Why did you choose not to breastfeed?

Kayla - commented on Jul 5, 2012

I could not have said it better myself! Although, I got very lucky with not being pushed by the hospital nurses when I said I chose not to breastfeed. However, my daughter ended up being lactose and tolerant and had acid reflux really bad. When we found this out her pediatrician made the statement, "well if you breastfed this wouldn't be an issue right now!" I am so glad I am not the only mother who feels this way!!

Crazy_mom - commented on Aug 27, 2012

I don't care how anybody feeds their babies but formula is definitely NOT as good as breast milk, that is more than medically proven. If you can't breastfeed or just do not want to, who cares as long as you feed your baby. However, making a statement that is completely incorrect and misleading is not productive (and I will not say if I breastfed or not).

Esme - commented on Aug 30, 2012

Sorry to disagree, but breastfeeding is every baby's birthright.

Esme - commented on Aug 30, 2012

Maybe you'll change your mind when you see the actual difference between breastmilk and formula as pasted below: Water Carbohydrates (energy source) Lactose Oligosaccharides (see below) Carboxylic acid Alpha hydroxy acid Lactic acid Proteins (building muscles and bones) Whey protein Alpha-lactalbumin HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made Lethal to Tumour cells) Lactoferrin Many antimicrobial factors (see below) Casein Serum albumin Non-protein nitrogens Creatine Creatinine Urea Uric acid Peptides (see below) Amino Acids (the building blocks of proteins) Alanine Arginine Aspartate Clycine Cystine Glutamate Histidine Isoleucine Leucine Lycine Methionine Phenylalanine Proline Serine Taurine Theronine Tryptophan Tyrosine Valine Carnitine (amino acid compound necessary to make use of fatty acids as an energy source) Nucleotides (chemical compounds that are the structural units of RNA and DNA) 5’-Adenosine monophosphate (5”-AMP) 3’:5’-Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (3’:5’-cyclic AMP) 5’-Cytidine monophosphate (5’-CMP) Cytidine diphosphate choline (CDP choline) Guanosine diphosphate (UDP) Guanosine diphosphate - mannose 3’- Uridine monophosphate (3’-UMP) 5’-Uridine monophosphate (5’-UMP) Uridine diphosphate (UDP) Uridine diphosphate hexose (UDPH) Uridine diphosphate-N-acetyl-hexosamine (UDPAH) Uridine diphosphoglucuronic acid (UDPGA) Several more novel nucleotides of the UDP type Fats Triglycerides Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (important for brain development) Arachidonic acid (AHA) (important for brain development) Linoleic acid Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) Conjugated linoleic acid (Rumenic acid) Free Fatty Acids Monounsaturated fatty acids Oleic acid Palmitoleic acid Heptadecenoic acid Saturated fatty acids Stearic Palmitic acid Lauric acid Myristic acid Phospholipids Phosphatidylcholine Phosphatidylethanolamie Phosphatidylinositol Lysophosphatidylcholine Lysophosphatidylethanolamine Plasmalogens Sphingolipids Sphingomyelin Gangliosides GM1 GM2 GM3 Glucosylceramide Glycosphingolipids Galactosylceramide Lactosylceramide Globotriaosylceramide (GB3) Globoside (GB4) Sterols Squalene Lanosterol Dimethylsterol Methosterol Lathosterol Desmosterol Triacylglycerol Cholesterol 7-dehydrocholesterol Stigma-and campesterol 7-ketocholesterol Sitosterol β-lathosterol Vitamin D metabolites Steroid hormones Vitamins Vitamin A Beta carotene Vitamin B6 Vitamin B8 (Inositol) Vitamin B12 Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin E a-Tocopherol Vitamin K Thiamine Riboflavin Niacin Folic acid Pantothenic acid Biotin Minerals Calcium Sodium Potassium Iron Zinc Chloride Phosphorus Magnesium Copper Manganese Iodine Selenium Choline Sulpher Chromium Cobalt Fluorine Nickel Metal Molybdenum (essential element in many enzymes) Growth Factors (aid in the maturation of the intestinal lining) Cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) IL-2 IL-4 IL-6 IL-8 IL-10 Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) Macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) Platelet