If you gave up a food type to continue BF ...

[thereinmadnesslies]

... What happened when you started eating that food group again?

DS2 is cows milk protein intolerant. He was diagnosed at 10 months and I gave up dairy so I could keep feeding him. He's now 3 and I'm still dairy free. He has a BF most nights still. On Saturday night I went out and ended up having a small piece of halluomi and half a chic brownie, plus goodness knows how much hidden dairy - I know, I know ...

So Sunday and today I've had stomach cramps, wind, bloating and a bit of a dodgy stomach .

So if you restarted eating a food type after a long period, did you find it hard?

No personal long term experience, but I know that if I cut out dairy for even a short period I feel different when I eat it again.

You sure it was the dairy and not the other parts of the meal?

I gave it up entirely for 10 months. No hidden dairy in things nothing. I was careful when I reintroduced after my son self weaned and still carried on having things like soy milk on cereal but after a month I was back to pre non-dairy levels. No stomach cramps, bloating etc. but I did put back on all the weight I had lost from giving it up which wasn't welcome!

I was also dairy free for about 10 months and if I accidentally ate dairy I always knew because of stomach cramps, bloating and wind. When I went back onto dairy I did so slowly no rich creamy sauces just gradually increased in drinks and cereals until I was back to normal levels and I didn't suffer because I took it slowly.

This is a fairly common problem as far as I'm aware. I was told that to be lactose and dairy intolerant was actually the norm, because no mammals are meant to be able to tolerate another mammals milk. And that's why in parts of the world where they don't actually eat that much dairy, lactose and dairy intolerance is much more common.
So we basically make our bodies tolerate dairy by having it frequently (unless we have a severe intolerance/allergy of course) and so stopping dairy completely goes back to the default setting. I hope that makes some sense, I'm not so sure after re-reading, but too tired to work out a better explanation! :)

Titchy - I can't be sure it's not dodgy food, but all I ate was a veggie burger and a chocolate brownie, so not foods known for being risky exactly.

Choca - your explanation makes perfect sense, thanks. Other people on this thread are way more sensible about introducing dairy slowly. I'm going to stay off dairy for a while longer then reintroduce it slowly.

So - do you eat the same levels of dairy now, or has the experience put you off dairy? I can't imagine having milk in coffee now, and the thought of a glass of milk is bleugh. But I would murder for a pizza

I actually don't drink as much milk as I used to, not necessarily a bad thing weight wise

I breastfed DS2 on no wheat, no dairy diet, reintroduced slowly but to be honest, I feel like I've been left with mild dairy and wheat intolerance. We are largely dairy and wheat free at home anyway so am broadly OK with just having milk in my coffee but I do feel bad after a few days on a full on wheat and dairy diet, for example if we eat out a lot or are on holiday. I suffer through it for the odd chocolate and cake but store weight very quickly when eating dairy and wheat. I definitely eat less than before but love an occasional lunch of really good bread and yummy cheese.

I was just coming on here to post about the exact same thing!

My DS (6 and a half months) has cows' milk and soy protein allergy and is EBF. I gave up all dairy and soy when he was 9 weeks old. Yesterday I tried cheese for the first time in nearly 5 months to see whether he could now tolerate it. He had no reaction at all, which is good, but within half an hour I had stomach cramps and was up all night with the most terrible diarrhoea.

I am now wondering whether I have always had some level of lactose intolerance (have had mild digestive issues for years) or whether it has been brought on by giving up dairy. I'm now rather scared to try soy again, but as I'm vegetarian I really don't want to give up dairy and soy long term.

and BTW - I'm not sure that ChocaMum's explanation is the right way round! I think those parts of the world where lactose intolerance is the norm have therefore not developed dairy farming. It's only in Northern Europe where a probable genetic mutation has allowed people to continue to digest lactose that eating dairy has become common. I therefore don't think eating small amounts of lactose builds tolerance - more that even the lactose intolerant can manage small amounts. At least that's my understanding of the literature! Not sure how it helps us though really....

peacock I am in the same position as you. Ds2 is cmp and soy allergic (non-IgE). I am also veggie. The dietician recently said (after I noticed him suffering after eating butter beans) that he may well also be allergic to all beans, peas and pulses! Not a lot left for me to eat, though I feed him meat as I feel I need to, given his restrictions.

I still crave cheese loads but will probably stick with oat milk once I stop bf-ing. Cows milk tastes so...milky now.

Slightly off topic but does anyone know how long it takes for what we eat to affect our bm? I have wondered this for ages and no one seems to know (in rl).

Sorry for the hijack op

I'mNotAnsweringIt it only takes about 2 hours for what you eat to get into your breastmilk, and traces can linger for some weeks.

I was veggie until I had DS, but he is allergic to dairy, eggs, nuts and pulses. Learning to cook and eat meat hasn't been easy for me, but I just can't see a way round it... I would like to say that we only eat organic meat, or meat that has been 'killed humanely', but actually we can't afford that luxury

I've been wondering quite a bit about reintroducing DS's allergens to my diet (can't do it yet through as he is still breastfeeding once or twice a day). Even the smell of cow's milk now makes me feel sick, and I suspect I would be very ill if I actually consumed any, but I'm currently 9 weeks pregnant and can't stop thinking about eating eggs.

I'mNotAnsweringIt, that's interesting! I haven't noticed a problem with pulses/legumes so far, and he eats hummous fine, but I will keep that in mind. I really hope not as I'm not clear what would be left for him to eat! I'm thrilled that DS seems to have stopped reacting to dairy I eat (via breastmilk) but have no intention of giving them to him directly just yet - I'm waiting for a dietician referral at the moment so will see what he/she says.

In terms of how long it takes to get into the BM, I too had read 2 hours+ (in the case of alcohol) but for dairy I found it took more like 10 hours for DS to have a reaction. On a day when I accidentally had a piece of milk-containing chocolate cake at 3pm, he started with severe reflux around 1am.

I'm pretty devastated not to be able to eat cheese but will not be risking it again for a while after the reaction I had - seems very unfair now that DS is not reacting to it through BM!

Thanks greenbananas that's interesting. I also crave eggs when pg, I never fancy them at other times. Would nuts suffice? I'm thinking protein for you.

It's really hard isn't it. peacock soya is same family as pulses and legumes so quite likely apparently. Mine too has also eaten houmous fine, has of most days. Definitely upset by butter beans though. He was also dreadful last night when I had lentils for tea. I dont think I'd stomach meat now so a bit despairing

I'mNotAnsweringIt DS is also allergic to nuts! (his RAST scores have dropped right down, but the consultant says we should continue to avoid all nuts until she sees him again in a year).

mmmmm, I would so enjoy a lovely, runny egg...

Soya is a weird one for us. DS has developed a definite allergy to peas and lentils (masses of hives and some wheezing), but can still tolerate a bit of soya. He drinks chocolate soya milk but won't drink it every day. He also eats that soya 'cheezly' stuff sometimes, but won't touch it if he is ill.

OP really sorry, just realised what a hijack this was! Off to start my own thread. peacock and bananas do join me, I'm interested in what you have to say.