Lactose intolerance. Please help!

No, lactase didn't help; we were on Creon 10000. It was bearable (he didn't scream all night, only until 2-3 a.m.). And then a miracle happened—I went on antibiotics (they didn't clean my uterus properly after childbirth) and fed my son NAN Lactose-Free for two weeks—all the colic disappeared. Then I went back to breastfeeding, and everything was fine; apparently, his pancreas had matured. Generally, grit your teeth and endure it; colic is common up to three months. But by the fourth month, it passes. In six months, you'll look back on it as a bad dream. Everything is fine with you, don't stress :)

And on what basis was the diagnosis made for you? Did you take a carbohydrate test?

Everything you describe is typical of ordinary infant colic. Although they are common, when my baby screamed from them for the first time, my husband and I were so frightened we called an ambulance. If the diagnosis is confirmed by tests, then follow the doctor's instructions. If this is just your doctor's conclusion, then get a carbohydrate test; if lactose deficiency is detected, you will need to take lactase enzyme for a while. If the test results are fine, then just grit your teeth and endure. Usually, colic passes by 3–4.5 months. To prevent the baby from crying after feeding, try laying them on their tummy for a couple of minutes before feeding, and after feeding, carry them upright until the air passes (they burp :). Espumisan and Sab Simplex are the same thing. They rarely help anyone. Find what works for you. For some, only a gas relief tube helps. It can be made from an ordinary enema or pipette. But don't overuse it. Try applying warm nappies to the tummy; my downy one provided some relief from the pain. For some, inexpensive dill water helps (it helped two of my acquaintances a lot). But it's problematic to find now. You can only buy it at pharmacies that still have departments for preparing medicines. There are special preparations (like Lactase Baby, for example) prescribed for lactose deficiency. But this should be prescribed by a doctor AFTER carbohydrate tests.

Get tested! They're so quick to diagnose lactose intolerance!!! You probably just have colic... With an intolerance, the stool should be abnormal (green, bubbly, and foamy), with regurgitation, stomach pain, and so on... Definitely get tested and only draw conclusions after that... They diagnosed us with lactose intolerance too, we even ended up in the hospital at 3 weeks old, turns out the formula wasn't suitable—we actually needed more lactose (I was feeding Nutrilon, which has 23 units, while regular formula has twice as much). They told me to give lactose-free formula, but it turned out the opposite—we needed more... Anyway, listen to your maternal instinct and pay attention to your baby.

Pay closer attention to your diet to avoid causing your baby's tummy to bloat unnecessarily. Also, get checked for dysbiosis—my eldest had it, and he suffered so much during and after feeding that it's still frightening to remember. I would get up to tend to him five to seven times a night—it was a nightmare. But once we treated the staphylococcus, everything settled down. No medications helped; only chlorophyllipt worked. So, stay calm and investigate the issue thoroughly to determine exactly what's wrong with your baby. Doctors often talk nonsense—it's easier for them to dismiss something than to take the time and effort to figure it out properly.

Girls, we got the test results back. Carbohydrates in the stool are 1.8%, with the normal range being 0 to 0.25%. The diagnosis was made based on this analysis. Plus, the stool analysis showed a lot of neutral fats that aren't being digested. I'd like to know if this lactose will help or not. Yesterday, I gave two feedings and also at night, and still, the baby is fussy and crying. I understand that, yes, it's colic, but not like this—after every feeding, the baby suffers! After every single one!!!! And by evening, it's a full-blown tantrum. I'm really worried and want to help him somehow. We put a warm cloth on his tummy, warm it up, and lay him on his stomach, but all of this only gives relief for a few minutes.

We also got tests done for dysbiosis and for the sterility of the milk. The results aren't ready yet. So far, only the carbohydrates have been determined, that's all.

I'm so scared. Yesterday, I even thought that around his mouth looked a little blue from all the stress. Is it bad when a child's mouth turns blue?

I called an ambulance for him yesterday too.

Vera, well, what can I say here? Patience to you... My baby had colic 24 hours a day, it passed after 1.5 months, but he suffered with gas until 10 months at night... he would wake up, pass gas, and could sleep again, we didn't sleep at night until 10 months because of gas and teething... In your case, one thing is piling on top of the other... hang in there.