derived growth factors (PDGF) Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Hepatocyte growth factor -α (HGF-α) HGF-β Tumor necrosis factor-α Interferon-γ Epithelial growth factor (EGF) Transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) TGF β1 TGF-β2 Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) (also known as somatomedin C) Insulin-like growth factor-II Nerve growth factor (NGF) Erythropoietin Peptides (combinations of amino acids) HMGF I (Human growth factor) HMGF II HMGF III Cholecystokinin (CCK) β-endorphins Parathyroid hormone (PTH) Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) β-defensin-1 Calcitonin Gastrin Motilin Bombesin (gastric releasing peptide, also known as neuromedin B) Neurotensin Somatostatin Hormones (chemical messengers that carry signals from one cell, or group of cells, to another via the blood) Cortisol Triiodothyronine (T3) Thyroxine (T4) Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (also known as thyrotropin) Thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) Prolactin Oxytocin Insulin Corticosterone Thrombopoietin Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) GRH Leptin (aids in regulation of food intake) Ghrelin (aids in regulation of food intake) Adiponectin Feedback inhibitor of lactation (FIL) Eicosanoids Prostaglandins (enzymatically derived from fatty acids) PG-E1 PG-E2 PG-F2 Leukotrienes Thromboxanes Prostacyclins Enzymes (catalysts that support chemical reactions in the body) Amylase Arysulfatase Catalase Histaminase Lipase Lysozyme PAF-acetylhydrolase Phosphatase Xanthine oxidase Antiproteases (thought to bind themselves to macromolecules such as enzymes and as a result prevent allergic and anaphylactic reactions) a-1-antitrypsin a-1-antichymotrypsin Antimicrobial factors (are used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects, such as bacteria and viruses) Leukocytes (white blood cells) Phagocytes Basophils Neutrophils Eoisinophils Macrophages Lymphocytes B lymphocytes (also known as B cells) T lymphocytes (also known as C cells) sIgA (Secretory immunoglobulin A) (the most important antiinfective factor) IgA2 IgG IgD IgM IgE Complement C1 Complement C2 Complement C3 Complement C4 Complement C5 Complement C6 Complement C7 Complement C8 Complement C9 Glycoproteins Mucins (attaches to bacteria and viruses to prevent them from clinging to mucousal tissues) Lactadherin Alpha-lactoglobulin Alpha-2 macroglobulin Lewis antigens Ribonuclease Haemagglutinin inhibitors Bifidus Factor (increases growth of Lactobacillus bifidus - which is a good bacteria) Lactoferrin (binds to iron which prevents harmful bacteria from using the iron to grow) Lactoperoxidase B12 binding protein (deprives microorganisms of vitamin B12) Fibronectin (makes phagocytes more aggressive, minimizes inflammation, and repairs damage caused by inflammation) Oligosaccharides (more than 200 different kinds!) FORMULA MILK Water Carbohydrates Lactose Corn maltodextrin Protein Partially hydrolyzed reduced minerals whey protein concentrate (from cow’s milk) Fats Palm olein Soybean oil Coconut oil High oleic safflower oil (or sunflower oil) M. alpina oil (Fungal DHA) C.cohnii oil (Algal ARA) Minerals Potassium citrate Potassium phosphate Calcium chloride Tricalcium phosphate Sodium citrate Magnesium chloride Ferrous sulphate Zinc sulphate Sodium chloride Copper sulphate Potassium iodide Manganese sulphate Sodium selenate Vitamins Sodium ascorbate Inositol Choline bitartrate Alpha-Tocopheryl acetate Niacinamide Calcium pantothenate Riboflavin Vitamin A acetate Pyridoxine hydrochloride Thiamine mononitrate Folic acid Phylloquinone Biotin Vitamin D3 Vitamin B12 Enzyme Trypsin Amino acids Taurine L-Carnitine (a combination of two different amino acids) Nucleotides Cytidine 5-monophosphate Disodium uridine 5-monophosphate Adenosine 5-monophosphate Disodium guanosine 5-monophosphate Soy Lecithin Developed as a student project for the Breastfeeding Course for Health Care Providers, Douglas College, New Westminster, BC, Canada - © 2007 by Cecily Heslett, Sherri Hedberg and Haley Rumble.

