A. This is actually a common problem, but I am hoping that your Pediatrician didn't say that your baby was allergic to his mother's breastmilk and that he should stop breastfeeding.
Instead, these babies are usually allergic to the cow's milk that their mother drinks and which passes into her breastmilk. These cow's milk proteins trigger allergic colitis, which is the name for this condition in which infants have bloody stools.
Babies fed formula can also have allergic colitis, because many forms of infant formula are based on cow's milk. A switch to an elemental formula, like Nutramigen Lipil or Alimentum Advance, usually helps these babies.
For babies who can't tolerate Nutramigen or Alimentum, non-allergenic formula made up of 100% free amino acids are also available, such as Neocate and Nutramingen AA Lipil.
But breastfed babies should continue breastfeeding, which the only 'prescription' being that their mother should avoid all milk and dairy products. And these mothers should talk to their doctor about alternative sources of calcium, since drinking milk is a common way for many people to get calcium in their diet.
Other foods, like soy or eggs, can also trigger allergic colitis, and many foods can have 'hidden ingredients' that you may be allergic to, so get extra help if this problem continues, especially if you are considering stopping breastfeeding.
Having bloody stools can also be caused by intestinal infections or from rectal tears, a common complication of being constipated.
