I have to go dairy free :(

[ElBombero]

I'm in the grieving process, after eliminating infection it's looking like my DS green mucousy stools are due to a CMPI.

No more chocolate, tea or coffee whilst feeding my boy. How can I get through Xmas? Throughout xfactor without chocolate? I know this sounds incredibly selfish but I am already egg, gluten and nut free :(

[Gileswithachainsaw]

It's not selfish I think anyone would struggle on such a severely deprived diet.

Would a hypoallergenic formula not be an option. I only suggest this because on top of everything else, without a dietitian you could make yourself ill.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Can you not get yourself referred just to ensure that you are getting everything you need? X

[ElBombero]

HV come around today who insisted I carry on with BF following a suggestion that I stop and he go on a lactose free formula. She stated that with my history of allergies breast feeding would be a great benefit to him. He's only 7 weeks old.

Just a bugger that his intolerance seems to be the only food group I'm ok with

She is going to speak to a colleague and get me referred to a dietician.

I'm eating chocolate tonight then that's me (still on the upside might help me shift the weight)

[bronya]

You can get dairy free chocolate. :)

[Ooddoyouthinkyouare]

Booja booja chocolate ice cream saved me. But cheese I really miss.

Dietician just told me to take a calcium supplement so get one ASAP.

But ouch at the full diet restrictions.

[ElBombero]

Thanks oodd, who sells that?

Awww noooooo hadnt even a thought to cheese :(

[Oodisgonnagetya]

We got it at local health food shop.

[Oodisgonnagetya]

truffles too!

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Do not be afraid to push for formula op

Dairy on its own is easy to avoid. I've done it in cooking daily for two and a half years for dd2.

But that puts you up to four now and you do need to focus on yourself aswell. You have done so well!!!

[KatherinaMinola]

Soya milk. Quite a few of the Lindt and Green and Blacks bars are dairy-free (and the best quality chocolate IMO). Alpro soya yoghurt is very nice indeed - blueberry and red cherry flavours especially. Swedish Glace ice cream (available in all supermarkets) is dairy free.

Cheese - hmm, bit of a problem. You can get soya cheese, but it's 'orrible. Still, it's only for a few months, eh?

[IndigoTea]

I'm very sorry for you - it is extremely extremely difficult! I was on a dairy free diet for a couple of weeks and it really was horrendous but after a couple of weeks it did get easier.

Have you seen the list of things you can eat? I know jammie dodgers was a life saver for me as a treat, and cheap biscuits. I think you should also get advice from a dietician too.

[CreatureRetorts]

Soya was just as bad as dairy for us so I would be wary of using soya alternatives.

It's fucking hard! But temporary - that's how I coped.

[IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat]

Your Health Visitor cannot 'insist' you carry on breastfeeding, he is your baby, you decide what is best for both of you (disclaimer- I am not saying to stop breastfeeding by any means, but you get to decide).

It would be really tough to cut so much from your diet so I would definitely get help from a dietician. My HV was going to refer me when we thought I might have to give up dairy because I am already veggie.

[shelley72]

I was dairy free whilst I fed my dd (about 2.5 years). I managed it, but then I didn't have your other restrictions . You can have dark chocolate (green and blacks for example). The ice cream mentioned above is sold by ocado if you use them - actually if you do, you can sort by dietary restrictions which is quite handy.

We were under the dietician and paediatrician at the hospital until she was 3, just to check that she was growing properly and that our diet wasn't lacking. I took calcium supplements at a high dose, as dd did when she went through a phase of not taking goats milk (she can't tolerate soya either).

But (and I say this as someone very pro BF) it is not up to your HV to tell you how to feed your baby. Only you can decide that. It is hard. But it can be done.

[mamij]

It sounds awful going dairy free, but in reality it's not too bad. Yes, so minor adjustments to diet, but you hardly notice after a while.

I went dairy free with DD1 (13 months) and DD2 (16 months), and like others have said, most dark chocolates are ok (Booja Booja are lovely!), Rich Tea biscuits are dairy free, I switched to herbal teas as I didn't like coconut or soya milks in tea, started baking (Stork 250g is dairy free) if I wanted a treat.

[ilovepowerhoop]

there is no point in a lactose free formula if he is CMPI as it would still contain cows milk protein (lactose is the sugar in the milk). It would have to be a non-dairy formula rather than lactose free. Was your ds losing weight/not gaining as green poo doesnt always mean there is a problem?

[ElBombero]

Thanks Ilocepower that's interesting.

My DS was having "normal" yellow creamy seedy poo's until 11 days ago when his stools became like an army green colour, mucousy at times, watery other times but very frequent at every feed. Not had a "normal nappy since", the green poo has caused a sore bum but getting better with metanium.

He's not losing weight but only put on 2oz last week, they said they expect about an oz a day weight gain. He is now on 25th centile (born on 50th)

His skin shows no sign of allergy, no eczema, he is generally settled (as long as he is ring held with lots of boob, but I wasn't concerned about this giving his age)

What do you all think?

[ElBombero]

Mamij baking is out with my other allergies but very interesting about dark choc!!

[IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat]

Oh, and my DN is lactose intolerant. I used to buy him loads of different 'free from' chocs. He declared a brand called Moo Free the best. Available on line and my local health food store sold it too. Unfortunately the free from brands are expensive though.

[Likeaninjanow]

I know it seems really daunting, but it's doable if you want to carry on BF. My ds2 was allergic to everything you've listed & we BF for 2 years. Yes, I had to put a lot of thought into what I was eating, but I didn't lose lots of weight, and I stayed healthy. Lots of oily fish, green leaves, gluten free pasta, meat, veg & potato type meals.

Of course, if you don't want to, then you absolutely should push for formula.

[ElBombero]

I want to feed him, I adore feeding him

[LAF77]

It isn't so bad going dairy free. I thought I would never be able to live without my favourite yoghurt and then I cut it out and didn't miss it! You may find your LO will start to tolerate some CMP in your body after a time.

Hypoallergenic formula is really rank smelling or so I've been told.

DS has atopic tendencies and with moderate reactions to dairy and egg white, but over time, he has been able to tolerate things with butter cooked in them.

[Rummiwerewolfkub]

Oat milk is nice in tea. I had to go dairy and soy free for awhile. Supermarkets are much better at catering for specialist diets. Vegan cheese is quite tasty too. See what alternatives there are, then if it doesn't suit you maybe rethink breast feeding. (I am pro breast feeding, I sacrificed my well being for breast feeding, I don't think I would repeat that, happy mum means happy child IMHO, in hindsight)