To expect the NHS to pay for me to breast feed

[pamplem0usse]

OK so not quite:
10 week old DS has a cows milk allergy. He's EBF so the only solution currently is for me to cut out all dairy from my diet. I'm already a pescatarian.
Dairy free alternatives seem to be really expensive.... AIBU to think I should be able to be prescribed some of these given (a) the amount of money I'm saving them on hypoallergenic formula and (b) since I'm likely to save them significant amounts of cash by helping prevent further allergies develop....

[littleladyindoors]

PS swedish glace is a fantastic dairy free alternative to ice cream and it is really yummy!! And the lactofree products are great too, and soya based yoghurts too. Oh and alpro custard apparently tastes like posh fresh stuff (according to my ILs who are not dairy free)
I dont recommend your DD go without dairy of course, and in our house I still eat dairy but it is a bit cheaper for me because I dont have to buy so much now hubby eats like a horse

[Floralnomad]

Coeliacs can now actually get very little on prescription , although this is a bit of a postcode lottery situation , and the same applies for adults and children . For example in our area you cannot get the fresh bread and a fresh gluten free loaf is £2.90 , so stop moaning. YABVU!

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

Holy hell, OP, are you serious? I didn't expect paying when I had to go totally cow's milk protein, soy and nut free when my DS3 was 8wo and bf.

And I'm skint. I already had one DC on a gluten free diet, and I don't get anything for him on prescription either.

I bf DS3 till he was 12mo, and then yes, he is prescribed 6 x 400g tins of Nutramigen 2 each month (I have to pay for the other 4, at a cost of over £15 a tin).

Still doesn't occur to me to moan that I saved the NHS money - I couldn't give a crap about that, I bf him because it was the safest EASIEST thing to do.

I had no choice but to stop bf at 12mo, as I had to go back onto meds that are incompatible with bf.

You have NO idea how much easier it is to follow a dairy free diet as an adult bf than as a toddler.

I now have to have an almost dairy free HOUSE, and I can't even take my DS3 to toddler groups as he is anaphylactic to even secondary contact with CMP.

So stop moaning, enjoy your baby, and stop thinking about £££ signs and tell yourself that you are doing the best thing for your BABY.

[DragonMamma]

CouthyMow why do you have to pay for the other 4 cans? My DS is 18 months and we get 12 cans a month (it lasts a bit longer now thankfully) and don't have pay anything at all?

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

Not all GP surgeries will pay for as much as the DIETICIAN says they should have, when it comes to hypoallergenic formula.

It comes directly out of the GP's budget, and they WILL try to give you the barest minimum they can get away with in some areas.

And, as an aside, the hypoallergenic formulas taste and smell rank. If I was a baby, it would be a no brainer for me - bm that tastes sweet, or Nutramigen that tastes and smells like week old sweaty socks...

[OHforDUCKScake]

I agree Couthy CMPA seems so simple now.

I have to avoid milk, eggs, nuts, beef, chicken, peas, oh theres bloody loads of them. Its a royal PITA.

I also bottled out of taking my son to a play group today because of food there.

And we go to a music group which has no food but he still reacts because the instruments he picks up have milky dribbles on.

I realise this isnt a competition OP but please realise things could be so much worse. This time last year my world caved in at the enormity of my baby being anaphylactic to milk. Thank God I couldnt see the future as I would have ended up deeply depressed at the prospect.

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

Different areas! Postcode lottery in action.

Dietician having kittens at GP because my DS3 has other severe allergies too, and needs more Nutramigen than most 21mo's, to ensure he is getting all the vitamins and minerals that he needs.

He's still on 30oz a day.

It's taking a while for the GP to take the dietician's advice...