Sandy - commented on Aug 30, 2012

i know people get thier panties in a bind over this feeding debate but its crazy, ive know one breastfeeding mother feed her child for over a year and that child has eczema, asthma, hyperactivity, and tons of food allergies, that was her 3rd child, and yet her first two kids where bottle fed and have no health issue. Im not saying breastfeeding will cause those types of issues but what i am saying sometimes even with breastmilk your child care have issues.its not the bulletproof cape people seem to make it out to be. I personally do think breastmilk is best but thats my opinion and im entitled to it just like everyone else is, but please remember that, its YOUR OPINION. not everyone has to agree with you. lets be honest here, sure science says breast milk is best and they very well may be right, but science seems to change their minds an awful damn lot! How many times has the ama change their stand on circumcision? I feel each person should do whats they feel is best for themselves and baby,with in reason of course, and have lots of happy mamas and babies and less witch hunts over what you do with your boobs. And i do breast feed, just tired of people getting nasty over this.

Jenny - commented on Dec 24, 2012

why does it seem that women are taking the road less traveled or the easy way out ?????? life seems to be that way and im not saying you all made the wrong choice i saying most of you are saying it was just convenient or nice that your man can get up to help when most men work all day they dont want to take a 3 am feeding lol you the mom and issues like rape/ baby in hospital nicu /ect is a reasonable excuse NOT to breast feed ....my baby is in the nicu i still go when i can to breast feed and i pump and i have a older son and ect i go out of my way to do for my baby its not all about what the mm wants and the daddy can help you just pump some put it in a bottle and wow your man can feed not had lol

Nicole - commented on Sep 7, 2012

Uh, no offense, Jessica, but the amount of *crap* I had to buy to try to get my milk to come in and continue to breastfeed my child was every bit as much AND more than if I'd originally just bottle fed her. First, breast feeding mothers *do* need to buy bottles. For storing extra milk, (what, I'm just going to throw away that extra milk I pumped out to up production?,) so that the baby's father can help with feedings, (breastfed babies take longer, (generally speaking,) to sleep through the night... why is it the mother's SOLE responsibility to feed their child?,) the breast pump, the breast pads ... (ew, leakage!, okay... maybe you have to buy these irregardless if you're breastfeeding, I dunno, I've only had one child,) the boob creams to try to help with mastitis... (oh my god, mastitis sucks!) Formula canisters are recyclable as are almost all baby bottles. However, I don't know if the rubber nipples are, so that is true, but nonetheless, these are things you'll have to buy or be given from a baby shower anyways. No one said, hey!, let's give the baby cow's milk. That's ridiculous! Cow's milk *is* for baby cows. Formula does not equal milk from the udder of a cow there is a lot of processing that goes on there, including the addition of vegetable fats. And to all of you that claim babies who aren't fed breast milk have a higher risk of infant mortality? "In particular, the use of infant formula in less economically developed countries is linked to poorer health outcomes because of the prevalence of unsanitary preparation conditions, including lack of clean water and lack of sanitizing equipment." --- (from Wiki,) Those of us in developed countries don't really have to worry about that, now do we? I think the links between infant immunity (from their mother,) and breastfeeding are slightly over-hyped. I'm not going to be so arrogant as to say, hey, the don't exist, but man, if your child is failing to thrive, if you're not producing enough milk for your child, for the love of God and your infant, make the switch to infant formula & don't allow anyone to make you feel bad about it! Quite honestly, why you don't breastfeed is NO one's business, nobody has the right to make you feel like "less of a mother."

Shawnn - commented on Jun 21, 2012

Liz, when asked a personal question by someone whom I have never met, and I consider the question entirely inappropriate due to the content (personal information), I will answer as I see fit. And I don't see how it's anyone's business when my children were diagnosed, especially when it is quite obvious that it was when they were babies! After all, the breastfeeding question is moot when they're older than babies! These are the types of questions and comments that mothers (who, for whatever reason, chose not to bf) are upset by. They presume that we, as mothers, are incapable of either A)deciphering what we are told by physicians, B)are just to damned lazy to do it, or C) tried, but didn't get enough support. My making these silent assumptions, and then asking forward questions, you and others are being rude as well. SO...since I obviously wouldn't feed a child for a few years, and deal with intestinal problems the entire time, and wait to take them to a physician until they are toddlers, of course they were babies.

Jessica - commented on Jun 27, 2012

The part that is rude is for a total stranger to judge another for their choice/ability to feed their child.