My daughter also had relative lactase deficiency, so we stopped breastfeeding and switched to lactose-free formula. At that time, there were options like All-110 and Nutrilion lactose-free (my daughter is now 8 years old). Initially, we tried mixed feeding, but it didn’t help, so we had to stop breastfeeding completely, even though I had plenty of milk. Everything gradually returned to normal, but it took a very long time for us because intestinal issues developed as a result.

Why wasn’t lactase prescribed? I think that should have been tried first. After all, breast milk is more beneficial than formula.

Lactase helped me. And there's no other way out anyway. Breastfeeding should only be stopped as a last resort.

Maybe it's reflux, or what do they call it in Russia? My daughter had the same symptoms, only she also kept spitting up everything after feeding :( They diagnosed it as Reflux (that's how it's written in English) and prescribed medication. Everything went away after 2 days...

We went through this nightmare—neither Lactase nor Lactase-Baby helped. Thank goodness our pediatrician recommended the German medication Kerulac—just one drop in the mouth before feeding, and everything was sorted in two days. We breastfed like this for several months until we introduced Nestlé dairy-free porridge into the diet. The only catch is that Kerulac isn’t sold in Russia; we were incredibly lucky that a friend was on a business trip to Berlin and brought us this magical little bottle. One bottle lasted almost a month. It cost 30 euros back in 2008. You won’t regret it if you manage to find it. To confirm a diagnosis of lactose intolerance, you can have a stool carbohydrate test done at the Gabrichevsky Institute in Moscow.

Interesting, how can one get it if there are no acquaintances who travel to Berlin?

I looked online, but this is also lactase, just from a foreign manufacturer.

And in what dosage did you give it, and how quickly did it help?

Lactase didn't help us at all(( I diluted one capsule in 30 ml of breast milk and gave it before each feeding... We struggled for a couple of weeks - to no avail... It all passed with time... But when I remember how much we suffered because of this - it sends shivers down my spine... Wishing you patience and good health for your little one!

And when exactly did it go away?

My daughter had lactose intolerance, and nothing helped until I switched to a lactose-free formula. It was such a shame to stop breastfeeding, but nothing else worked. I sympathise.

My daughter had lactose intolerance, and nothing helped until I switched to a lactose-free formula. It was really sad to stop breastfeeding, but nothing else worked. I sympathise.

My daughter (now 2.5 months old) also has LI. From 1.5 months, I noticed her stool was greenish with lumps of undigested breast milk. We had a stool test for carbohydrates, and it confirmed everything.

I didn’t want to stop breastfeeding, so I gave her Lactase Baby, but it started causing colic—that was terrifying; I cried along with my daughter. I stopped giving it, stopped reading everything online, and just breastfed. The colic went away, but the stool remained the same. Nothing bothers her now, and I hope everything continues to be fine.

The conclusion is this: breastfeeding will fix everything =)

We have LNR. Nothing helps so far, he vomits immediately after breastfeeding. He really wants the breast, but we have to give him formula............((((((

22, are you mistaken? Is cow's milk better for him than yours?

All infants have lactose intolerance, which resolves as they grow.

21, all correct

Author, practically everyone goes through this, don't stuff the child with all sorts of nonsense. You can give Hipp baby tea made from fennel, 10 ml per day.

Baby Calm helps us; we give 10 drops into the baby's mouth before feeding. It's a natural herbal preparation, containing fennel—the very same herb used to make the famous dill water in the past. We also took Lactose Baby. Our doctor said it's rare for one capsule per feeding to help children. More often, the number of capsules needs to be increased, sometimes up to 3–4 at a time!!!

Yes, I forgot to mention. With lactose intolerance, mum needs to eliminate all dairy products from her diet, meaning no milk, no fermented dairy, no cheese, etc. With this comprehensive approach (Lactase, eliminating dairy, using colic remedies like Baby Calm and Sab Simplex), results are noticeable within a few days.

