Experiences with Milk Allergy - Formula Fed

Hi, was just wondering if anyone’s experienced the same symptoms with a baby with a milk intolerance/allergy ( I know these are different things). My 12week old baby has always had problems feeding which have gradually got worse in that they show visible discomfort from beginning of feed, pull away from the feed & squirm, cry out after drinking sips of milk, are raspy/wheezy afterwards, arch back, instant wind when feeding/ mucus in poo. Since 4 weeks have shown visible decline in feed amounts but has always been dismissed as they’ve been gaining weight. Now their weight has plateaued which I knew & kept saying I felt would happen as there’s been 0 progression in their feed amount and if anything a steady decline. I’ve been to the GP twice and spoken to HV. I went back to GP today and was insistent I needed support with silent reflux or possible milk allergies or help in getting to the bottom of what’s going on and after weighing her and seeing the weight plateau they listened. She has been prescribed hypoallergenic formula. I was wondering if anyone’s babies are on hypoallergenic formula & if they had similar experience with symptoms? Would the allergy/intolerance get worse over time as originally at about 5 weeks old she would take full bottles (120ml/4oz) every 2-3hours and now takes anything from 40-120ml occasionally despite showing clear hunger signs & if she does a small feed is hungry within 60-90 minutes. Ps. Tried different bottles/teats and had tongue tie and palate check. Been ruled out.

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My 2 year old has a cmpa which went undiagnosed until he was 5 months despite going back to the doctors time and time again. He had similar symptoms to what you are describing but again was gaining weight. He started on a hydrolysed formula but it still contained milk so my boy continued to have symptoms so we eventually got him onto a fully hydrolysed formula which then stopped his symptoms. His reactions definitely got worse over time, he didn’t have any rashes until about 3 months and after 6 months when he had some cross contamination issues he then experienced tongue swelling for the first time despite never having swelling as a symptom in the past. I now have a 3 week old who I believe may have the same issues. He screams in pain during feedings, arches to the point I can’t sit him to wind him and has mucusy poos. The last few days his poo has also been streaked with blood. Went to the doctor today and been given a formula to try but again it’s not fully hydrolysed.

Thank you for replying! I’m sorry it took such a long time for support with your little one. Okay thank you for so much for sharing so I will keep an eye on whether the formula is fully hydrolysed or not and if symptoms persists, push to try fully hydrolysed formula instead. Interesting about symptoms over time, it’s weird because she was originally on a NG tube and always looking discomfort when we fed via that, and has been sent to A&E for intermittent breathing difficulties that come on after feeds but was put down to a floppy larynx as she was premature, but I’m wondering it if all boils down to an allergy. Poor little love I hope you get some joy with your second, hopefully they’ll be more responsive as your first was diagnosed.

The formula that worked in the end for us was the sma althamino which is an amino acid based formula. Breathing difficulties definitely could be part of an allergy. My lb was always very wheezing and had constant coldy symptoms. We recently tried the dairy ladder and 1 quaver sent him to a&e with breathing difficulties and needed steroids. I found keeping a diary of everything really helpful. I’ve even got a folder full of photos of his poos and rashes 🙈 I hope you manage to get some answers soon, it’s horrible seeing them in pain and not being able to help