Sammy - commented on Jul 4, 2012

Shawn I too didnt breastfeed my son as he was diagnosed lactose intolerant as a v young baby.The nasty snide comments were awful.It doesnt make us less of a mother for formula feeding.I found the questions you have been asked v rude too

Michelle - commented on Jul 4, 2012

If a baby is lactose intolerant, it doesn't mean they can't breast feed. Our bodies are designed to digest human milk, not cow's milk. We are the only species that regularly consumes milk from another animal, and the only species that consumes any milk after weaning. If there are issues with lactose, the mother needs to make sure she doesn't consume dairy products while breast feeding. Please don't think I'm judging, as I had my own reasons for not breast feeding, I just don't want people to be confused about that one issue. My son is 9 and healthy and intelligent, even though he was on (soy) formula.

Melanie - commented on Jul 4, 2012

Actually Michelle all mammals produce Lactose in their milk and human milk is one of the highest. It doesn't matter if the mother consumes milk or not her body will still produce Lactose. All three of my babies were lactose intolerant, yes it was diagnosed by a specialist who also told me that it is considered rare only because testing for it is almost impossible without giving a child a colonoscopy which naturally most health professionals and parents are reluctant to do. It is this sort of misinformation that you are regurgitating that makes mothers like myself and Shawnn so angry. If you don't know please don't try to give advice to others!

Deb - commented on Jul 5, 2012

I don't think you were being rude, Shawnn. I couldn't breastfeed either, which was a good thing because my son had a dairy allergy. We switched to soy and it was much better. I too have a milk allergy which I found out after, as well as intollerance. I get tired of people telling me also that I am incorrect and there's no way my son could be allergic or intollerant. He could be both for all doctors know. He was having horrible bowel problems which is intollerance. It was missed and we switched after pressing the issue the horrible pediatrician. Good for you for taking them to a gastro, which is eventually the rode we took.

Da-Nisha - commented on Jul 7, 2012

My son was diagnosed with lactose intolerance and gerd around 4 months old. His Dr. recommended nutramigen which is very expensive and spells very bad but it was the only thing that my son was able to digest and hold down. It is not impossible to have a baby that is lactose intolerant.

Jessica - commented on Jul 13, 2012

Ladies-lactose isn't the sugar in breastmilk, so if your child is lactose intolerant all it would mean is the mom would need to avoid it. C'mon now-you could do better then that!!!!!

Jennifer - commented on Jul 15, 2012

I have a friend who breastfed for 18 months and her son is lactose intolerant. I guess it's different for every mom and child! She actually pumped extra so that he would have breast milk for cereal after she stopped nursing.

Melanie - commented on Jul 18, 2012

Jessica, see my previous comment. ALL mammal milks have Lactose in them, INCLUDING human milk which is actually one of the highest in Lactose, regardless if the mother drinks it or not. Maybe you should do some research before criticizing other people!

