Prescription Lactose free milk

[MrsDramaQueen]

Hi,

My baby was on Aptimil but he got a really bad stomach, was sick, cried all day in pain and had a puffy spotty face. We were also winding him for 2 hours at a time and he still had wind. The health visitor told us to get the doctor to give us lactose free milk as she thought he was having a reaction to something in milk. The doctor was reluctant to prescribe it because 'it costs the NHS so much'.

He seems a whole lot better on it, and they also gave him some gaviscon for the wind. He's still a bit whingy throught the day, and dos cry, but he is much better.

I was wondering if anyone else had been put on it, and if they had had the same reaction to standard formula before being put on the lactose free formula? Did your child still cry on and off through the day on the lactose free formula? Does being on Lactose free formula mean that when we start weaning that we can't use normal dairy products in our home cooked baby food?

Thanks x

 

[missmayhem]

hiya my DD has an allergy to cows milk and was put onto a hypoallergenic formula, it may cost the NHS a small fortune but if they were to be hospitalized it would cost a lot more i reckon.

i'd not give your LO any dairy for a few weeks to see if it clears up, then try and introduce it again and see what happens

 

[missmayhem]

oh and were abouts in the UK are you

 

[AP]

If you've tried it, and you are sure it works for him, i'd go back to the GP and tell them it works.
Its exactly what i done with the reflux milk, I tried it, it worked, and I told GP I was told I could get it on script.

 

[MrsDramaQueen]

oh and were abouts in the UK are you

I'm in Gloucester x

 

[sapphire1]

What type of formula is it? It's likely that your baby is reacting to the milk proteins, not lactose (which is the sugar in milk). True lactose tolerance is extremely rare in babies, and is usually temporary after a gastro bug or similar. Cow's milk protein intolerance or allergy is much more common, but a lactose free milk won't generally help in the long term. It does help at first because it's easier to digest than regular formula. It is hypoallergenic formula that you need, and yes, it does cost a fortune. It really pisses me off when doctors say that, and that they'd rather let a baby suffer. My LO had CMPI, and it took til she was 5 months to get put on the right formula. She was put on hypoallergenic formula early on, but she still reacted. There are two types of hypo formula - hydrolysed formula such as Aptamil or C&G pepti, and Nutramigen lipil 1, and elemental formula such as Neocate or Nutramigen AA. Hydrolysed formula is still made from cows milk, but the proteins have been broken down to make them easier to digest. Elemental formula contains no cow's milk whatsoever, and is made from amino acids instead. If a LO can't tolerate hydrolysed formula, they are put on elemental formula instead. Elemental formula is very expensive - around £35 for a 450g tin, but hydrolysed formula is quite a lot cheaper.

If the formula does make a difference they have to let you have it til LO is 1 (thats what my HV and Dr told me). You do have to wean diferently, and you are usually referred to a dietician.

 

[MrsDramaQueen]

What type of formula is it? It's likely that your baby is reacting to the milk proteins, not lactose (which is the sugar in milk). True lactose tolerance is extremely rare in babies, and is usually temporary after a gastro bug or similar. Cow's milk protein intolerance or allergy is much more common, but a lactose free milk won't generally help in the long term. It does help at first because it's easier to digest than regular formula. It is hypoallergenic formula that you need, and yes, it does cost a fortune. It really pisses me off when doctors say that, and that they'd rather let a baby suffer. My LO had CMPI, and it took til she was 5 months to get put on the right formula. She was put on hypoallergenic formula early on, but she still reacted. There are two types of hypo formula - hydrolysed formula such as Aptamil or C&G pepti, and Nutramigen lipil 1, and elemental formula such as Neocate or Nutramigen AA. Hydrolysed formula is still made from cows milk, but the proteins have been broken down to make them easier to digest. Elemental formula contains no cow's milk whatsoever, and is made from amino acids instead. If a LO can't tolerate hydrolysed formula, they are put on elemental formula instead. Elemental formula is very expensive - around £35 for a 450g tin, but hydrolysed formula is quite a lot cheaper.

If the formula does make a difference they have to let you have it til LO is 1 (thats what my HV and Dr told me). You do have to wean diferently, and you are usually referred to a dietician.

Weve been put on the Nutramigen lipil 1 formula. We went to the doctor today and she was still reluctant to give it to us, but it's made such a difference. Especially in the last 2 days. In the end she just gave it to us, I wouldn't have left the office if she hadn't given it to us. Lol

 

[missmayhem]

ah ok, it's just i have a tin that i won't use as LO has CMPA will see if i can dig it out and post it to you