The same story with the tests and Creon. Although my own milk hasn't disappeared yet, the heart-wrenching cries and arching from it are just terrifying. We started with a soy formula (Humana), which has no lactose at all. Now we've switched to a low-lactose one. So far—touch wood—she eats and doesn't scream after every feeding. However, I plan to gradually introduce a full formula around three months if everything is okay, and if my milk doesn't disappear, I might even start breastfeeding again.

Don't worry so much!!! It's unclear why, but lactose intolerance is common in every second child, and we're no exception. We also took our daughter's stool for tests. We added lactase to her milk. However, her cries from colic didn't stop, and since I'm a mother with fragile nerves, my milk supply suddenly dried up at 1.5 months—apparently, I couldn't handle the baby crying around the clock; I was like a robot, everything on autopilot. We started feeding her Nutramigen, lactose-free. You won't believe it, but everything cleared up as if by magic. I completely forgot about colic!!! So, hang in there, all you mums!!! Now, can you help me? We're 3.5 months old, and I want to start introducing complementary foods. The paediatrician advised starting with vegetable purees; juices are still a bit early due to lactose intolerance. So, which jars did you use? What's best? Also, I need to watch for my baby's reaction to each product, but how can I tell if she'll develop a rash or not if we're on Fenistil?

My daughter is 4 months old.

The daughter is 4 months old, how to introduce complementary foods with lactose intolerance? I gave a few drops of beetroot juice, and we started having green stools and gas formation.

I gave Baby Calm for colic... it helped a lot and immediately.

Is this a liquid medication? Does it not need to be diluted in milk 10 minutes before feeding, like Lactase Baby? If so, I'll get it, because I'm already exhausted from expressing milk before every feed...

My little daughter has lactose intolerance, we give her Lactase Baby, but it doesn't help, and I don't want to switch to formula. If it's not too much trouble, could you please write to me about Kerulac? What is the dosage and how should it be given? I read online that this medication is added to milk 3 hours before feeding. How many ml are in the bottle? If it really is enough to use just one drop before feeding, then I'll order it. If it's not too much trouble, please write to anna_shemenkova@mail.ru. I would be very grateful.

We were diagnosed with lactose intolerance at 1 month old and advised to stop breastfeeding and switch to a lactose-free formula, but I simply bought Lactazar, mixing it before each feeding except for night feeds. However, colic still persists. We are now 3 months old, and the colic hasn't gone away. I'm following a diet, not overfeeding, and the doctor just shrugs. A warm cloth helps me—I iron it and place it on the tummy. I also buy Bobotik, which is a simethicone preparation, the same as Espumisan. You could try giving dill water; it relieves spasms. But don’t get irritated or shout at the baby—it’s better to hold them close and tell them how much you love them. Skin to skin.

I've never heard of Kerulak before, and I wouldn't mind learning about it myself.

Just sweeten it a bit (1–1.5%), and milk becomes easier to tolerate—the sweeter, the more tolerable. Sweeteners: sugar, honey, glucose, etc.
See *Chemistry and Life*, 2009, No. 6, www.hij.ru. Drink milk, people.

My child also has lactose intolerance. There was constantly loose stool and also constipation. Nothing helped. We tried: Smecta, Linex, Creon 10000, Lactase Baby. Then our local paediatrician referred us to the Children's Regional Consultative and Diagnostic Centre in Moscow to see an endocrinologist. There, they prescribed Motilium and Florin Forte for the child, and for me, they excluded all types of milk from my diet, along with all products containing colourings, preservatives, flavourings, and stabilisers. And we did that for a month. But it helped within just two weeks.

Natalia, were you told to exclude only milk, or dairy products as well?

Hello Vera! My baby is now 1.5 months old, and we are experiencing exactly the same situation with lactose intolerance as you did back then: crying, fussiness, very little sleep, which leads to even more crying, etc. I feel so sorry for the baby, seeing them suffer like this. Could you please share what ultimately helped you and how things are going now? I don’t want to give up breastfeeding, and I’m also somewhat skeptical about medications—they often treat one thing but harm another.

