Lactose intolerance. Please help!

No, lactase didn't help; we were on Creon 10000. It was tolerable (he didn't scream all night, only until 2-3 a.m.). And then a miracle happened—I started taking antibiotics (they didn't fully clean my uterus after childbirth) and fed my son NAN Lactose-Free formula for two weeks—all the colic disappeared. Then I went back to breastfeeding, and everything was fine; apparently, his pancreas matured. In general, grit your teeth and endure it; colic is common until 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 your diagnosis made? Did you have a carbohydrate test done?

Everything you describe is typical of ordinary infant colic. Even though it's common, when my baby screamed from it for the first time, my husband and I got so scared 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'll need to give lactase enzyme for a while. If the test results are fine, then just grit your teeth and endure it. Usually, colic passes by 3 to 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. You can make one from a regular enema or pipette. But don't overuse it. Try applying warm cloths to the tummy; my downy one eased the pain a bit. And for some, inexpensive dill water helps (it helped two of my acquaintances a lot). But it's hard to find now. You can only buy it at pharmacies that still have compounding departments. There are special medications (like Lactase Baby, for example) prescribed for lactose deficiency. But a doctor should prescribe them AFTER carbohydrate tests.

Get tested! They're so quick to diagnose lactose intolerance!!! You probably just have colic... With true intolerance, the stool should be abnormal (green, bubbly, and foamy), with spit-up, 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 right, and we actually needed more lactose instead (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... In short, 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 older child had it and suffered during and after feedings, something I still find terrifying to remember. I would get up 5–7 times a night for him—it was a nightmare. But once we treated the staph infection, everything went back to normal. No medications helped except chlorophyllipt. So, stay calm and investigate the issue thoroughly to pinpoint exactly what’s wrong with your baby. Doctors often talk nonsense—it’s easier for them to say something vague than to take the time to figure things out properly.

Girls, we got the test results. Carbohydrates in the stool are 1.8%, with the normal range being 0 to 0.25%. The diagnosis was made based on this test. Plus, the stool analysis shows he has 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 it during two feedings and at night as well, but the baby still fusses and cries. I understand that, yes, it's colic, but not like this—the baby suffers after every feeding! After every single one!!!! And by evening, it's a full-blown meltdown. I'm really worried and want to help him somehow. We put a warm cloth on his tummy, warm him up, and lay him on his stomach, but all of this only provides relief for a few minutes.

We also got tested for dysbiosis and for 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 it seemed like the area around his mouth turned a little blue from all that stress. Is it bad when a child's mouth area 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 from 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 another... hang in there.

My daughter also had relative lactase deficiency. We had to stop breastfeeding and switch to lactose-free formula—back then, there was All-110 and Nutrilion lactose-free (my daughter is 8 now). At first, we tried mixed feeding, but it didn’t help, so we had to completely stop breastfeeding, even though I had plenty of milk. Everything gradually normalized, 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. Weaning should only be considered 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 back to normal in two days. We breastfed like this for several months until we introduced Nestlé dairy-free cereals. 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 get a stool carbohydrate test done at the Gabrichevsky Institute in Moscow.

I wonder how to get it if I don't have any acquaintances who travel to Berlin?

I looked it up online, but it's essentially lactase, just from an imported manufacturer.

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

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

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 really hard to give up breastfeeding, but nothing else worked. I understand how you feel.

My daughter had lactose intolerance, and nothing helped until I switched to a lactose-free formula. It was really hard to give up breastfeeding, but nothing else worked. I understand how you feel.

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

I didn’t want to stop breastfeeding, so I gave her Baby Lactase, 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 L.N. Nothing helps so far, he vomits immediately after breastfeeding. He really wants the breast, but we have to give him formula............((((((

22, are you sure you didn't mix it up? Is cow's milk better for him than yours?

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

21, everything is correct

Author, practically everyone goes through this, don't stuff the child with all sorts of nonsense. You can give Hipp baby tea with 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 remedy that contains fennel—the same ingredient used to make the famous dill water in the past. We also took Lactase Baby. Our doctor said it's rare for one capsule per feeding to help children. Most 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, the mother should 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 Simethicone), results are noticeable within a few days.

The same story with the tests and Creon. Although my milk hasn't dried up yet, the heart-wrenching screams 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—knock on wood—she eats and doesn't scream after every feeding. However, I plan to gradually introduce a regular formula around three months if everything goes well, and if my milk doesn't dry up, I might even start breastfeeding again.

Don't worry so much!!! It's unclear what causes it, but lactose intolerance is common in every other 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 mom 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 moms!!! Now, can you help me? We're 3.5 months old, and I want to start introducing complementary foods. The pediatrician recommended starting with vegetable purees; juices are still too early due to lactose intolerance. So, which jarred foods 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 using Fenistil?

My daughter is 4 months old.

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

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 feeding...

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 milliliters 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. They suggested we stop breastfeeding and switch to a lactose-free formula, but I just bought Lactazar, mix it before each feeding except for nighttime feedings, yet the 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 baby's tummy. I also buy Bobotik, which is a simethicone preparation, the same as Espumisan. You can try giving dill water; it relieves spasms. But don't get irritated or yell at the baby—it's better to hold them close and tell them how much you love them. Skin-to-skin contact.

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. They constantly have loose stools and also suffer from constipation. Nothing helped. We tried: Smecta, Linex, Creon 10000, Lactase Baby. Then our local pediatrician referred us to the Children's Regional Consultative and Diagnostic Center in Moscow to see an endocrinologist. There, they prescribed Motilium and Florin Forte for the child, and for me, they eliminated all types of milk from my diet, as well as all products containing dyes, preservatives, flavorings, and stabilizers. We followed this for a month. But it helped within just two weeks.

Natalia, did they tell you 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 suffering like this. Could you share what ultimately helped you and how things are going now? I don’t want to give up breastfeeding, and I’m also not very keen on medications—they often fix 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 actually 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 a medication but an enzyme that the baby doesn't have enough of yet, and it can't handle the amount of milk being consumed. As soon as you notice the symptoms of lactose intolerance returning, 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 for symptoms. 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 supplemental feeding spoon. We had to give lactase with every feeding (including at night). Once digestion normalized, the bloating, colic, green stools, and crying stopped. Constipation persisted for a long time—sometimes they pooped, sometimes they didn’t. We’re also 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 stomach still swelled and hurt. We took lactase until 2.5 months. Then, I didn’t stop it abruptly: one dose every four days (I read about how to taper off on a website about lactase). If symptoms reappear, it’s too early to stop. Also, be cautious about using bottles if you’re breastfeeding. My baby later refused to take the breast. The Medela spoon still works for us; we use it to give water or medicine (like for acute respiratory infections). That’s about it. Wishing everyone luck and good health. We’ll be five months old next week. We’re breastfeeding, pooping on our own (before, we had to help with a cotton swab, applied a little oil under the diaper and a bit in the butt, and then they’d poop right away—otherwise, there’d be crying and such). Anyway, wishing everyone luck and peace ;)

Can we just not 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, only with the help of a gas relief tube! The color is normal, but the stool is 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 mentioned 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 him! Now we're waiting for the dysbacteriosis test! Girls, who has had the carbohydrate test done, and what was the percentage? If everything is normal for us, does that mean the lactose intolerance diagnosis was incorrect and we're just dealing with regular 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 dysbacteriosis 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 eats it without much enthusiasm and even spits up.

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

Selling a new bottle (since we are using one and no longer need it) it helped a lot, thanks to Kerulac.

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 nurses and screams and refuses the breast after 3-4 sips of milk, you start thinking whether it's better to use lactose-free formula or treat it while continuing breastfeeding.

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