True intolerance to breast milk is rare. Symptoms such as fussiness, diarrhea or rash typically indicate another problem, such as allergies. Talk with your doctor about your baby's symptoms to find the cause. In most cases, you can continue to breast-feed.
Benefits of Breast-Feeding
Lactose Intolerance
Some babies are lactose intolerant, meaning that they have trouble digesting and absorbing the lactose in milk. Signs of lactose intolerance include gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea or bloating, according to the AAP. Certain populations, including Hispanics, Black people and Asians, are genetically predisposed to primary lactose intolerance, while people descended from areas such as northern Europe where dairy products have long made up a large part of the diet, are less likely to have problems absorbing lactose, notes the academy.
Lactose intolerance can also occur after an illness, but typically resolves itself as the child recovers. Your pediatrician can quickly identify lactose intolerance with a simple breath test.
Food Sensitivities
Spicy foods or foods that cause gas, such as onions, garlic, broccoli and cabbage may make your baby fussy or gassy, says the AAP. These symptoms indicate that your baby is sensitive to foods you're eating, but not necessarily intolerant of breast milk. Pay attention to your diet and make note of foods that seem to bother your baby.
Eliminate those foods one at a time to see if there's a difference. Keep in mind, though, that many babies are colicky, simply because their digestive and sensory systems are immature. Colicky behavior, though challenging, usually subsides within three or four months as babies mature. To reduce colic symptoms, offer a pacifier and wait at least two hours between feedings, suggests the AAP.
