Does My Newborn Have A Milk Allergy

Is It Really A Milk Allergy

Your pediatrician may mention the term “allergy” without offering clarification that may help you get a better handle on exactly what your child is facing. Here are the specific types of reactions your child may have to milk:

Classic milk allergy: Classic milk allergy involves both having allergic symptoms within two hours of consuming milk and having the presence of allergic antibodies, or IgE, against various proteins in milk. Allergic symptoms can include hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, and/or anaphylaxis. Presence of antibodies alone does not mean a person has allergy

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome : Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome is a non-IgE immune-mediated reaction that typically presents with vomiting, diarrhea and/or lethargy around 90 minutes after consuming milk or other trigger. Sometimes milk IgE is elevated but most often it is not. FPIES typically occurs in young infants and is commonly outgrown by age three.

Lactose intolerance: Lactose intolerance is a gastrointestinal syndrome that presents with abdominal discomfort, gassiness, bloating, and/or diarrhea. It is typically caused by insufficient lactase, an enzyme that digests lactose. Replacing lactase enzyme or consuming milk products that have lactose removed, prevents symptoms. Lactose intolerance typically occurs in older children and adults and is less likely to be outgrown.

What To Do For Milk Protein Allergies

Does your baby’s poop look loose, mushy, blood-streaked, or mucousy? They might have a sensitivity to cow’s milk protein. Your pediatrician will probably recommend an elimination diet, which involves removing triggering foods from Mom’s plate . Formula-fed babies might switch to a different type of formula. Symptoms should improve within two or three weeks.

Although unusual baby poop can seem alarming, experts stress that minor intestinal inflammation isn’t a big deal, and your pediatrician will likely recommend re-introducing your baby to dairy at some point. Most children grow out of cow’s milk protein allergies by the time they turn 5 years old.

Can Baby Suddenly Develop Milk Protein Allergy

Rapid-onset reactions come on suddenly with symptoms that can include irritability, vomiting, wheezing, swelling, hives, other itchy bumps on the skin, and bloody diarrhea. In some cases, a potentially severe allergic reaction can occur and affect the babys skin, stomach, breathing, and blood pressure.

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Help For The Formula Fed Baby With A Milk Protein Allergy:

I mentioned before that due to my breast surgery things were all bonked. So at the same time that we figured out the milk protein allergy, we had to explore supplementing. OK, so if you knew me, you would see that I am a die-hard breastfeeding advocate. Im the labor nurse who fights for your skin to skin and first breastfeeding experience in the labor room. So, having to supplement was sucky, primarily because it was due to me having my boobs done. Granted, I thought I was done having babies and wanted my boobs off my hips for my exciting 40s!

I decided to use a Supplemental Nursing System, which is incredible but also incredibly time-consuming. However, I wanted to combine formula with the precious amount of breastmilk I was able to produce, and I accomplished this goal using the SNS. However. I wont tell you about the time it slipped out of my shirt in Carrabas, which Im pretty sure stunned our server.

What Can I Share With My Doctor

Some doctors may be unaware of the latest recommendations and excellent resources available on this topic:

• The ABM Protocolon Allergic Proctocolitis
• The Infant Proctocolitis website designed to educate healthcare professionals as well as families. It has a special medical section for your doctors. The recommendation that mothers work with a registered dietitian will reassure your health professionals that your health is being looked after. The section for Frequently Asked Questions on infantproctocolitis.org is very useful. Should I Switch to Formula? explains Allergic Proctocolitis doesnt require switching to special formulas which are often expensive and dont always suit the baby and that breastfeeding with an elimination diet is the healthiest choice.
• The GP Infant Feeding Network website has comprehensive information for GPs on CMPA, explaining it is rarely necessary to stop breastfeeding, how breastfeeding is important for allergic children and when to refer to a paediatric allergy clinic.
• Breastfeeding Works! Even With Allergies by Robyn Noble contains over 500 references to support its information.

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Treating A Milk Allergy

If your infant has a milk allergy and you are breastfeeding, its important to restrict the amount of dairy products that you ingest because the milk protein thats causing the allergic reaction can cross into your breast milk. You may want to talk to your doctor or a dietician about finding alternative sources of calcium and other vital nutrients to replace what you were getting from dairy products.

Since 2006, all food makers have been required to clearly state on package labels whether the foods contain milk or milk-based products, indicating this in or next to the ingredient list on the packaging.

If youre formula feeding, your doctor may advise you to switch to a soy protein-based formula. If your infant cant tolerate soy, the doctor may have you switch to a hypoallergenic formula, in which the proteins are broken down into particles so that the formula is less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.

Two major types of hypoallergenic formulas are available:

How Closely Do I Need To Watch What I Eat

Most babies have no problems with anything that mom eats. Its generally recommended that you eat whatever you like, whenever you like, in the amounts that you like and continue to do this unless you notice an obvious reaction in your baby.

There is no list of foods that every nursing mom should avoid because most nursing mothers can eat anything they want, and because the babies who are sensitive to certain foods are each unique what bothers one may not bother another.

• Questions about specific foods

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Which Children Are More Likely To Outgrow Their Food Allergy

So how can you know if your child is likely to outgrow her allergy or not?

Part of the answer may depend on other allergies your child has. Studies show that children with allergic rhinitis , asthma or other common food allergies are less likely to outgrow milk allergy. In addition, children with milk allergy who ever received baby formula during infancy were also less likely to outgrow milk allergy.

As noted under diagnosis, the most sensitive test to determine if a milk allergy is present is not a blood test, but the reaction a child has upon being challenged with the offending food. Unfortunately, some children may never outgrow their milk allergy, and their food allergy may persist into adulthood, or even indefinitely.

Treatment And Management: Lactose Intolerance In Older Children And Teenagers

If your older or teenage child is diagnosed with lactose intolerance, you can reduce the amount of lactose in her diet. But you dont need to get rid of products with lactose completely, especially if your child eats only small amounts of them with other foods during the day.

The following food and diet tips can help.

These foods are OK:

• cheeses with very low lactose content brie, camembert, cheddar, colby, edam, fetta, gouda, havarti, mozzarella, parmesan, halloumi, Swiss and Tilstat
• yoghurt the bacteria in yoghurt breaks down the lactose so its usually fine for your child to eat
• calcium-fortified soy products soy yoghurt, soy milk, soy ice-cream and soy cheese
• lactose-free cows milk
• butter and cream these contain only small amounts of lactose and are usually fine to eat
• bread, cereals, fruit, vegetables, meat and other protein foods
• full-fat milk the fat in full-fat milk gives your childs body longer to digest lactose.

Watch out for these foods:

• milk ice-cream and milk desserts
• cream cheese, processed cheese and cheese spread
• muesli bars
• instant mashed potato and vegetables with added milk or white sauces.

Check the ingredients in these foods:

• biscuits, cakes and cake mixes
• soups

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What Are The Best Alternatives Formilk And Soy Formula

Babies that have a cows milk allergy will notbe able to go on soy formula either, as well as formulas that involve goatsmilk. However, the good news is that according to WhatToExpect, hypoallergenic formula withhydrolysate protein such as Nutramigen will be easily tolerated bythe baby.

This type of formula has milk proteins thatare broken down partially which means a reaction is less likely to happen. Andfor mothers who are breastfeeding will be instructed to no longer consume dairywhich means that the nursing mothers will need to find out how to get calciumthrough other sources.

Cows Milk Allergy Management

If your doctor suspects cow’s milk allergy, they may suggest eliminating cow’s milk protein from your babys diet. This isn’t as daunting as it might sound.

• For Breastfed Babies Breastfed babies can be exposed to cow’s milk protein fragments passed in breast milk when their mothers eat dairy products. Breast milk still provides the best nutrition for your baby, so you shouldn’t stop nursing. You should not remove dairy foods from your diet without speaking to your doctor.
• For Formula-Fed BabiesSwitching to a formula that is hypoallergenic may help. The majority of babies with cow’s milk allergy feel better after a switch to an extensively hydrolyzed, hypoallergenic formula like Nutramigen. In fact, some cows milk allergy symptoms like colic may stop within 48 hours* after a formula change. Talk to your doctor to see if this is the option for you.

