Elisheva Urbas wrote:
"What's the connection with lactose,
or gut transit time, or whatever, and seediness?   What IS that seediness,
anyway?"

Elisheva, maybe this article can help? It is titled:
Resolution of Lactose Intolerance and "Colic" in Breastfed Babies
Robyn Noble  & Anne Bovey
 http://www.breasted.com.au/web_articles/Lactose_article.htm

It explains lactose overload (as aposed to primary lactose intolerance) and
how an inbalance between for and hindmilk leads to colic due to the fat
content of the formilk being reduced. The fat in milk slows down gut transit
times. Quote:

"Significant research describing the mechanisms of lactose overload in
breastfed babies was published nearly ten years ago but has not become
widely known amongst practitioners who work with breastfed babies and their
mothers (1). Woolridge and Fisher described a type of lactose overload which
is due entirely to low fat feeds. This may arise if babies are not permitted
to nurse long enough during feeds, such as when feeds are clock-regulated,
or if mothers need to shorten feeds because they are painful. Babies may
also be inefficient feeders who are unable to milk the breast well enough to
extract the fattier milk that comprises the end of feeds (hind milk). Low
fat feeds cause fast gastric clearance, thence overloading the small
intestine's capacity to metabolise lactose (1,6)

Clinicians have long known that infective agents, infant prematurity and
some gastrointestinal conditions cause varying degrees of lactase
insufficiency in babies, but have been less aware that allergens derived
from the maternal diet or supplementary formula feeds may also compromise a
breastfed baby's lactase sufficiency (2,3,4,5). This occurs when the
allergic response targets and damages the brush border of the baby's
gastrointestinal tract (7)."

Seediness? I thought the seediness came from undigested milk? The mucousy
stools, I believe are due to damage to the baby's intestinal brush border. I
hope someone can substantiate this?

A really rare OT thought that has just come into my mind is a horse from a
friend of mine who when eating to much rich green grass in the spring would
get these horrible green, watery, slimy stools! Not sure if there is a
connection there!!


Sara Bernard BSc
(The Netherlands)