Can a baby be allergic to breast milk....?

Question

I was reading an answer on the question about how much you spend on formula a month and someone put that there baby is allergic to breast milk. Is that even possible?

Answer 1

Normally babies will not develop allergic symptoms while being exclusively breastfed. However, very sensitive babies can develop allergic symptoms (e.g. atopic dermatitis) despite exclusive breastfeeding.
This is not allergy to breast milk itself. It is an allergic reaction to small amounts of dietary proteins (e.g. cows' milk protein, egg protein, etc) that are passing from mother to baby in the mother's breast milk.

Answer 2

As others have said, infants are not normally allergic to human milk, just what's in the milk. There is, however, a disease called galactosemia that is very rare. In this condition, the baby cannot metabolise the lactose in breastmilk (and regular formula). You would know if the baby had this because it is very serious and it is screened for at birth.

Also, some people say their babies are "lactose intolerant" and need special formula. If the baby does not have galactosemia then this is wrong. Common lactose intolerance in infants is self-limiting. Infants are born to eat lactose as their main food supply. It's the main ingredient in human milk. If it was common for babies to be lactose intolerant then the human race would have ceased to exist before we had a chance to invent formula. If somemone thinks their infant is lactose intolerant, then either, 1. they are confusing an allergy with lactose intolerance (e.g. cow's milk in mom's diet or in formula) or 2. the baby had TEMPORARY lactose intolerance due to a recent GI illness. This will resolve over time.

Answer 3

I'd say it would be more specific than that. The baby would more than likely be allergic to something the mother is eating or drinking which is coming through her breast milk. But if you took that particular item out of her diet then maybe baby would be fine.

My son developed an allergy to penicillan, which showed up when i had antibiotics for tonsillitis. When I fed him he came up in a red rash from the trace amounts of antibiotics that came through my breastmilk. I went and got a script for non-penicillan antibiotics and he was fine again.

i've never ever heard of a baby being allergic to his mothers breastmilk in general, only what is coming through the milk.

Answer 4

I had this happen to one of my patients and we determined that the rash and diarrhea started when she started drinking a couple of those yogurt smoothies (Nouriche, I think) per day. They have a lot of fruit (strawberries, pineapple,mango, etc) in them. The baby was not sick otherwise and the rash and diarrhea resolved 2 days later once she eliminated these from her diet. I see many older babies that get a rash around the mouth after eating oranges or tomatoes. This does not mean they are allergic to them, the acid in them just irritates the skin. Try to recall if you have eaten or drank anything different at the same time you noticed the rash and diarrhea.

Answer 5

No babies can not be allergic to breastmilk, but like another responder said, they can be allergic to things mom eats. You can tell if your little one has a red rash around their anus, is "colicky" soon after eating and draws their legs up and cries (this may not be allergies). You can have your child "muscle tested" by a naturopathic doctor for food allergies.
Breastmilk is the best thing for your baby. It is easier to digest than formula, it promotes bonding between mom and baby, it helps mom recover faster from birth, it helps with baby blues, the list goes on.
Check out the LaLeche League's website. They are not the "nipple nazis" they once were.
Also for allergies, reference askdrsears.com
Enjoy your baby!!!
KITTY

Answer 6

Yes, they can be allergic to breast milk. It's not common but it does happen. Now remember that there are millions of babies born throughout the world and just because you have never heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. This comes from what the mother eats while breast feeding...remember that things can be transferred from mother to child through milk. Such as proteins and such that the baby may be allergic to. You would have to eliminate certain things from your diet one by one to see what the baby might be disagreeing with.

Answer 7

to something IN the breast milk. YES. Try limiting certain foods and watch for changes.

Answer 8

Yes, my friend's husband was allergic to his mom's breastmilk, but I think it's relatively rare.

Answer 9

only if your a ranga

Answer 10

it is possible