[FlangelinaBallerina]

Absy, your analogy attempt is a failure. This is because the things you list won't automatically cost the NHS money. It is quite possible that a person could skydive every day then have a bottle of wine and 20 cigarettes when they land, and still suffer no health effects whatsoever. There is a correlation between engaging in these behaviours and costing the NHS money, but it is not inevitable or automatic. Whereas if OP stops bf, the automatic consequence will be the NHS paying for hypoallergenic formula, or for treatment when DS gets ill because of unsuitable formula. It is inevitable. A totally different situation to the one you describe.

I get that people think OP is taking the piss, but can we all try really hard not to be fucking stupid please?

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

I AM a bit depressed at the prospect - even the Special Needs Sensory group has done a risk assessment and has decided that it is too risky for him to attend.

[naughtymummy]

The reason the hypoallergenic milks are so eexpensive is because they require many more steps in manufacturing (the milk proteins must be broken down into their constituent parts) and they are manufactured in much smaller quantities. No idea why they don't come in decent size tins though.

OP do you get healthy living vouchers, theyare ddesigned for this sort of thing ?

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

Flangelina - I do think the OP is taking the piss, tbh.

Would she rather they have her money to bf her baby, but didn't have the money to treat him if he has an allergic reaction?

[DragonMamma]

couthymow that's shit. I didn't realise it came out of the GP's budgets, they just throw it at us but then I wouldn't stockpile it and just re-order when we need more. The consultant paed said he needs it until he is 2.

It smells like arse though. I would never drink it.

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

Finally! Something I agree with Couthy on!

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

You can't get hypoallergenic formula or soy milk replacements on Healthy Living tokens btw. I use mine on extra leafy green veg, to make up calcium levels!

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

at Outraged!

[SCOTCHandWRY]

And, as an aside, the hypoallergenic formulas taste and smell rank. If I was a baby, it would be a no brainer for me - bm that tastes sweet, or Nutramigen that tastes and smells like week old sweaty socks...

As I said in my previous post, why not try Goat milk for your CMP allergic dc?
It is more expensive than cows milk but it's also a natural product - my DS took to it straight away.

Some PP are confusing lactose and CMP problems - not the same thing! Lactofree (no milk sugar in it) is no good if the problem is CMP (one of the proteins in the milk).

[Pancakeflipper]

It is so much easier to be an adult dealing with allergies/ intolerances.

DS2 is off to a toddler birthday party tomorrow and I get to be helicopter parent at food time. My arse is in so many birthday photos of the toddlers for our village as I bend over DS2's plate and be ever watchful.

Couthy - really sorry that the sensory group is not thinking they can accommodate your son. Big blow that.

[Willabywallaby]

YABU

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

You can't even get lactose free milk on the Healthy Living vouchers, as I found out today. (DS2 is lactose intolerant, nothing like DS3's allergy, but a PITA nonetheless). I am skint, so tried to get some with my vouchers only to find you can't! I'd never tried before, had always used them for fruit and veg.

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

Goats milk protein is very similar to CMP. Some DC's can tolerate it - I have been advised not to, as DS3's allergy is so severe.

[naughtymummy]

Could the OP not use her healthy living tokens for her dairy free calcium sources. TBH I had no idea you could buy neocate over the counter. I agree they smell and taste rank !

[nickelbabeuntiladvent]

this is my thread from a few weeks ago
maybe there are some good things on there you can look at?


DD's much older and on solids, but the things that you can eat will be useful (especially chocolate)

also, Blackfriars Flapjack is suitable for vegans

[bondigidum]

I'm a vegan and can definitely say it is not more expensive.. cheaper if anything. No idea where you are shopping.

Yabu to expect that of the NHS its barely their fault. You don't get paid to buy formula if you fail at bfing do you? And one would argue formula is more expensive than the apparent extra money dairy free stuff costs (although to me its cheaper).

[FlangelinaBallerina]

Couthy, I agree with your first sentence but am not sure what your second means.

[naughtymummy]

Also so sorry mouthy what a nightmare. I heard of one child who couldn't' walk past Starbucks. I don't know if that makes you feel better or worse !