Sandy - commented on Jul 30, 2012

Lactose intolerance and the breastfed baby By Joy Anderson BSc(Nutrition), PostgradDipDiet, APD, IBCLC, ABA Breastfeeding Counsellor Lactose intolerance is poorly understood in the Australian community. There are lots of myths and misunderstandings about it, especially when it comes to babies. Contrary to what you may hear: There will not be less lactose in the breastmilk if the mother stops eating dairy products. There is no relationship between lactose intolerance in adult family members, including in the mother, and in babies. They are different types of lactose intolerance. A baby with symptoms of lactose intolerance should not be taken off the breast and fed on soy-based or special lactose-free infant formula. Lactose intolerance is very different to intolerance or allergy to cows' milk protein. Lactose is the sugar in all mammalian milks. It is produced in the breast. The amount of lactose in breastmilk is independent of the mother's consumption of lactose and hardly varies. The milk the baby gets when he first starts to feed contains much the same amount of lactose as does the milk at the end of a breastfeed. However, the milk at the end does contain more fat. Lactase is the enzyme that is required to digest lactose. Lactose intolerance occurs when a person does not produce this enzyme, or does not produce enough of it, and is therefore unable to digest lactose. If it is not digested and broken down, it cannot be absorbed. If this happens, the lactose continues on in the digestive tract until it gets to the large bowel. It is here that bacteria break it down to make acids and gases. The symptoms of lactose intolerance are liquid, sometimes green, frothy stools and an irritable baby who may pass wind often. If a baby is lactose intolerant, the medical tests ('hydrogen breath test' and tests for 'reducing sugars' in the stools) would be expected to be positive. However they are also positive in most normal breastfed babies under 3 months. Their use in diagnosing lactose intolerance in young babies is therefore open to question. Lactose intolerance in babies Primary (or true) lactose intolerance This extremely rare genetic condition is incompatible with normal life unless there is medical intervention. A truly lactose-intolerant baby would fail to thrive from birth (ie not even start to gain weight) and show obvious symptoms of malabsorption and dehydration. This is a medical emergency and the baby would need a special diet from soon after birth. Secondary lactose intolerance Because the enzyme lactase is produced in the very tips of the microscopic folds of the intestine, anything that damages the gut lining can cause secondary lactose intolerance. Even subtle damage to the gut may wipe off these tips and reduce the enzyme production, for example: Gastroenteritis. Food intolerance or allergy. In breastfed babies, this can come from food proteins, such as in cows' milk, wheat, soy or egg, or possibly other food chemicals that enter breastmilk from the mother's diet, as well as from food the baby has eaten. Parasitic infection such as giardiasis or cryptosporidiosis. Coeliac disease (intolerance to the gluten in wheat and some other grain products). Following bowel surgery. Food allergies and food intolerances can cause a baby to be unsettled. The foods to which a baby is allergic or intolerant can pass from through the mother's breastmilk. In some cases, removal from the mother's diet of the foods to which the baby is allergic or intolerant, for example cows' milk products, can sometimes help. If you wish to try eliminating foods from your diet on the suspicion that your baby has an allergy or an intolerance, check with a dietitian to help you identify the culprit foods and to make sure your diet is nutritionally adequate for both your and your baby. Cows' milk protein allergy (or intolerance) is often confused with lactose intolerance and many people think they are the same thing. This is not the case. The confusion probably arises because cows' milk protein and lactose are both in the same food, ie dairy products. Since allergy or intolerance to a food protein can cause secondary lactose intolerance, they may be present together, further adding to this confusion. Secondary lactose intolerance is temporary, as long as the gut damage can heal. When the cause of the damage to the gut is removed, for example by taking the food to which a breastfed baby is allergic out of the mother's diet, the gut will heal, even if the baby is still fed breastmilk. If your doctor does diagnose 'lactose intolerance', continuing to breastfeed will not harm your baby as long as she is otherwise well and growing normally. While the baby has symptoms of lactose intolerance, it is sometimes suggested that the mother alternate breastfeeding the baby with feeds of lactose-free artificial baby milk or even take the baby off the breast. Authorities only recommend the use of lactose-free artificial baby milk if the baby is artificially-fed and is very malnourished and/or losing weight. However, human milk remains the best food and will assist with gut healing. In addition, sensitivity of the baby to foreign protein (cow or soy) should be considered before introduction of any artificial baby milk, as regular types, including lactose-free ones, may make this problem worse. You should seek professional advice on the need for hypoallergenic artificial baby milk. A medical adviser should see any baby with long-term symptoms and/or who is failing to thrive. Before even partially taking a baby off the breast for a short time, thought should be given to other aspects of the breastfeeding relationship. Questions you could ask include: How will alternative feeding methods affect my baby? Could bottle-feeding other milk products result in breast refusal later? How easily will I be able to express my milk to maintain my supply? Average recovery time for the gut of a baby with severe gastroenteritis is 4 weeks, but may be up to 8 weeks for a baby under 3 months. For older babies, over about 18 months, recovery may be as rapid as 1 week. If a medical adviser orders alternative feeds for the baby, it is important that the mother understands that her breastmilk is still the normal and proper food for her baby in the long term. You may have heard about giving drops containing the enzyme lactase to babies who have symptoms of lactose intolerance. There is little evidence that these are of much value when used this way, although there are anecdotal reports that relatively large doses may help in some cases. Lactase drops are designed to be put into expressed breastmilk (or other milk) and left overnight for the enzyme to predigest the lactose in the milk. In practice they seem to be occasionally useful for babies. Lactose intolerance in adults Lactase enzyme levels normally change over a person's life span. They rise rapidly in the first week after birth, start to fall from about 3-5 years of age and fall sharply in later