Dairy free diet, please reassure me!

[josephine1986]

I'm breastfeeding exclusively my 3 mo dd and am at my wits end with whether this is an intolerance / allergy or something else.
I had seen improvement after stopping dairy at around 7 weeks but due to a couple of dairy slip ups, and then cutting out soya, I've probably only had one solid 2 week stetch both df and sf
But now since slip up last Thursday where I ate bread and 5 days of her symptoms she had a couple of good days, but has now had another horrible 20 minute hysterical pain cry and poo session, her symptoms are:

• v mucousy sometimes dark green poo (but not since I cut out dairy, only mucous now)
  
• milk rash earlier on
  
• nappy rash unresponsive to anything
  
• 3-4 pain cry sessions with classic colic legs up, hard stomach culminating in explosive poo
  
• v frequent small poos
  

Today's cry in has stumped me, this has come out of nowhere. Is it likely for acute symptoms to come and go? I know it takes a whole to get out of your system but this seems out of pattern

I'm wondering if this could be an infection or something instead of intolerance? Though I had cmpa as a baby, so feel like that is most likely explanation,

Seen hv and GP already, been referred to allergist but taking months. As she is gaining weight ok they are not too fussed. In process of arranging phone consultation with dietician with interests in paediatrics, privately

Feel like going to a & e so they can test for infection but no idea if that's even possible helpful or likely..

Ps I have eliminated all dairy and soya, traces etc. perhaps she's allergic to something else as well but can't figure ut out for the life of me. Sorry so long!

[josephine1986]

Oh ueah she also fusses a lot wheb ive been eating dajry,either feeds loads pulling on and off crying ss if incomfortable, or refuses to feed much at all, as now

Thanks

[josephine1986]

Bump!

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Wonder if she's lactose intolerant too. There's lactose in breast milk.

It may be worth starting a food diary to see if things are worse after other foods.

Gluten and egg would be the next most likely culprits. Would you consider a prescription formula if the dr will give you one?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

That's not to say I think you should give up bf but eliminating multiple foods out of your diet will be very hard on you and formula may give you more time to research into diet (for her) rather than you frantically cutting things and making yourself ill in the process. Dairy free is pretty easy but dairy and soya free is harder as many alternatives contain soya.

It sounds very hard op

[greenbananas]

Sounds horrible for you and your baby.

Could you perhaps keep a food diary? Dairy is (statistically) the most likely culprit, but there may be something else your baby is reacting to.

Giles is right in saying that dairy and soya is a v. hard combination to cut out... but don't give up breastfeeding unless you really want to - that is a very difficult defision to reverse.

My first baby was poorly for ages until I had indentified (with food diary) all the foods he is allergic to. These days, he is a fairly normal little boy, and still breastfed.

Hope you get to the bottom of this soon. It is so hard watching your baby be unwell!!

[josephine1986]

IThanks for messages. Of support, it has ben really really hard. I do want to continue breastfeeding .

I keep a food diary but.probably not.strict enough about recording everything.in there. So hard to do with a young baby.
I suspect.nuts and eggs, i have cut out the latter.

Is coconut a nut?

Speaking to a dietician later hopefully will clarify soke things.

Can intolerances be tested for?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Coconut is a fruit

[josephine1986]

Ahem..thanks giles.

[BigPigLittlePig]

My daughter is dairy, soya and egg free. I bf her for 8 months and, although tricky it is do-able. Unfortunately there is no test for intolerances due to the type of immune reaction it is. It is still early days in giving things up, and things like viruses, teeth on the move, etc, can exacerbate symptoms. I would be inclined to continue as you are, sounds as though you have been doing well. if you wanted to leave off eggs then retry in a few weeks that could be another option. Just remember to label check everything (sure you already do) as there are often hidden surprises.

Good luck, it's a challenge!

[atthestrokeoftwelve]

There are a lot of symptoms of thrush here- the gassiness, the nappy rash- you say you have tried "everything " for the nappy rash- what have you tried? How are your nipples? OK? Even if they are your baby may still have a thrush infection. Ther may still be a dietary problem but I would speak to your HV about the possibility of thrush.

[AllergyMums]

Hi Sorry you're having such a hard time. My DD had all sorts as a baby. I was eating a lot of tomatoes as I'm allergic to dairy and it turns out that she was reacting to the tomatoes! Arghh.

Like others suggested keep a food diary. Mark on it when she reacts and see if you can figure out a pattern. My DD has delayed allergic reactions so don't look just at the day you eat something...look for a pattern of the next few days.

If milk is an issue then be careful with processed meat like packed ham etc as they often have milk, as do pate etc.

[josephine1986]

Thanks, i spoke to a dietitian yesterday (nhs one but with paediatric speciality, but I paid), and was really useful. Looks like it is an allergy, rash symptoms are immune responses so not intolerance related. V interesting as she said babies with cows milk allergy often also have issues with eggs, wheat and fish. Hadn't considered fish. Looked over food diary and it seems she has been reacting to that, so going to eliminate fish and see what happens.
I would highly recommend others contacting a dietitian - not a nutritionist, crucial difference - if only got reassurance. It is a v complex process and impossible to be sure and confident in what you are doing just through internet self diagnosis.
Of course the only way to be sure is by a blood test for allergies, but the nhs is overburdened and everyone waits months.
I am realistic that May need to move to formula if my diet gets too restrictive but at this stage I am just keeping milk, soy, eggs and fish out and fingers crossed.
It's a big relief to be told you are doing the right thing, it's very hard to see clearly when you have a v unsettled baby and you blame yourself for their pain and distress.

Thanks re thrush - will see how we go and see hv if nappy rash does not improve. It seems to disappear when aired out by the radiator now. No white curds or spots in her mouth and my nips are fine

[josephine1986]

Also I noticed different responses with different allergenic foods - fish seems to cause more vomiting than dairy, and refusal to feed.
Plus dietician said that you won't continue to see the acute reaction a week or more after exposure,which has helped me work out that it must be fish. Gah... I've been eating loads! Smoked salmon etc.