i know its bad form to start another thread when i have one running, but i feel let down and just want to vent.

[misdee]

have been breastfeeding dd4 for 9months rther successfully with no major issues.

but it has been agffecting her negatively. she has rashes, colicy, very loose stools, eczema etc. turns out she is allergic to m,ilk, egg and [peanut. i have been trying to get hold of the hospital dietican to sort out what i should be eating, avoiding and same for dd4. but cant get hold of them at all.

soph is mucousy and rattling as she breathes again. its not wheezing, so not an emergency, just the way she is when things get too much for her.

i feel i have been left holding a baby with a bottle of piriton in one hand, a script for formula in the other, and no idea of which way to turn.

i feel like i should be breastfeeding her, but feel guilty everytime she has a reaction after feeding. but i feel awful thinking about giving her formula.

[GrapefruitMoon]

I know it's hard when you feel you may have to stop sooner than you planned...I had a friend in a similar position - her ds had horrendous eczema, was found to be dairy linked. She tried to cut out dairy in her own diet but found it impossible so stopped BFing earlier than she planned.

I also had to stop BFing dc3 earlier than planned - got repeated mastitis which eventually turned into a nasty abscess which I had to have sorted out under a GA in hospital. I couldn't even countenance continuing to feed him on the problem side but fed him from one side only until he was 6 months old, supplemented with formula.

I think you have done really well to continue till 9 months - I think 6 months is the recommended minimum if there are allergies in the family (which is why I stuck it out till then).

What sort of formula are you thinking of trying?

Try to remember that lots of babies would self-wean around now anyway and how much happier the whole family will be if dd4 is feeling better....

[Eirlys]

hugs to you and poor dd, it sounds like you are both having a really hard time of it. I haven't read your other thread but have you tried calling a helpline to vent? 0300 100 0210 is the national breastfeeding helpline

They won't force you to keep breastfeeding, and they will listen to you. You can talk through the feelings you mention in the last line of your post and they would hopefully have/be able to direct you to information on feeding babies with allergies such as your daughter's.

good luck

[misdee]

we have a perscription for nutramigen. dh has gone to collect it for me.

feel like crap tbh.

cant call helpline atm, got all 4 dd's here and dont want them worrying.

[mawbroon]

misdee, I am really sorry to hear you and dd4 are having a rough time.

Is it as "simple" (ha - if only!) as having to cut out her known allergens from your diet? Or is there more to it?

My ds can't have egg or milk, but I have been lucky enough that he's not sensitive to these things in my milk.

If you were able to sort your diet to accommodate her, I am assuming you would continue to breastfeed?

Would both of you going on a rice/fruit/veg diet for a bit until the hospital responds to your requests (shout at them!!!) be feasible? Drastic I know, but it might help in the short term.

[misdee]

thats pretty much itr mawbroom, except she also reacts to tomatoes and often has odd rashes for no known reason. she is pretty much on a fruit, veg and rice diet already, but its me i'm worried about. i have had no 'official' help with this, and its driving me bonkers. all i want is a list of what to do and when, not just carrying on and dosing up the poor mite several times a week with piriton due to a reaction.

[pigletmania]

Aww poor , dont know if formula will help, thought that bf was better, i was ff and still I have severe eczema and cannot eat too much dairy or sweets or chocolates (sigh). I recently eat a box of choccolates, yes the whole box that my friend bought me and my face blew up like a balloon.

[misdee]

its not normal formula. its one thats specially broken down for babies with a cows milk protein allergy.

[misdee]

well she screamed when i tried to give it to her, but dh took over, and she took 1oz and fell asleep

[misdee]

oh and i had a wee cry dowent he phone to my sister at the same time as dh feeding dd4.

[mawbroon]

Here's a thought misdee. How about you use the formula for yourself in cooking etc and that would (sort of) eliminate milk from your diet without having to go without. IYSWIM

If you were to go on a rice/veg diet for a while, then your breastmilk would still be top quality. (I'm sure you know that though!!)

Do you keep a food diary for either/both of you? I would be prepared to bet that it would be one of the first things that a dietician would suggest.

This really does sound like a horrible time for you. I hope you can get through it soon.

[thisisyesterday]

this must be really hard for you. i know you prob feel awful if she gets ill after breastfeeding, but breastmilk is still better for her than formula. and if you can figure your diet out so that it doesn't affect her then all the better.
I firmly believe that breastmilk is the best possible thing you can give a child with allergies.

if you feel like you ought to be BF, and you feel awful about giving formula then that's the decision made surely?