childhood. Low levels of lactose in colostrum match the low levels of the enzyme present in the first week of life. Cows' milk is commonly consumed by adults in some populations, but mostly by people of northern European descent. In about 70% of the people of the world, and in over 10% of Australians, levels of this enzyme fall so low in adulthood that they become lactose intolerant. The tendency to adult lactose intolerance is genetically determined. Some races, such as Asian, African, Australian Aboriginal and Hispanic populations are more likely to be lactose intolerant as adults. Caucasians are more likely to be able to consume milk as adults because they tend to continue producing the enzyme lactase throughout life. Even so, the levels do fall with age. People who have been able to drink milk as adults may find they become lactose intolerant when elderly. An adult who has very low levels of the enzyme can usually tolerate some lactose because normal bacteria living in the gut provide a limited capacity to break it down. However, the person may find it gives them loose stools and 'wind'. Human babies of all races can tolerate lactose. In fact human milk has a very high concentration of lactose compared to cows' milk and that of other mammals. This is thought to be related to a human baby's rapid brain growth in infancy, compared to other mammals. Removing lactose from any baby's diet for more than a short period should not be done lightly and then only under medical supervision. Lactose overload in babies Lactose overload can mimic lactose intolerance and is frequently mistaken for it. An overload is often seen in babies consuming large amounts of breastmilk, that is when their mothers have an oversupply. This may result in an unsettled baby with adequate to large weight gains. The baby usually passes urine more than 10 times a day and has many (often explosive) bowel motions in 24 hours. They may have green, frothy poos that resemble those of a baby with lactose intolerance. This usually occurs in babies under 3 months old. Ironically, a mother may thinkthat she has a low milk supply because her baby always seems to be hungry. The nappies can be the biggest clue to what's happening. What comes out the bottom must have gone in the top! There is a vicious cycle here. A large-volume, low-fat feed goes through the baby so quickly that not all the lactose is digested (more fat would help slow it down). The lactose reaching the lower bowel draws extra water into the bowel and is fermented by the bacteria there, producing gas and acid stools. The acid stools often cause a nappy rash. Gas and fluid build-up cause tummy pain and the baby 'acts hungry' (wants to suck, is unsettled, draws up his legs, screams). Sucking is the best comfort he knows and also helps move the gas along the bowel. This tends to ease the pain temporarily and may result in wind and stool being passed. Since the baby indicates that he wants to suck at the breast, his mother, logically, feeds him again. Sometimes it is the only way to comfort him. Unfortunately another large feed on top of the earlier one hurries the system further and results in more gas and fluid accumulation. The milk seems almost literally to 'go in one end and out the other'. Many mothers whose babies have had this problem have found it helpful to change from an 'on-demand' breastfeeding routine. This is usually only necessary for a short time. The aim is to slow the rate at which milk goes through the baby by feeding one breast per feed, or by 'block-feeding'. To block-feed, set a 4-hour time period (this may be adjusted according to the severity of the oversupply) and every time the baby wants to feed during this period, use the same breast. Then use the other breast for the next 4 hours, etc. Each time the baby returns to the already used breast, he gets a lower-volume, higher-fat feed that helps slow the system down. While block-feeding, check that the unused breast does not get overfull. When the baby's symptoms are relieved, the mother is able to go back to a normal breastfeeding routine and feed according to need. Where the problem is severe and/or long-lasting, it is worth trying to work out why there is an oversupply of breastmilk. Is the mother timing feeds and switching sides after a set number of minutes? Has something caused the baby to be unusually unsettled, resulting in frequent comfort sucking and an oversupply? Is secondary lactose intolerance adding to the overload situation? Sometimes a mother who is worried about having a low supply overcompensates by offering more feeds than the baby needs and overstimulates her supply. Perhaps the baby has been unwell, or is suffering discomfort from a difficult birth, and seeks comfort in more frequent feeds than he needs to satisfy hunger. Some mothers just have a tendency to oversupply - there is a normal variation in this as in everything else about our bodies. In days gone by, these may have been the mothers who could have made a living as wet nurses! Specific ways to help with each of these is beyond the scope of this article. However, individual situations can be discussed with an Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), a dietitian with an interest in infant feeding or other health professional. The Association's booklet Too Much has tips for helping oversupply problems. Why Is My Baby Crying? has lots of suggestions for soothing unsettled babies. As explained above, there are several types of lactose intolerance, but it is very rare for a baby to have to stop breastfeeding because of this condition. Except for the extremely rare primary type, there is always a cause behind lactose intolerance in babies. Getting to the cause and fixing that is the key to resolving the baby's symptoms. References Brodribb W (ed), 2004, Breastfeeding Management. 3rd edn. Australian Breastfeeding Association, Melbourne. Heyman MB for the Committee on Nutrition, 2006, Lactose intolerance in infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatrics 118(3): 1279-1286 (Available at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/118/3/1279) Lawlor-Smith C & Lawlor-Smith L, 1998, Lactose intolerance. Breastfeeding Review 6(1): 29-30. Leeson R, 1995, Lactose intolerance: What does it mean? ALCA News 6(1): 24-25, 27. Minchin M, 1986, Food for Thought. 2nd edn. Unwin Paperbacks, Sydney. Rings EHHM et al, 1994, Lactose intolerance and lactase deficiency in children. Current Opinion in Pediatrics 6: 562-567. Royal Australian College of Physicians 2006, Paediatric policy: Soy protein formula. RACP, Sydney. Saarela T, Kokkonen J & Koivisto M, 2005, Macronutrient and energy contents of human milk fractions during the first six months of lactation. Acta Paediatrica 94: 1176-1181. Woolridge M, Fisher C 1988, Colic, 'overfeeding' and symptoms of lactose malabsorption in the breast-fed baby: a possible artifact of feed management? Lancet (ii): 382-384. Breastfeeding Info Topics: Common concerns – baby Special situationsAdd a comment

Nicole - commented on Sep 7, 2012

I, too, was wondering if it was a caesin allergy or actual lactose intolerance, too! One of the things that I've found now, later on in life after taking a 6-8 month break from most dairy products because of my fiance's caesin allergy, (the protein in milk,) is Kefir, which will help people with lactose intolerance realign their stomachs with the good bacteria needed to digest caesin. Your kids are older now, but maybe you'd be interested in looking into it, if you haven't heard of it before. If you have, then my apologies for taking your time.

Nicole - commented on Sep 7, 2012

Uh... hello? Eating less lactose as a mother *DOES NOT* lessen the amount of lactose in breast milk, that's freaking ridiculous. Like someone else mentioned, human breast milk is one of the highest lactose milks around. It's a myth that if the mother eats less dairy there will be less lactose in her breast milk.

Lyndal - commented on Nov 4, 2011

Was it lactose intolerance or a dairy allergy? Lactose intolerance has to be diagnosed by lots of tests and is often confused for dairy allergies. I'm gld soy worked for you.

Melanie - commented on Jul 4, 2012

Why do people always feel the need to ask that question? The mothers diet actually has less impact than most people think. ALL mammals produce lactose, and being mammals that includes humans. Actually human milk is one of the highest because it is needed to support the development of our larger brain. Dairy cows don't drink milk but they still produce lactose in their milk. Mothers who chose not to breastfeed normally don't do so without putting a lot of effort and thought into it. Besides what is the point of the question? She can't go back in time and change what she did, the only result of that question is you make her feel worse because she didn't think of trying that, or you get told what she has no doubt had to tell many many other people that yes she did try that, either way it will only make the person being asked feel worse.

Cindy - commented on Jul 5, 2012

Both of my boys were breastfed. The younger one acted like nursing was torture. Pumped & put it in a bottle, same reaction. Desperate, I tried soy formula, then another one that was pricy & made him smell bad. Alluentum? Sp? This poor baby was getting thin and looked horrible. desperate, I went to La Lache League meetings and they told me MY DIET should have little affect on the baby. Finally the doctor said at 4&1/2 months old he was too old for colic. He was put on Zantac and within 2 days, he was nursing with no problems. He was like a new baby, happy and gaining weight. I nursed till he was 13 months because he didn't sleep through the night and I was not getting up to make a bottle. He is also the one that catches everything and his older brother who was only nursed for 5 months because he was a biter, is seldom sick. I don't think nursing provides lifetime immunities but they were very healthy infants & toddlers. If your heart is in it, never give up. Both boys had milk intolerance but NOT lactose intolerant. Just couldn't keep formula down. Breast milk is designed for humans so there is very little chance a baby can't drink it. I'm so happy I stuck it out. Saved us a pile of money too. I also have the attitude that if breast feeding bothers you, look the other way. My kids got fed when & where they were hungry.

