Help with possible dairy/soy allergy?
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Support
Forum Name: Reflux and Allergy Support
Forum Description: Struggling with a refluxy baby? Looking for tips to deal with allergies? Share your experiences here.
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42714
Printed Date: 27 November 2024 at 8:45am
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Topic: Help with possible dairy/soy allergy?
Posted By: nani123
Subject: Help with possible dairy/soy allergy?
Date Posted: 24 October 2012 at 11:35pm
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Hi I am exclusively pumping for my 4 month old as breastfeeding did not work out. He gets one or two bottles formula a week as top ups as I cant seem to keep up with him and I am always a few ml short every day. I started out giving him karicare HA as I had a dairy allergy as a baby (drank soy formula) and my husband's nieces and nephews all had issues with dairy when they were toddlers. He suffers from reflux, spitting up a lot, and was prescribed infant gaviscon but at the same time my karitane nurse made me realise that his reflux could actually be a dairy intolerance so I cut out all dairy from my diet. Within a few days he was so much better, and I dont use the gaviscon any more (I have tested this and when I have milk/cheese or chocolate he will start spitting up the next day). My gp suggested I use soy formula as a top up instead of a dairy based one. He drank the first few bottles fine (S26 soy) but last week he just started refusing to drink it. I thought it might be the taste so I tried to "trick" him into drinking it by giving it to him as a dream feed. He drank the full bottle and seemed fine sleeping and everything but two hours later he started projectile vomiting up everything. I tried giving it to him again a few days ago, he refused again but had a few sips before I gave him a bottle of breastmilk. Two hours later he started vomiting again. I am thinking that I should probably get him tested for allergies if that is possible. I don't really know if he is allergic to dairy/soy or just intolerant but I don't want to give him something that will make him sick. At the moment I am thinking of giving him a few teaspoons of cereal or other solids to make up for the few ml he needs extra everyday but I have heard that starting solids too soon can cause allergies so now I am not too sure about this. On the other hand I need to give him something if he is hungry and I cant express any more and it seems like formula is just making him sick. I am new to New Zealand (as well as a new mom) and I am not sure what to do next, do I take him back to my GP or do I wait for my plunket appointment next week? Or should I take him directly to a paediatrician or do I need to be referred? We have medical insurance so they will probably cover it? On the other hand I can probably get him on solids quickly if that is a good idea, as he is a very big boy (more than 8kg at 4 months) and shows all the signs of being ready for solid food including being very hungry all the time (he drinks more than a litre of expressed milk a day). |
Replies:
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 12:12am
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The hungry signs could be that the milk soothes his reflux. Where abouts in NZ are you? If you are one of the main centres ie Auckland you can pay & go straight to paediatrician. Have you tried goats milk formula? To me it sounds as if he's also got issues with soy as he does with dairy. I'm impressed you are doing so well pumping! But if he's had issues with both HA formula and soy the high chance is that he'll have issues with Goats formula. I'd see if you can get your GP to refer you as an urgent case to a paed so that you can try a more broken down formula like Pepti-junior. Be careful with introduction of foods, they could flare up the reflux AND watch out on baby food for hidden dairy. It's in most of the cereals although there are the plain 4 month ones that are dairy & soy free. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: nani123
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 7:59pm
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Hi, thanks for replying. I'm in Auckland so I am thinking that I will first go back to my GP and see if he can refer me. I found out that I need a referral for my insurance. I'm not sure if my GP really knows what he is doing as he said if the soy formula isn't working I should try a lactose free formula but doesn't breast milk contain a large amount of lactose? No, I haven't tried goats milk, I know that I was sensitive to that as well when I was a baby so I don't want to even bother with it except if a Dr insists. I actually really want to wean him from breast milk as the pumping is getting me down and with him being more active and awake it is really hard to keep him occupied while I am pumping. But now with the issues with formula it feels like I have no choice. I bought some baby rice cereal, and it looks like it contains only rice. He seemed fine eating it today but it feels like I am giving him diet food as its only carbs and no fat or protein. Thanks for the suggestions, I cant believe everything that contains dairy! It seems like milk solids is in everything (I've been making a point of reading labels). |
Posted By: sbeach
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 9:01pm
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I've had the same issues with DS, although we are exclusive BFing so cutting all dairy and soy has helped a lot. I would go to your gp and ask for a referral... I've heard that the protein in cows milk is very similar to protein in goats milk so goats milk formula may not work either. Usually it is an allergy to milk protein not lactose intolerance. There is also Neocate formula which available on prescription... DD is also allergic to milk protein. My GP at the time just treated the reflux, eczema and ear infections and brushed off suggestions of allergy. It wasn't until I tried actual cows milk at 12 months that I discovered the reaction. Went to a different gp and eventually got Neocate formula for her. One awesome thing about getting formula on prescription is that it is more or less free, depending on your pharmacy, ours doesn't even charge the $3... A huge money saver ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 9:43pm
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Yes BM is full of lactose! Watch out for Casein & whey as ingredients as well. Hidden dairy although things are much more accurately labelled now as compared to 3 years ago. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: MinaNZ
Date Posted: 12 November 2012 at 11:29am
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Our son is lactose, soy and preservative free. There is a clinc in Auckland that does the full allergy testing for $350. As our son is only 2 we weren't too keen on the test they did, so we had him tested by a naturopath. She sent a sample of his hair away to a lab and was able to tell us what his intolerances were. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 12 November 2012 at 4:16pm
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Ha....I just clicked who you are Mina! ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |