Tried to wean from lactose free formula HELP

[Mum1510]

Hello,

the HV advised that now my baby is 4 months old I can take him off lactose free formula and move to normal formula.

I gave him 5/6 bottles of normal formula and all hell has broken loose. He’s been screaming in pain for 2 days and this morning for the third day.
when I say screaming it is none stop all day until he falls asleep and then at night he’s waking every hour.
I took him to a&E yesterday as I was at my wits end and didn’t know what to do. They didn’t tell me anything apart from they don’t really know when his tummy might recover.
I’ve literally had 5/6 hours sleep in 3 days I’m absolutely exhausted and so must my poor baby.
now I understand that I was mean to reintroduce normal formula gradually but I wasn’t told that.

does anyone have any experience with this? I’m desperate but I know lactose intolerance is rare. I just want his tummy to be better :(

thanks

Why has she asked you to switch?

Sorry OP, that sounds tough. Sounds like you know now that lactose should be reintroduced gradually (crazy the HV didn't tell you this) so not much else to be said so I'm just here to give sympathy and wish your little one a speedy recovery.

Is there anyone with you who can take baby for a bit, e.g. baby's dad? Sleep deprivation is awful and you need rest.

Why did she tell you to switch just like that??
With my girls I had to wait till they were both 12 months then do it gradually using the milk ladder

Isn't the milk ladder for CMPA, not lactose intolerance?

My child was on special formula until they were 2, we were told to try slow introduction when they were 2, and were given strict instructions, it came from GP not HV.

Yes that's right. I got them mixed up!

Way too young. Clearly the intolerance is still there. My son has cmpa and he's still on his dairy free formula and he will be until he's 2

I'd go back to lactose free
When you want to introduce normal formula do it gradually so as not to overwhelm them with large amounts of lactose at once

You could try addings co-Lactase or colief drops to the milk to break down the lactose in the milk too

You have been given awful advice.

Only a paediatrician or paediatric dietitian should be telling you when to stop specialist formula. She is stepping outside of her role.

Primary lactose intolerance is very rare in babies and tends to genetic. Secondary lactose intolerance normally occurs in the elderly or as temporary intolerance due to illnesses or damage done to the gut due to allergy.

Was he completely fine on the lactose free milk?

Aww hugs for you both!
Where are your up to today? What has he eaten/how is he doing?

Symptoms can last for 48 hours after consumption, so he should start to feel better, however the irritation/inflammation to the stomach and intestines will recover in around 4 weeks so you may still see/he may still experience; intermittent throughout the days; gas, pain, bloating, milk sensitivity leading to posits/vomit, crying etc; until irritation recovers/calms down.

Also, there is usually a 4m sleep regression/'progression' so this will add to disturbed naps/night sleep around this time also (its developmental related).

@Mum1510 my son was also lactose intolerant. Paediatric Dietician advised I did a milk challenge at 16 weeks too. But she advised me to start with 1 scoop of normal formula per bottle and the other 6 scoops still lactose free. I only did it for 1 day (4 bottles) and he couldn't tolerate even that, he had chronic diorreah for 6 weeks with lots of mucus in. I took him to GP he explained it had like taken the lining off his intestines but it would grow back. The dietician recommended I began to wean him early to help form his stools so at 5 months I began to introduce baby rice, mashed potato, banana - all things which helped firm his still up quicker. I never attempted a single milk challenge after that episode until January this year (he was 22 months)
Then it was a very gradual process starting with one quarter of a biscuit for the first 3 days and then I upped it to half a biscuit when I was confident he had tolerated it. We then had to move onto the next step but the whole process took around 6-8 weeks before he was completely weaned off lactose free.

The dietician or doctor was wrong not to advise you do do it very gradually. Poor baby.
Don't worry though, he will be ok just might have the runs for a while unfortunately.
If I were you I wouldn't challenge him anymore now. Wait til he's older like I did, his body needs to carry on developing and building up lactase more before you start again. Hope he grows out of it. But either way, there are great lactose free and vegan alternatives you can give him when it comes to weaning so he won't miss out!

Don't blame yourself, you weren't advised correctly so not your fault, he will be ok xx

Oh I just read it back and see it was a HV who advised you! Omg that's bad advice and they shouldn't have even made the suggestion.
My DS was under the paediatric dieticians from 5 weeks old.
Ask GP for paediatric referral and they can put you in touch with the paediatric dieticians who are very helpful !

Thanks for your replies. Yes he was completely fine on LF formula. I’ve found the information from you guys more helpful!
I’ve just damaged his tummy lining giving him the lactose milk so guess I’ll just have to wait it out. He’s been fine today but he’s just started screaming again.
im at my mums now we are taking it in turns.

he’s taking his LF milk fine and plenty of wet nappies

and yes maybe sleep regression too! He’s also teething 😵‍💫😵‍💫

thanks guys

Also I’m on the list to see a dietician but have already been waiting 3 months! X

I’ve just been walking with him as he’s settled in the pram, done 5 miles so far and will do another 3 later for his last nap. I am dead haha

You're doing an amaze job!
~ Awesome walking, I could do with putting those miles in myself 😵‍💫😅 take care.

Thank you, it’s nice to hear from someone with the same issue. I’ll wait until I get the primary dietician appt and see what they recommend when the time comes to proper weaning.
can’t believe your little one had those symptoms for 6 weeks! Horrible isn’t it x

It was horrible, and before he was diagnosed at 5 weeks, he developed this awful nappy rash. His poo was burning his skin to the point it seemed like the skin had peeled away and it was red raw and bled it was horrible I used to just cry about it feeling hopeless, but as soon as I was advised to give lactose formula it cleared up within a matter of a few days.
I found there weren't many people who knew about lactose intolerance as CMPA seems more common. So if u need to speak to someone who's been through what you have just reach out, I have this thread on my watch list now so will often check in.
Hope your little man gets well soon xx

Oh bless him. Sounds awful it must have been terrifying with him being so little then too!
he hasn’t formally been diagnosed yet - it’s definitely lactose but I’m not sure if it’s primary or secondary (as I kind of messed up the weaning process).
Yes I see on lots of threads people confusing the two and there’s next to none information about lactose intolerance!
what formula did you use xx

@Mum1510 if he is settling in the pram can you try one of those pram rocker things? Might save you from having to walk miles per day to keep him settled?

@Mum1510 Aptamil lactose free, had to use carobel thickner aswell because he suffered with silent reflux x

Just to let you know it can be much older DS was 16 and DN still intolerant at 18.
My mum is 80 and intolerant!

My DC are adults now but they were all lactose intolerant
They were on prescription milk at 12 months I was told to introduce small amounts , 1 petis filous yougurt then make up breakfast cereal with normal milk . They didn't have normal milk in a bottle ever , just introduced into their diets .
Even as adults 3 can't tolerate too much of it but fine in small doses .
If they have too much they get severe wind pain , cramps , bloating & diarrhoea and eczema flares up

I have a teenager with lactose intolerance who was born in another country. He never told to stop drinking lactose free formula and testing with dairy products started after weaning.