We also had lactose intolerance (or difficulty digesting lactose). Lactase Baby helped; it's important to note that the dosage should be based on how much the baby consumes. One capsule per 100 ml, but considering a lot gets spilled or smeared on the spoon, I diluted two capsules. Also, if you're breastfeeding, the baby starts eating more, and you might not notice that the amount of enzyme needs to be increased. It's crucial that an insufficient amount of the enzyme won't help (even if you give it consistently). The main thing is not to be afraid to give it. It's not medication but an enzyme that the baby has too little of and can't handle the amount of milk they're consuming. As soon as you notice lactose intolerance symptoms reappearing, increase the number of capsules. In the end, we were giving three per feeding (accounting for spills, etc.). Alternatively, you can calculate based on how much the baby should be eating without waiting. See below...

Additionally, this issue is compounded by dysbiosis, which presents with identical symptoms. So, aside from lactase, we also took Normoflorin B and L1. These are live bacteria, which we diluted in breast milk and administered using a Medela supplementary feeding spoon. We had to give lactase with every feeding (including at night). Once digestion normalised, the bloating, colic, green stools, and crying stopped. Constipation persisted for a long time—sometimes they pooped, sometimes not. We are also on breastfeeding, and I eat everything, even mangoes and tangerines. From my own experience, I’ve noticed no reaction in the baby to the foods I eat. During the bloating period, I was on a strict diet (only buckwheat), but the tummy still swelled and hurt. We took lactase until 2.5 months. Then, I didn’t stop it immediately: one dose every four days (there’s a website about lactase where I read how to taper off). If symptoms reappear, it’s too early to stop. Also, be cautious about giving from bottles if you’re breastfeeding. Mine later didn’t want to take the breast. The Medela spoon still works for us; we use it to drink water or take medicine (for acute respiratory infections). That seems to be all. Wishing everyone luck and good health. We’ll be five months old in a week. We breastfeed, poop on our own (before, we had to help with a cotton swab, applied a little oil under the nappy and a bit in the bottom, and then they’d poop right away, otherwise there’d be crying and such). Anyway, wishing everyone luck and peace ;)

Is it possible not to take anything? These illnesses usually go away on their own.

I have the same problem! The baby strains, cries, passes gas, and has bowel movements 2-3 times a day with great difficulty and only with the help of a gas relief tube! The colour is normal, but the stools are thick, like an adult's! They diagnosed lactose intolerance. The baby was on mixed feeding, now only on formula! We've tried all the medications listed above and are now on lactose-free NAN! Recently, we had a stool test for carbohydrates! Everything is normal, 0-0.25%! Does that mean there's no illness? Today, I'm switching back to Nutrilon, which we used to feed! Now we're waiting for the dysbacteriosis test! Girls, who has had the carbohydrate test done and what was the percentage? If ours is normal, does that mean the lactose intolerance diagnosis was incorrect and we're just dealing with ordinary colic?

My son is 11 days old—doctors have also diagnosed him with LI. I scoured the entire internet and found this:

http://www.babyblog.ru/user/Nyonechka/896922

http://am-am.info/pro-laktaznuyu-nedostatochnost/all-comments/

Read everything!!!! These are very useful articles!!! For a breastfed baby under 3 months, LI is normal!!! It doesn’t need to be treated!!!

Hello, I have a problem. My little daughter is 4 months old. She developed dysbiosis due to antibiotics, and her temperature rose to 38.3°C. We ended up in the hospital, where she was diagnosed with staphylococcus. The doctor switched her to a lactose-free formula, and her stool improved. The doctor advised gradually reintroducing breastfeeding in a couple of days, but after the very first breastfeeding session, the baby developed loose stools and colic, and her temperature rose again at night. I don’t know what to do. For now, I’m feeding her formula, but she doesn’t eat it with much enthusiasm and is also spitting up.

Kerulak helped on the second day of use. We put a drop in the mouth before breastfeeding.

Selling a new bottle (as we are using one and no longer need it) – it helped a lot, so thank you, Kerulak.

1500 rubles for 10 ml (enough for about 3 months)

If interested, write to malinagr@yandex.ru

Of course, it doesn't need to be treated, but when the baby is breastfeeding and screams and refuses the breast after 3-4 sips of milk, you start thinking whether it's better to switch to lactose-free formula or treat it while continuing breastfeeding.

Lactose and lactase are two different and opposite substances. Lactase helps break down lactose!