Breastfeeding & Infant Milk Protein Allergy

Breastfeeding is considered the healthiest way to provide nutrition for your baby. That makes it so much more heartbreaking when breast milk is making your baby sick. It is important to note, however, that a baby's allergy is not to his mother's milk. Small amounts of what a mother consumes are passed on to her baby through her breast milk. A breastfeeding mother has to watch her own diet in order to avoid passing on something harmful to her child.

Definition

A milk protein allergy is caused when the baby's immune system mistakes the protein from cow's milk for something it should fight and causes the baby to get sick. This is an allergy that most kids outgrow, usually by age five. Only about two to three percent of babies have a milk allergy. A milk protein allergy is not the same as lactose intolerance. Switching to lactose-free milk will not help. Many babies who have a milk protein allergy are also sensitive to other proteins, including soy.

Symptoms

Milk allergies are difficult to diagnose because the reaction may not be immediate. In rapid onset cases the reaction occurs very quickly. Most cases, though, are slower onset and it may take up to 10 days to see a reaction. These reactions are also sometimes chalked up to colic in very young babies. However, if your baby does have colicky symptoms such as inconsolable crying, diarrhea, bloody stools, wheezing, hives, vomiting or constipation, a milk protein allergy may be the cause.

Elimination Diet

Dr. William Sears, a leading breastfeeding and parenting expert, recommends an extreme elimination diet in order to find the root cause of your baby's allergy. The diet starts with the least allergenic foods and gradually adds new foods in each week. Dairy proteins can stay in your system for up to three weeks. You need to be dairy-free for at least that long before determining whether it's helping your baby. Add foods back into your diet slowly and one at a time to avoid any confusion about what's causing your baby's issues.

Alternatives to Cow's Milk

If you choose to continue breastfeeding your baby who is allergic to milk, it is imperative that you eliminate dairy from your diet. If your baby's allergy is mild, you may be able to eat small amounts of dairy without affecting him. If his allergy is severe, you will need to be more diligent about keeping dairy out of your diet entirely. Kellymom.com created a guide that helps you identify less obvious foods that may contain dairy. Be advised that an allergy to cow's milk may be accompanied by allergies to goat's or sheep's milk and soy protein.

Formula Options

If you choose to stop breastfeeding your baby with a milk protein allergy, there are formula options available, though most standard formulas are based on cow's milk. If your baby's allergy is mild, she may be able to use extensively hydrolyzed, or predigested, formulas. These formulas have partially broken down proteins, making it easier for her to digest. Soy formula is also an option for babies with a milk allergy, but many who are allergic to milk are also allergic to soy.