When did you realise your baby had problems?

[Jem26]

Me again, sorry:confused:

I was wondering at what age you discovered your child had problems with dairy?and what symptoms did they have?

Were your children ok on formula just not with dairy products? or if they were put onto a special formula did it make them more sick?

Jemima is on a formula called Pepti by Cow & Gate, she is incredibly sick on it which makes her feed more often and her weight gain is pretty poor on it so ive been advised to wean her quickly by her dietician.

If she has regular formula she is also sick but not in pain like she was when younger. If she has any dairy products like yoghurt then she has mucusy poos sometimes very soon after or the next morning. Her eyes get watery within minutes of eating it and her skin sometimes goes abit red and she just doesn't seem happy in herself, she is a very smiley baby so you know when she isn't quite right.

Just very interested to hear other experiences.

Thanks

Ju xxx

[Pam]

My daughter did nothing but cry as a baby, she wouldn't sleep at night so I often ended up asleep with her on my chest, just so that I got some sleep. When I mentioned it to the health visitor at 10 weeks she suggested trying soya milk - completely new baby overnight.

When I weaned her I introduced milk and all the normal stuff but carried on with soya milk for drinks. It wasn't until she was about 18 months and given lactulose for constipation that she had a major reaction - a long screaming fit and this made me put 2 and 2 together. She had been having 10 o'clock tantrums daily and always woke up at about 10pm crying. I eventually worked out that this was exactly 3 hours after breakfast/supper when the tummy pains started.

After the lactulose incident I cut milk out again and eventually got referred to a dietician. Even a tiny bit of milk caused a much worse reaction after a period of exclusion so we have avoided it ever since. She is 7 in May and probably not so severely affected as she has had the odd forbidden food recently and does not seem to have been too badly affected. Perhaps I should do more of a challenge, but she knows her own mind now and is reluctant to eat anything with milk in.

[Copper]

My eldest daughter is in her 20s now. Almost from day one she was a nightmare. I breast fed her for about 8 weeks and she did nothing but scream day and night. I was a regular visitor to the doctor and health visitor. They had a really good idea - demand feed and test weigh for 24 hours. We established that she took no more than 2oz in her feed. Just after this she gave up on me although I had more than enough milk for her. She was then bottle fed and was fine. She made up for lost time and was a hungry baby. She was weaned a little early for those days and she loved her Milupa made really thick!!!

Now in the last year she has developed lactose intolerance and I realise that she was obviously suffering with this as a baby.

I diagnosed myself with lactose intolerance when I was in my late 40s. I also realised that all the pain and suffering as a child had been due to lactose intolerance. I was also born with this problem and got over it by the age of 2 months. Sadly for me the lactose intolerance is here to stay now.

[yvie]

Haylie was 5 weeks prem and weighed 4lb and every feed was vomited from birth. She had terrible pain and screamed every time she started to feed. Feeds were no more than 5ml. She had, and still produces, vast amounts of mucus both in her bowel movements and when she is sick after having milk products, even the tiniest amount.

The hospital refused to admit she was milk intolerant, saying I was an older mum therefore fussing un necessarily! (was 43, had 2 teenage daughters then, one already with food allergies and asthma, so I was no novice! lol)

After several weeks they suggested soya, which cut her pain and vomiting down to once a week or so and at 8 months I cut out milk completely until I had a 2nd opinion from another hospital. She was 13 months when I put her on goats milk and she tolerated it very well, she is now 8.

Unfortunately my ex husband gave her sweets with milk in last october, and after vomiting for 5 days she then couldn't tolerate goats milk. I have tried a few times but have now been advised to stay 100% off of milk products for 2 years to see if her body 'forgets' the intolerance. Worth a try, nothing to lose. Apparently there is quite a high success rate for this in older children and adults, but there must be no mistakes or you have to start the 2 years again.

[Copper]

I have read in more than one place that you develop lactose intolerance as you get older - so there is no hope for me :lol2:

[Jem26]

Wow that must of been really tough on you:unsure: so glad she is now ok and not affected:)

Thanks for your reply.

[Jem26]

So you were ok until you got older? thats so strange the way it went then came back in your adult years and the same with your daughter.

Thanks for your reply.

[Jem26]

So your daughter gets bad sickness with dairy, my daughter is sick and has mucus in her poos after dairy. Say she has a yoghurt she can have a poo with mucus in it within 20mins or even up to 20 hrs later. Its runny & mucusy, gave me a fright but she isn't like that with formula so im confused??

She isn't taking to Pepti that well, is very sick on it but she was on Neocate thats why the dietician changed to Pepti.

Thanks for your reply.

[yvie]

Hi Jem
Apparently the intolerance/allergy can be within minutes to 3 days after, so Id say as she reacts straight away that is a good sign. Its always harder to track down the cause when the reaction is a long time after. Haylie was only milk protein intolerant for years so could tolerate goats milk, and that was a help, made it much easier. Now its lactose as well.
There are quite a few different milks Im sure, so keep at your gp/consultant and if you are not happy with what they say, ask for a referral for a 2nd opinion. THey can do a 'poo' test on babies, so ask for that. I did that when Haylie was with Maidstone hospital they were very unhelpful, so I asked for a referral to Medway and got more help. Unfortunately their help was limited and I have just had a referral to the Royal Free and have much more information as the doctors little girl is also milk intolerant! Don't be afraid to ask or even TELL them what you want. Its what they are there for. They will fob you off until you get someone who is actually INTERESTED. Haylies local dietician said dont worry about her calcium, she has broccolli occasionally! My mum has osteoporosis, so I am being probably a bit over-careful, but Id rather be that way, than not at all. If your baby is being VERY sick after every feed, go back and tell them you are not happy.
Not sure if babies can have soya yoghurt? If so then try that. Although that always made Haylie sick too so I gave up on yoghurts years ago!

[Jem26]

Thanks Yvie,

I shall stick with the pepti, Jem is better on that than the Neocate. It says it has calcium added so she should be ok I guess. She is a sicky baby I guess.

She cannot have soya or gluten for a few more months yet. I have been told to stick to plain foods but get her weaning going quite quick and add pepti to everything.

Mucusy poo is a sure sign of intolerance isn't it? sure I read that somewhere. Jem had mucusy runny nappies twice after 1 yoghurt, 1st was about 20 mins after and the other was the next day. Other than that her nappies were just green/yellow and like water. Sorry hope your not eating;-) Her eyes also water after regular formula or yoghurts and cheeks go abit red. She obviously has a problem but is being a confusing little madam.

Thanks

[yvie]

Sorry Julie, called you Jem lol

It really sounds like classic dairy intolerance.
Just dont give her anymore yoghurt. Cut out anything at all with dairy in it and after a couple of weeks you may find she stops vomiting the pepti as well. It may not be that thats making her sick, but little bits of dairy in her diet that are still in her. Slightest bit will set her off again.

[Jem26]

Ahhh I see, yes you could well be right, she may have dairy still in her system. She does get incredibly grumpy when she has had dairy (forumla especially) so I do know there is some problem.

As long as there is calcium in her formula she should be ok with regards to her calcium intake?

[Copper]

Yvie has made a good point there about dairy in her system. Cut all dairy out now and see how Jem is with her Pepti. The dairy may take a while to clear through her system and then hopefully she will be much better.

[Jem26]

Yes very good idea. I shall keep dairy out of her diet completly from now on.

Thx & thank u all for your advice.