Jenny - commented on Aug 19, 2012

my son became that way when i stopped breast feeding at 4 months i had problems produsing milk he started formula and started get sick like right after he would eat i thought he was just sick so i just kept it up like the doc said 4 days later he still was sick throwing up had bowel problems ect went to the doc they said he might be lactose IN, and we tryed it for 3 days and after the 3rd feeding he stoped that all but so at 11 1/2 months i gave him some milk and he didn't get sick and to this day he is ok with it and he is 9 years old

Natalie - commented on Sep 18, 2012

Helen, I don't want to be argumentative, but your comment is really disturbing. I don't think people realize how horrible it is to open up and tell a very intimate story only to be told by someone, "oh yeah. That happened to me too but I was successful! So there!" we are all very proud of you. But this was not the time to tell your story. It was a little insensitive.

Ann - commented on Oct 18, 2012

"The nurses sent us home from the hospital saying that she would eventually get it." Yikes, that's nasty. They must have known some babies need to be taught how to latch. I wonder if they would have shown the same carelessness if your daughter hadn't known how to take a bottle.

Erin - commented on Jun 2, 2012

Bummer. Guess my twin preeme boys missed this memo

Sandy - commented on Jul 11, 2012

well i guess science better tell all these bottle fed children that they and mom dont bond as well.....cuz like science is always right.

Melanie - commented on Jul 18, 2012

Wow Lee-Ann I don't think I have ever read a comment that was so intended to make mothers that can't breastfeed feel bad. Why don't you just come out and tell us all how we have done the wrong thing by our children and how they are all doomed to be less than they should have been. What a crock! There are also studies out there that have shown that there is absolutely NO difference between bottle fed and breast fed babies. Given that "scientists" once "knew" with absolute certainty that the world was flat and the sun and universe revolved around it I think we have a right to be skeptical and make up our own minds about how to do the best for OUR children!

Anna - commented on Jun 24, 2012

Thanks Fiona. I have come to terms with it all but it is NOT the most natural thing I have done add to it the need for expressed milk for my sickgirl and all intimacy was taken out of feeding. I had to choose which child got breast milk and which had formula? How do you choose??? My son and daughter are now 16months old and doing great. My twin son has a dairy allergy and would also vomit breast milk.

Melanie - commented on Jul 18, 2012

Karen, my eldest screamed for the first 6 months of his life, where was this magical 3 to 6 week mark because I don't think anyone told him about it!

Catherine - commented on Feb 20, 2013

As a breastfeeding mommy, I know how hard it is and its truly not right for everyone. I am a new mother and I have 11 nieces and nephews. I breastfeed my son, and I have bottle fed my nephew. the debate on should you-shouldnt you has nothing to do with health, brains, others opinions, or ANYONE but you. You have to be comfortable with it. There are many advances in formula, you now have choices for different types of baby, you have special formulas for gasness, fussy babies, babies with alergies, I know the similac line has great choices in formula. With all the new types that are JUST as healthy for your baby, that arument no longer applies. Next- people always say oh you cant bond the same way. Yes you absolutley can. it does not matter how your doing it, the act of feeding any child yours or not is the bonding part not that its breast feedin. I pump so that my husband can feed him when he gets home and trust me they are quite bonded. Next argument- "your a bad mom for not breastfeeding" ok this one urks me soooo much, Ive known amazing moms who formula fed and Ive known horrible mothers who breastfed. While breastfeeding YOU have to be healthy in order to give your child a healthy supply. I once knew a woman who did very hard drugs and breastfed her baby, are you seriously going to tell me THAT was best for her child????? UHHHHHHHHH NO! So the next time someone critisizes your choice- wich ever it may be, just ask yourself these simple questions- 1. do you love your child? 2. would you do anything for your child? 3. Are you happy just to see your child? 4. Do you always make time for your child? and 5. Do you worry when they are away? There you go ladies if youu said yes, you have NOTHING to worry about your doing a great job o matter his or her food choice. I love breastfeeding but its overwhelming at times so make your choice as educated as possible, find out all the facts, and think of your lifestyle, good luck to you all.