I had to cut out egg/dairy with one of mine, and we were already veggie so was on a very limited diet and he has thrived on my milk, so it can be done.

do you have a local LLL group you could go to?

[misdee]

mawbroom, its been confirmed through blood tests.

i just want some actual support from the local nhs. and its not their fault they are understaffed.

but its killing me inside.

i cant make myself ill, or her ill anymore.

thank you for all your support.

[throckenholt]

my friend had a baby who was allergic to milk and eggs - she cut them all out of her diet and carried on breast feeding her.

Maybe that is worth a try.

[misdee]

throken thats what i want to do. but the dietician is elusive.

can i use a soya substitue for me seeing as my baby is under 1? dd4 is not allergic to soya, but have been advised to avoid soya.
cutting out milk, isnty just milk. its butter, yoghurtsm, everything dairy. which worries me. can i use a calcium supplement?

what can i use instead of eggs? is cooked eggs ok for me?

what do i need to look out for on opackagaing labels for 'hidden' ingrediants, as well as nuts?

what about ross-reactions with foods of the same families...

Boots the chemist wouldnt sell me a vitamin supplement for dd4 without me first consulating the diatician.

sorry for the ramble, but this is why i feel let down by the nhs right now.

[mawbroon]

A diary may still be worth doing though, especially as you said there are also random reactions.

It really is crap though isn't it. Have you any idea how much longer you will have to wait?

[whomovedmychocolate]

Misdee - have you asked about a referral to the dietician service in another area to see if the waiting time is less there - I was recently referred for something else and was told it'd be 16 weeks with my local hospital but when I queried this, the did say 'ooh but you could travel 20 miles to the next one and go next week' Worth a try.

[thisisyesterday]

it should be fairly easy to cut out misdee.

butter you can use pure spread
milk you can use oat or rice milk
yoghurt, well there is soya, or if you don't want soya then just go without! i don't like soya products except tofu so don't tend to eat them

it really sholuldnt adversely affect your health at all. there are plenty of vegan mums out there who breastfeed too and they're fine.
and you have the added bonus of (i presume) eating meat which will provide you with iron and protein

calcium can be found in a lot of foods, or, like you say you can take a supplement.
green leafy veg, sardines (or any fish where you eat the bones), almonds, blackstrap molasses, chickpeas... prob lots ore but that's all i can think of off the top of my head

[misdee]

thank you, again for all your lovely support.

i have been using vitalite in place of butter.

i have tried rice and oat milk and find them both foul , i am wondering if i'm allowed soya or even goats milk. but dd4 hasnt been tested against goats milk protein.

i have breastfed her this evening as i coudnt bear her cries anymore for me. she has taken 3oz of formula.

i'm going to try daily to get hold of the dietician, but i dont hold out much hope.

looks like i'm going to be losing more weight this way though.

[SoupDragon]

Vitalite has Lactic Acid in it so it's not completely dairy free.

[misdee]

does it?

oh pooo

[thisisyesterday]

trust me soya and goats milk are just as foul! lol
rice milk is nicest in cereal i find, but oat is best in tea/coffee.

tbh none are really like milk at all, but you do get used to it. it really does get easier
and yes, i lost a LOT of weight doing it, was lovely. nback to a size 12 again now, and i feel sooooooo much better in general as well, so have stayed pretty much dairy/egg free since he weaned too.

it becomes second nature after a while and you don't even think a bout it, was hard at first though so i sympathise

[mawbroon]

We use Pure spread. They do both a soy one (which is no use if you're avoiding soy) and a sunflower one.

Also, some of the value type margs have no dairy in them at all, but they are bogging!!

[thisisyesterday]

sainsburys have just started doing an own-brand dairy free spread as well actually,

i didn't buy it cos it was higher in salt etc and i use it for ds2, but if it's just you having it, and money is an issue i think it was cheaper than the pure

[ronshar]

I am in the same place as you.
DS is now 10 months. I have given up as much dairy as possible from my diet. Ds now is growing better, he isnt sick any more and he isnt covered in rashes.

Nutramigen supply a booklet with recipies in. Most off them are great. I think they also have a website.
Also if you actually sit down and think how many things you eat that actually dont have dairy in them then it is surprising how easy it is to avoid.

Be positive. You CAN carry on Breast Feeding. It just takes a little time to settle into the routine of buying other things than normal.
Good luck.