Thread: Considering stopping breatfeeding...

Im considering going from beastfeeding to formula. I really don't want to but my milk seems to be toxic to my LO. Every evening from about 8pm - 12am he cries of bad gas pain. I've switched things in my diet, stopped dairy and nothing helps. When I was prego I had the same problem, I couldnt eat some food because it would give me awful stomach pains. Food I used to always eat, like red meat, soda, spagettii, milk.... All those foods and more made me sick as a dog while prego. I'm now thinking it's all do to my LO and his very sensitive stomach. It seems like whatever I eat it still makes him have gas or a crampy stomach. I don't want to keep putting him through this. Yesterday I tried formula for a day to see if it made a difference but I'm not sure if it worked cause I had to nurse him twice cause we were out and i ran out of formula. I feel like he needs a consistent diet and not the changes in my breast milk do to the foods I eat.
It brings me to tears knowing that the milk I produce is hurting my baby but I'm also in tears as I consider stopping nursing cause I love it so much...

Any suggestions???

Have you checked with a lactation consultant? I have no idea but maybe there are supplements you can take to help digestion? Or that baby can take? There's gotta be something you can do to continue nursing!

It takes at least a week for the milk proteins to leave your body. It's not right away. Hope your LO gets some relief.

I've found that for Gillian, gas drops have made a world of difference in her nighttime behaviour, she is still gassy but it doesn't bother her nearly as much. Remember that it can take up to two weeks for an elimination diet to make a difference. Ultimately, you have to do what is best for your entire family, and you are doing a great job so far!

To truly know if eliminating dairy will help you need to eliminate ALL dairy for at least 2 weeks. You need to read labels and not eat any dairy at all for two weeks. I would definitely do that before stopping nursing. Also I would try to wait it out another month or so anyway...babies this little change so rapidly. Their systems are maturing and changing so fast.
also how would you feel if you switched to formula and it didn't help?
I would definitely contact a lactation consultant.

Lurker***

From what I've read breastmilk is the most easily digested by a baby. If he is having gas pains and problems with feeding switching to formula can likely make it worse. I remember a few instances where mothers on my birth boards switched to formula and found out that their babies actually tolerated the breast milk better.

If you are enjoying nursing try talking to a LC to get some advice. If you're not enjoying nursing feel free to switch. Either way the important thing is that your baby is getting the nourishment that he needs. I just wouldn't quit if I was enjoying nursing, I'd try to figure out how to help in other ways.

Ive had to cut out all dairy, even byproducts and processed foods containing dairy(like cookies, chocolate, baking mixes, salad dressings, etc) as well as tomatoes. Those seem to be what was bothering him and he was doing the nightly 8-12(9-1) screaming and fussy spell too.

It took a few days to see a difference, but there definitely is one now. We arent all better, but definitely better.

Im sorry you are struggling with this too, it makes it hard

I agree with all PP's.

I read in a book called Baby 411 that sometimes babies have digestive issues due to an immature gastrointestinal system. They said that a lot of research is being conducted on probiotics. In a study, the probiotics were given to babies who were diagnosed as having colic. In a week's time, the colic had disappeared in all of them. This is, of course, one study. And it is still being investigated. They said that if parents are interested in trying probiotics, they should consult the baby's pediatrician to get correct dosage and the right probiotic. Anyway, just a little fyi.

Have you tried gripe water? We did it for a couple of days and it worked great, but then Sophia's reflux got so bad that they had to prescribe her Zantac. The gripe water does work though! It just stopped working for us since her reflux was the big issue.