Lactose intolerance commonly affects adults, making dairy products difficult to digest, but lactose intolerance among babies is rare. Lactose intolerance and a milk allergy are different conditions that are often confused with one another. If you're breastfeeding your child and you notice that she constantly develops diarrhea, stomach pain and gas after feeding, you need to talk with your pediatrician. Babies who are diagnosed with lactose intolerance can still drink breast milk with preliminary treatment.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is a common digestive condition that affects the digestive system whenever you eat dairy products. Lactose is a sugar found in most forms of dairy milk, including cow's milk, goat's milk, sheep's milk and human milk. Lactase is an enzyme created by the digestive system to simply the sugar, making it easy to absorb into the body. You are considered lactose intolerant when you lack enough lactase to effectively digest the lactose, which leads to symptoms such as gas, bloating, diarrhea and stomach cramps.
Pediatric Intolerance
Pediatric lactose intolerance is rare, especially in healthy, full-term babies. During the last trimester of the pregnancy, the fetus begins to produce large amounts of lactase in preparation of a milk-based diet. If your child was born premature, he may be temporarily lactose intolerant until around the time of his expected due date, according to DrGreene.com, a pediatrics website. Lactose intolerance can develop in a baby if the baby experiences trauma to the digestive system or has surgery. Aside from these situations, lactose intolerance is uncommon in babies.
Breastfeeding
You can still breastfeed your baby if she is lactose intolerant, but you will need to provide your baby with the lactase enzyme before she eats. Lactase enzyme supplements are sold in liquid form, which can be given to your baby right before you breastfeed him. Otherwise, you can pump your breast milk and add the appropriate amount of lactase to the milk before giving your child the bottle. The Baby Center website states that breast milk is the best food for your infant. Talk with your doctor before attempting to treat your baby's condition.
Milk Allergy Consideration
Milk allergies are the most common in babies and young children, under the age of 3, according to MayoClinic.com. Milk allergies are commonly confused with lactose intolerance because both conditions cause gastric symptoms after drinking milk. Breast milk will only cause a milk allergy reaction in a baby if the mother drinks cow's milk. A milk allergy will cause more distinctive symptoms, such as hives, facial swelling, difficulty breathing and vomiting.
