on the lactose-free, she had excessive diarrhoea and awful tummy ache. The problem I have now is that she is constipated and is really struggling to poo. She still has a lot of wind and seems to have terrible discomfort immediately after the feed. Obviously, I am glad that her diarrhoea has now stopped but feel as though I have just swapped one problem for another. I have had someone suggest Cow and Gate Pepti-Junior which is suitable for lactose intolerance as well as cow's milk protein allergy and wondered if anyone has ever used this and how they found it?
Thankyou.

Ask your GP for a prescription for Neocate - its hypoallergenic and best for those with multiple allergies/sensitivities.

C&G Pepti Junior is suitable for CMPA and lactose intolerance. (Not to be confused with C&G Pepti which has lactose in).

It is pretty OK as it tastes the most like regular formula out of all the hypoallergenic ones.

It was the only hypoallergenic formula ds2 could be persuaded to drink after breastfeeding.

LittleMissGiggles - is breastfeeding an option for you, or starting again to breastfeed?

Ask if you want to know more

Thankyou everyone for your responses. I was beginning to think I was going mad to be honest and that the GP would have me down as some kind of neurotic!!
tiktok - I am not able to breastfeed, have never been able to - initially when my the HV suggested C&G comfort which I know is lactose reduced but with the sypmtoms she still had, that obviously wasn't enough. Now that she is on the SMA LF but still has the excessive wind and now constipation, the HV has suggested I persevere with it for a while as she has only been on it since Tues but as we are now Sunday, I sm thinking I have given it a fair chance - what does anyone else think?
Thanks again

LittleMrs,

My son is also CMPA, lactose allergy and also citrus protein allergy.

Are you in the UK?

Is your dd under a pead?, firstly IS your dd being tested for CMPA????

If not id DEMAND for this to be tested (stool sample) as SMA LF is not suitable for CMPA.

How long has your dd been on SMA LF for?

The most important thing is for you get the possible allergy tested and for this to be ruled in or out!

Now with regard to PJ milk, this is only given on prescription, and is extraordinarily expensive (£16.50 for 450g tin, you will need two of these for a newborn a week) The thing is with this milk also is that babies hate it it is fowl in taste and smell, ds had to be admitted to hospital in order to take this milk, PJ does not taste the same as "normal formula" it is a semi elemental formula with MCT oil, which gives it its fowl taste and smell, but the oil is vital for babies who are CMPA, Lactose allergy, and Citrus Allergy.

First thing is you have to get your DD tested for CMPA, Neocate is excellent hypoallergenic milk, but for most professionals this is the last line of milk to be handed out due to the cost (£29 per 450g and you would need 2 weekly due to dd being NB until year old) getting this milk is like getting blood out of a stone sadly, and is always used as the last resort.

If you need any more help, please let me know and I will be happy to help, but if she is CMPA (MUST STRESS THIS NEEDS TO BE TESTED) then SMA LF is not suitable for her, as it does contain cows milk protein.

A stool sample is not a test for CMPA. A stool sample is a test for lactose intolerance. This only works if the baby is having lactose at the time of the test.

CMPA is an immune reaction and can only be tested by skin prick test or blood test (RAST). Often docs will refuse to test in under 2's as you can get many false positives before this age (whilst the immune system is still developing) and they prefer to go by clinical symptoms prior to this age.

Admittedly none of the hypoallergenic formulae taste great, but this is the best of them. Other alternatives are available (Nutramigen 1, Nutramigen AA, Neocate) and it is often trial and error to find a suitable one for a particular baby.

The expense of them is not something you need to worry about as you will get the milks on prescription and therefore they are free. Pepti, followed by Pepti Junior are often most preferred by medics because they are the cheapest of the options though (and therefore provided at least cost to your GP practice).

Thanks again for your responses, much appreciated

LittleMrsHappy - yes I am in UK and yes, my dd is under the care of paeds consultant. She has had a stool sample tested for pH and reducing substances but that didn't prove to be very helpful to be honest. My dd was started on the SMA LF on Tuesday 2nd March and hasn't had any diarrhoea since Wednesday 3rd March which I am of course overjoyed about (I was using 5 nappies each time she needed a dirty nappy changing, it was so excessive - apologies if that is TMI)

Paed consultant has said to try this for 3 weeks and if no improvement, they will look towards CMPA, will provide the appropriate milk which is suitable and will do the allergy test - I am accostomed to the allergy testing as my ds (who is now 6yrs old) is severly allergic to eggs which was diagnosed by skin prick and blood test for specific IgE when he was 9months old. My ds was also lactose intolerant and the SMA LF suited him really well which is probably why I have been thinking I am neurotic when dd has started with another symptom now that she is on the SMA LF - I am thinking that she does have CMPA as well as lactose intolerance due to the fact that there has been an improvement with the symptoms but not completely better.

Thanks again for all of the responses.

Yes, you are correct in that it is normally done via skin prick, however my ds was not done via skin pick as his eczema which is sever, his was done via his stool test and skin taken from his anus. He had numerous blood tests done, for his citrus allergy,, so it could also been diagnosed through that.

I stated above also about the price as in my case we were TOLD to wean at 9 weeks with prescribed rice and when we refused they reduced his formula so MAKE us wean earlier, so that he would reduce feeds, so hence reduce costs.

Currently going through a grievance with last Dr's and ds has since changed Drs and hospitals. (cons)

For everyone who has been in the same position as me, in RL and on forums has been in a similar position regarding costs, which is always at the forefront of peads and Drs mind, concerning FM, cheapest is always given out first.

Ive had a horrific time concerning ds and his medical needs, which has been documented on another site from day one.

I am extremely surprised that you have been told to try SMA lactose free milk as this still has CM proteins in it. They don't usually test for cows milk protein intolerance in babies, but treat it via symptoms. Are you seeing the paed on the NHS or privately? If it's NHS they may have suggested the SMA lactose free due to cost but in my experience, both children cows milk protein intolerant, Nutramigen has always been the first port of call with a view to moving to Neocate if this is unsuitable. The pepti isn't as broken down as the Nutramigen and my paed has advised us against it.