When a baby is born, its stomach and intestine are sterile. Its digestive system reaches complete development during the sixth month of its life. Till then, the mucous lining of the gastrointestinal tract is still not mature and is prone to microbial attacks. As a result, the best milk during this time is breast milk as it is made of beneficial bacteria and antibodies that ward off infections. Infants also need the enzymes present in mother's milk for an easy digestion process. While the infant adjusts to using its developing digestive tract, it relies on the high fat content in breast milk to meet his caloric needs. However, these days, most mothers are working women who spend a majority of the day away from their babies, making it difficult to breast feed them. There is no choice but to feed the infant with baby formula or bottle milk. There are many incidences where the infants develop constipation as a result of being allergic to cow's milk. Constipation caused due to allergy to alpha-s1 casein protein in cow's milk has become one of the most pressing issues that drive parents to seek solutions from their pediatricians in Saudi Arabia. Other symptoms of allergy to cow's milk are abdominal pain, regurgitation and vomiting. In addition, the longer the stools remain in the intestine, the harder it becomes for its passage. Once the passage of the hard stool does occur, it may cause a tear in the rectal wall, otherwise called the rectal fissure, which leads to a tearful trauma to the baby. Constipation is defined as the failure of regular bowel movements or straining when passing hard stools over a period of several days. Dr. Ali Al-Mehaidib, Consultant, Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, says, “Parents often worry that constipation is a sign of a serious medical condition. It can be tough on them to witness their baby cry and squirm in pain while trying to pass stools. While, in most cases, constipation is usually related to dietary factors, organic causes such as Hirschsprung disease, hypothyroidism coeliac disease or cystic fibrosis, need to be ruled out. Evaluating the baby's dietary habits helps ascertain the right treatment to take in the case of functional constipation. Sometimes, even an extra bit of water administered to the infant helps.” When considering dietary changes in infants having an allergic reaction to alpha-s1 casein protein in cow's milk, goat's milk could be a gentler alternative on the infant's gastrointestinal tract because it contains trace amounts of alpha-s1 casein protein. Dr. Mohamed Hussein, General Manager Hyproca Nutrition Middle East manufactures of Kabrita, the first complete infant formula made of high quality goat milk, says, “Goat's milk is easy to digest because of the absence of agglutinin, a substance that causes particles to coagulate into thickened masses. This is why the fat molecules in goat's milk do not coagulate in the gut, thus making it very gentle on the infant's digestive tract.” The protein in goat's milk forms a smaller and softer ‘curd' which is easily digestible. The curd is a result of reaction of stomach acids on the protein forming clumps in the digestive tract. Even the nutrient composition in goat's milk makes it a superb alternative to cow's milk or soy milk. Still, breast milk remains the best source of nutrition to the infant. The use of goat's milk and other baby formula should be considered only upon following a pediatrician's advice. Referring to the nutritional requirements of lactating mothers, Dr. Ali emphasizes that the healthier the mother is, the better the chances are of her baby receiving all the required nutrition. “Nothing compares to healthy breast milk. In case the infant is allergic to cow's milk, it is recommended that breast feeding mothers eliminate dairy products from their diets.”
