cows milk intolerance with first child - new baby on the way - to avoid dairy or not?

[sallyrosie]

Have dd who was cows milk and soy intolerant when solely BF. Now 2 1/2 and grown out of it (and hopefully also out of egg allergy). It was just absolutely awful last time - I have vivid memories of her projectile vomiting each and every feed, not sleeping, feeding all the time and then throwing up...the penny should have dropped sooner as my sisters kids had same problem but tbh I just assumed that it was normal for a new baby being an inexperienced mum.
I'm 37 weeks pregnant now, and can't decide whether to avoid all cows milk from the start and then gradually introduce or keep my diet the same and see if they develop signs in the knowledge that I could pick it up sooner this time.
Its a nightmare, as last time I could BF till she was fully weaned so we never had to faff about with neocate etc (she wouldn't take it) as wasn't back at work till she was one. This time am going back when LO 4 months old and no choice about it, work shifts and long hours so BF logistical nightmare (although planning to continue as much as possible will most likely have to have supplementary FF)
So, anyone out there with similar problem and what did you do?

Hi sallyrosie. My DD1 also had dairy allergy - I started cutting out dairy through 2nd pregnancy but found it too difficult to maintain. Neither 2nd nor 3rd babies had any food allergies but both had eczema for about 2 years?!

All my babies had it also eczema. Projectile vomit with the first 2 but they had gastric reflux which isnt the same is it.

Sallyrosie - I would do the same as last tiime. This child may be different. I had two totally different children (although my intolerant/reflux one was second, so easier to say that, IYKWIM). See how this LO goes. If you begin to encounter similar problmes when you will be more prepared etc.

I can empathise with you totally about how horrid it is/was - and you not wanting it all to happen again. But this LO may not be the same.... Hope that helps a little

sorry, that's not very clear is it? I meant, do the same as last time, eg dont do anything different initially. I'd only change diet etc if this baby shoes sign of intolerance etc

My friend was advised to avoid dairy products in last trimester of pg and for first 6 months of bfing.

I would push for neocate if you do have to formula feed - but I think I would carry on eating the same as you are, given that on my friends advice your baby will already be sensitised anyway by now.

Talk to your DD's consultant Sallyrosie - I vaguely rememeber my DS's consultant saying something about mananging another pg (but it wont happen for me, so I didnt really take it in) But I am still sure she said that for me (although it may be different for you fo course) that if I had another child not to jump straight on to the non-dairy formula/diet.

sallyrosie I have just gone thru same.
dd2 is dairy allergic and both she and dd1 had reflux too. (Notice the pattern?)

While pg with 3rd child I didnt go dairy free until he was born and then b/f him exclusively. I also took calcium supplements.All this was on the consultants' advice.
We came home from hosp with the dairy free formula but he very quickly decided it was disgusting and absoultely would not take it.
The latest info says that soya milk is unsuitable for baby boys due to naturally occurring oestrogens. (lots of threads on this)

At20 wks ds went in to childrens ward for a day for the milk trials. He seems fine with dairy no reflux no eczema (touch wood)

I wonder would you be able to do the same with your baby before you go back to work?
Or consider expressing and the dairy free formula mixed in the same bottle?
It would only be about 8 weeks of difficulty before you could officially wean the baby. In truth I weaned him a bit earlier beacuse of this issue. At about 5months.

However, after following the dairy free diet I now actually prefer it myself!!

dd is lactose intolerant and on LF sma and seems to like it. I was on dairy free diet throughout pg and still am tho dd is now on bottle as was too exhausted by restricted diet and BF. Was on diet because her intolerance made me intolerant in pg! Might be worth trying the dairy and seeing what happens. Only have 1 but everyone tells me every baby's different

I would avoid personally. DS1 is lactose intolerant and so in ds3 (DS2 not). HWen ds3 came off from breastfeeding he ahd already shown signs he was reacting to lactose in my diet (I am also intol but desperate to keep calcium up for BF), so he was prescribed Enfamil Lactofree and is still on it a few years later.

DS2 was trialled on ordinary formula at three months very gradually before going on to dairy, but i wouldn't risk again- back then it was sugar filled soya milk otr nothing, now there's so much mroe choice available

My first had all sorts of allergies (cows milk, soya and egg) and reflux, second one had reflux and had a temporary problem with milk/milk-based formula when I stopped breastfeeding but could tolerate the soya formula (until he was about 9 months ish) and I tried the milk stuff again and he was fine.

I personally wouldn't go out of your way to avoid stuff (other than peanuts). There's no way of predicting what your next one will be like healthwise.

I am in the same situation -DS (now 3.5)and second due in Feb. We found DS was dairy intolerant after a year of low weight gain, eczema and a lot of screaming etc - We were recommended to use soya formula until he was 2 - didn't know there was a problem with it for boys - He still can't take cows milk even trace amounts in other foods but is perfectly OK with goats mild - We try him out with cow's milk every 6months or so but I have little hope of him growing it out of it now. Have others now grown out of it? I will check with my consultant at the 20wk scan (in 2 wks time) what to do for this one and report back.

we asked dd's paediatrician about what to do for ds and he told us at the time, to treat him like a 'normal' baby but to be on the look out for specific allergies (so to wean carefully and only introduce one food at a time etc.).

Second time round, it's much easier to spot the allergy signs!

I was in a similar situation when I was pregnant with my second baby (first baby allergic to my b-milk / colic and later found to be allergic to cows milk / eggs. Asked her allergist what she recommended. She said she reckoned the new baby would be allergic to something but not necessarily the same things. So her advice was NOT to avoid milk/eggs etc... only thing to avoid was nuts/peanuts when pregnant and eat a balanced diet - i.e. not overconsuming milk/eggs products.

Anyway had DS and decided myself to avoid dairy and eggs for the initial few weeks to see if I could do it. Also had an interesting insight from a lactation consultant in the hospital who said many babies have a threshold for tolerence to dairy, so it's a bit of trial and error. She advise to introduce it slowly.

So after abstaining for 3 weeks, baby was doing great, I started having milk in my tea only... then after a few days starting eating things with milk in it (e.g. mash potatoes). I never did take to drinking glasses of milk though.

Did not give DS anything with dairy (e.g. yogurts) until about 10 months old and still have not given him pure egg (he's now 22 mo) but did try him on pancakes and things with cooked egg from 12 months on. BF exclusively till 12 months and then started weaning onto cows milk.

He has no allergies and no excema

I would do the same again if I have a 3rd child. I just didn't want to do ANYTHING that would jeopardize him. and do EVERYTHING to avoid the allergies. It is really such an easy life feeding a child with no allergies. My poor DD was just recently found to be severely allergic to peanuts AND treenuts (we waited until aged 5 to challenge her). Its so hard on her

Sorry for the long winded reply...