As your baby gets older, your doctor may suggest you start reintroducing your child to foods made with cow’s milk. This should always be done carefully and under a doctor’s supervision. More than 75 percent of children outgrow cow’s milk allergy by the time they are five years old. So, you may not be facing a lifetime of saying no to your child’s pleas for ice cream and mac and cheese. In the meantime, there are other ways you can manage CMA and the symptoms associated.

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Tips To Comfort An Allergic Baby

The only way to comfort a baby that has a food allergy is to avoid the trigger food, advises Dr. Jacq.

For seasonal and/or environmental allergies, there are steps you can take to help your child feel better.

• For nasal congestion: Dr. Jacq advises using saline drops and suctioning your babys nasal passages. This can help clear their airway and allow them to breathe better.

• Steam: Even having your baby in a bouncer in the bathroom while you run a hot bath or shower can give them relief. Steam helps loosen mucus and open nasal passages.

• HEPA filters and/or air purifiers: These devices can help filter allergens from the air, keeping your baby comfortable.

• Extra fluids: If your baby is older than six months, Dr. Jacq advises that its okay to give your baby a little water to help thin out the mucus and keep them hydrated.

Your Calcium Needs Increase To 1250mg Per Day While Breastfeeding7

When breastfeeding you need 1,250mg of calcium every day1. Thats 550mg more than usual. This is normally achieved by drinking low-fat milk and eating cheese and yogurt regularly, and to meet the increased requirement, youd need to include dairy foods up to five times per day.

Most people get the majority of their calcium from dairy products. So if youve been advised to follow a dairy-free breastfeeding diet, its important to boost your calcium intake in other ways. For example by eating plenty of non-dairy sources of calcium instead. These include:

• Tinned sardines, with the bones.
• Calcium-fortified fruit juices.
• Soya milk, oat milk, rice milk or nut milk8
• Green, leafy vegetables.
• Wholegrain bread.
• Almonds and Brazil nuts9

Speak to your healthcare professional about your calcium intake to ensure youre getting what you need.

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Digestive: Blood And/or Mucus In The Stool

Blood in the stool is a likely sign of CMA in infants. The blood results from inflammation in the gut. It can appear in the diaper as either red or black. Red blood means the bleeding is in the lower end of the gut. Black color usually signals bleeding higher up, like from uncontrolled reflux. If you notice red or black in your babys diaper, call the doctor.

Mucus looks like what comes out of your nose when you have a cold or runny nose. It looks sticky when you open the diaper. A little bit can be normal, but if you see a lot or it lasts a while, it can signal a food allergy.

Milk Allergies In Infants

Babies don’t have the ability to complain, so manifestations of a milk allergy can be hard to recognize. A child might be fussy, irritable, and cry. Because babies eat every few hours, it is not always clear that the symptoms are related to eating.

Children may eventually experience weight loss due to digestive problems, vomiting, and diarrhea. Keep track of your baby’s weight gainstagnating weight or weight loss is typically described as failure to thrive, which is a serious problem that can affect a baby’s development for the long term.

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Why Is Your Baby Be Allergic Tomilk

Infants having a milk allergy is quite common. The reason that many babies do have an allergy to cows milk is that his orher immune system goes into overdrive when the proteins from cows milk enterthe system, according to KidsHealth.org.

The immune system that normally fightsinfections mistakenly thinks that the proteins in cows milk are invaders andfight it the same way as it would when it comes to viruses, fungi, andbacteria. In other words. the immune system thinks that the proteins in cowsmilk is a harmful invader and treats it the same way as it would to aninfection.

However, it is also possible that infants cangrow out of a milk allergy, but many people dont and stay allergic to milk.

What Foods Are Most Likely To Be A Problem

Some of the most likely suspects are cows milk products, soy, wheat, corn, eggs, and peanuts.

Other suspect foods:

• Any food that a family member is allergic to
• A food that mom recently ate a large amount of
• A new food
• A food that mom doesnt like, but is eating while breastfeeding for the benefit of her baby
• A food that mom craves, or feels she has to have after a bad day

Conscious likes and dislikes of foods are signals that your body may be reacting to them in an abnormal way.

Keeping a food journal with a record of foods eaten and babys behavior/symptoms, with time of day for each, may be helpful when trying to pinpoint a problem food.

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