Cows Milk and Brestfeeding

It could be a number of things, besides a reaction to cows milk. Here is a list of possibilities:

1. I have heard the same about foods such as cauliflower and broccoli can also pass through and cause gas to her.
2. If her latch onto you is a poor one while she is breastfeeding, she may be taking in a lot of air while she is feeding and this is causing gassyness as well.
3. She may just be very gassy right now at this age.

I live in a apartment building and there a lot of moms with new babies now. One of my neighbors was told the same exact thing about the milk, so she tried to cut down, but she doesn't like soymilk and she thought her baby was in a lot of pain, so she stopped breastfeeding completely. Even after not breastfeeding, her baby was still gassy. My point is, it is very difficult to pin-point and guess what could be the causes - I not suggesting that you don't try to cut down different foods, I am just saying that it may end up being something completely different from what she is eating (e.g. like how she is eating), that is affecting her.
Good luck.

My daughter had that problem when she was 6-8 months old. I gave up dairy for the rest of my breastfeeding time (or at probably a year - she was almost 2 when weaned) and it greatly improved things. However, I think it was just hard at the time for her to digest it - she is not allergic to it. She's now almost 8-years-old and would drink milk with every meal and snack if she could!

Dear J.,

Yes and yes. Yes, there's a good possibility she could have a cow's milk allergy, and yes, I recommend cutting milk out of your diet. My son had all your daughter's symptoms and then some when he was an infant. I started doing research when he was 7 weeks, and by 10 weeks I was off all dairy (and I mean ALL dairy -- everything cooked with butter, milk powder, whey, caesin, etc.), eggs, nuts, and soy. Some moms also go off wheat, but for whatever reason, I never had to. It was hard at first, but it made a BIG difference. My formerly gassy, unhappy baby just calmed right down, started sleeping through the night perfectly (I never "trained" him) -- I can't tell you how worth-it it was. I also lost ALL my pregnancy weight and then some in about a month.

At 3, my son is still allergic to milk protein: it causes chronic congestion (incl. ear and sinus infections), mood problems, hearing problems, all sorts of issues. Without milk, he's an extremely bright, joyous little boy. He takes responsibility for his own diet and asks adults to check ingredient lists before he eats anything.

So, I'm sorry to babble about all my son's random symptoms, etc., but his allergies have taught me that milk protein intolerances are wildly underdiagnosed in young children. A lot of behavioral issues that have parents tearing their hair out can be linked to diet. Ditto speech delays.

What I really recommend is that you get a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist. He or she can really look at your daughter's symptoms, tell you what foods to avoid, and give you a schedule for reintroducing them. I also really recommend consulting with a naturopathic physician at some point -- that's how I discovered that my son's speech delay and constant tears were linked to trace amounts of dairy in baked goods. A conventional allergist's "prick test" will NOT pick this up; please be forewarned.

And -- finally -- please be aware that a milk protein intolerance is different from lactose intolerance. Lactose is a sugar. Milk protein is a ... protein. Lactose intolerance doesn't usually manifest until about age 6, and lactose-reduced products are just as bad for milk-protein-intolerant children as regular milk products are.

Anyway, I hope this helps. Sorry to ramble!

Mira

My son had the exact same problem. I can't drink milk and he still had the problem. I bought the mylecon gas drops, would massage him and do some baby stretches. That seemed to help a little. I did ask the pediatritian about it and she said some babies are like that and as their digestive tract grows it wouldn't happen. Sure enough it only lasted a little longer and he was just fine. It is just so hard to see them like that!

Hi J.,

Before you decide on your own that it's milk, I would talk to a lactation consultant. When my son was an infant he had horrible gas (his tummy was so bloated that the doctor sent him for an ultrasound, but it was all gas). The pediatrician told me to cut out dairy, vegetables, fruit, pretty much everything. I was miserable and starving, and he was still gassy. So the point is that some babies are just very gassy and it has nothing to do with your diet. I did "exercises" with him where I put him on his back and pushed his legs up gently toward his head, and then did bicycle type kicks with his feet. That works to get a lot of gas out. It finally got better on its own, after his digestive system matured.

Good luck!
B.

There are a lot of things in could be.

If you do decide to go the elimination diet route and start getting rid of things, they can stay in your system for up to TWO WEEKS.

I had to be off diary for about 9 months. You have to read a lot of labels - a lot of things have diary that you wouldn't suspect.

I'd talk to your pedi to see what she suggests first. Good luck!

there are lots of opinions about what breastfeeding moms should or shouldn't eat. First things first, gas in a 12 week old is normal. I think it wasn't till week 20 that gas didn't become upsetting to my baby.
Try to find some gripe water & give it 2-3x a day by btl or in the side of her mouth. That stuff saved me.
Try that & then alter your diet!

Yes, I couldn't do cows milk for either of my girls. Also tomatoes, believe it or not. I think keeping a food journal will help you because there could be other things too. I had to do goat cheese which is now my very favorite!! Best, AM

yes it can be cow's milk AND/OR it could be *other* proteins (the 'main' protein that goes hand in hand w/ milk protein is soy protein).
the ONLY way to find out is to eliminate the offending protein(s) from your diet for a full TWO WEEKS. If you eliminate cow's milk PROTEIN (not lactose, as that is milk SUGAR) from your diet, you MUST include ALL of it, including milk protein found 'hidden' as ingredients IN foods- ingredients such as whey, casein, rhennet (you can google for a complete list of names of hidden milk protein names). you can focus on one protein at a time, like cow's milk, or two, like milk protein and soy protein, OR you could go to www.askdrsears.com and read about the Total Elimination Diet (TED). The diet is hard, but ONLY TWO WEEKS. I did it.
my son had severe GERD and I felt I *had* to.
my mamasource listing: http://www.mamasource.com/business/14059862321568677889

You know, you will get a lot of answers that will tell you that cow's milk is eveil and you should could avoid it...
From my experience and by proxy experience with my sister's children... most babies go through periods of gassiness, colic and just being cranky and other than them growing up there is no reason for it. I know these days everything must be attributed to some sort of "condition" preferably one that is "treatable". If you have a true concern, speak to your pediatrician rather than getting your info from the web.
You can absolutely live without cow's milk, but it is very hard to take that step for someone for whom milk is an integral part of their diet... and really breastfeeding is not the best time to totally switch your diet upside down...

Yes that can be true, also if you drink lots of milk make sure is organic.

There are a lot of milk haters on here...and I know all the reasons. But I love it. I drink so much of it during pregnancy. But with both my boys and I'm curious if this one too, once I deliver it really does bother them when I'm nursing. Some people have to cut out more than milk, like all dairy, cheese, yogurt, etc. For my boys it was just the milk that bothered them. Try cutting it out for a week and see how it goes. I know that 12 week olds can have all forms of gas, but if you can make it easier on her (and you) by cutting this out, then by all means try! :)

Hope you figure it out!! :) God bless!

Yes, stop! Cow's milk is not intended for human consumption. See especially the China Study by T. Colin Campbell and save yourself and future generations.
J. Marie
Mother of 4
Impending grandmother of 1
Aspiring vegan
www.indystrategies.com

Any allergen can be passed on to the baby through breastmilk. If the gassiness is causing her pain, I would start by cutting ALL dairy out of your diet for a week to see if there is any improvement. If there is, leave the dairy out until your baby is happy and not gassy any more, then you can trial some dairy a little at a time while watching for any changes. IF you don't see ANY improvement in the first week, try removing something different from your diet (frequently consumed foods <wheat, coffee, soy, chocolate, etc> are more likely than things you only eat once in a while).

My daughter is allergic to soy and gassiness with abdominal pain was one of the major indicators that she was having problems at 6 weeks. We did several food trials, but were lucky to see the soy connection early on.

Hi J.,
Yes, it is true that she can be allergic to dairy, but I would suggest visiting a lactation consultant or even talking to your local La Leche League leader. That may not necessarily be what she is reacting to, and if it is, cutting out dairy isn't as simple as not drinking milk or eating cheese - dairy hides in a lot of foods, so do get some professional guidance.
Good luck, you're doing a great job for your baby!

you could try cutting it out for a week and seeing if it makes a difference. I think it takes 3 days to get it out of your system before you'll see any difference.

Hello J.:

Yes, it definitely can be possible, however, there may be more in your diet that could be contributing to the imbalance in your daughter's digestive system. I further suspect that the issue started in-utero with whatever diet you were on when pregnant with her. I recommend addressing the issue now before your daughter grows up with irritable bowel syndrome and other possible faulty digestive problems. It's good to be aware now and change the course, for the positive.

Feel free to consult with my office to fully assist you and your daughter. Learn more about the service at www.wholecreations.com/wombfull.html and call to schedule an in-person or telephone consultation ###-###-####).

All the best,
N.
Holistic Healthcare Practitioner
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I had to stop drinking cow milk when my son was born because of the same reason. As soon as I stopped, his gas and the pain completely went away the very next day. I kept eating yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese though for the calcium but they can handle that much more easier.
My son is now 14 months old and still breastfeeding. I've started drinking a little milk every now and then and he seems to be doing ok, but I would definitely stop drinking it for a week or so- just to see how she does. You should see a difference very quickly.
Good luck, and way to go with the breastfeeding! It's the best thing you could do for your little girl :)