Constipation Archives

Re: Anal Fissure - Infant Withholding Gas (Dairy Hypersensitivity?) Archive in constipation.)

Hi, Beth.

I think Joanie is on the right track.

MY first thought was dairy intolerance. Remember that if the mother eats dairy it goes right through to the child and then, when you started the formula, it aggravated the problem.

IF this is how this started, it would be easy to figure it out free. First, either start a soy based formula and, at the same time you TOTALLY eliminate dairy from your diet (you have to read every lable before eating it or the test will not be valid so long as you continue nursing); or use almond milk and do the same thing with your diet. Within 2 weeks you will know. If you should decide to stop nursing (not a good idea) you would not have to do anything about YOUR diet.

If, indeed, this turns out to be the cause of her gas and constipation, the only way you will be able to nurse her is for you to give up ALL dairy for the duration.

In the meantime, you have to treat the fissure locally as you have been. It was caused not by the diet but the constipation due to the hypersensitivity to the protein in the dairy. This is a mechanical split simply due to her stool being hard enough and large enough to split the skin in her little anus. As soon as she has no more hard and large stools, the fissure will heal right up.

Let us know what you learn and how she does.

Walt