Mandy was born in June 2007 At three months her mother was worried about her severe constipation, restlessness at night, flatulence and vomiting after the feeds. She was put on Gaviscon and without this she was sick from 2,30 every morning. Mother was discouraged and fatigued and asked for nutritional advice.

Background

Mother had a history of thrush, abdominal bloating, cystitis, period pain and infertility due to blocked tubes with damage to the neck of the womb from cauterization. This was the first attempt with IVF treatment at 38 years and was greeted with tremendous joy by both parents and grandparents. During the pregnancy mother kept well with an anti-candida diet, and supplements of good gut flora but still had persistant thrush, anti-biotics for water infections and used canistan pessaries. Her husband has a history of hay fever and she had an intolerance to wheat and yeast.

Post Natal

Baby was breast fed for 4 days only due to sore and tender breasts. She was given SMA but this seemed to cause tummy ache. The last feed was at 10pm but baby woke every hour in the night and from 5.30 in the morning. Baby was given chamomile teas before bed and colief (lactose enzyme) with each feed.

Nutrition Therapy

Baby was transferred from SMA (cows milk) to organic goats milk (Baby NAT 01189510)
Supplements of beneficial bacteria were given (1/8 teaspoon Bifido Bac T) ¼ teaspoon of Arctic Omega Lemon, with a few grains of a probiotic Saccromyces Boulardii from dipped end of a cocktail stick. After 10 days this was supplemented with 2 drops of liquid magnesium.

Progress

Improvement was noted immediately she started the first goats milk feeds. After 5 weeks she was sleeping well with no abdominal wind, and much more settled behaviour. There was some wind with some vegetables so she was given few grains of Baby Enzymes for digestion.

Summary

This baby could not digest cow’s milk and needed extra good gut flora to boost her immune system. Cows milk is very difficult to digest. An infant does not produce all the enzymes required to digest cow’s milk until 1 year old so it can develop intolerance to it if given too early with resulting fermentation in the gut, abdominal apin and constipation or diarrhoea. Goat milk is much less allergic than cow’s milk and can be handled more easily.

If the baby may be lacking in good gut flora (mother was given anti-biotics in preganancy and was only able to breast feed for 4 days) it is likely that the gut has not developed its immune system properly and is vulnerable to invasion by yeasts and harmful bacteria.

The first few months are vital for the family and for baby’s immune sytem. If ofr any reason mother cannot breasts feed and baby does have problems with tummy ache, disturbed stools or vomiting or eczema, it is certainly worth getting advice about the possibility that dairy milk may be the problem.

For further information about infant feeding please contact Heather Lyons Dip ION BANT