Breastfeeding - dairy free help

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Hi all - also posted this in parenting then realised this might be better

Bit of background - my 7 week old has symptoms of silent reflux (unsettled and frequently cries, knees up and back arching, fussy feeder, poor sleeper). Dr prescribed gaviscon, just seemed to send him on the road to constipation. Next we tried ranitidine - he started throwing up a lot and seemed even more unsettled, so we've just taken him off that over the weekend.

He had to have a bit of formula over the weekend when my parents were babysitting, and afterwards came out with a rash around his eye that seemed to be quite itchy for him (lots of rubbing). Dr has today said could be dairy allergy and prescribed dairy free formula as the best test of this - even times though I'm currently breastfeeding.

I'm reluctant to switch to formula until we know dairy is definitely an issue - is this really the best thing to do?! And from anyone who has previously eliminated dairy from their own diet and carried on breastfeeding, any tips? Good dairy free ranges or surprising things dairy is in which I'll need to avoid? It's going to be a challenge as I definitely eat more than my fair share of choc digestives and we're over reliant on convenience meals like a good old lasagne!

Thanks!

I did it for a month. Hard fucking going, I wont lie. I basically went into Tesco and bought every bit of Free From stuff they had. Problem is, some of it isnt all that nice.

So after an entirely miserable month I switched to the prescribed formula. It was miraculous. I was v tearful for a week about stopping BFing. Until I realised his symptoms were gone. Then suddenly I didnt give a shit!

He now takes all dairy, we subsequently reintroduced it slowly between 12-18 months.

Sorry to suggest another topic, but you might be better posting/looking in the allergy topic! Lots of posts on dairy free alternatives there.

I eliminated dairy from my diet to breastfeed my DS for 2 years. The dairy free formula is disgusting and he wouldn't take it and I was reluctant to give it.

There's no need to give up biscuits/ready meals if you are dairy free, there are plenty of alternatives. There are dairy free chocolate digestives, oreos are dairy free as are bourbons and those posh chocolate covered ginger biscuits.

Oh that reminds me, I added vanilla extract to the formula. Just a couple of drops. They guzzle it then.

I went dairy free to BF intolerant child. It's really not that bad.

Trick is to calmly go shopping and get some alternatives. Spread etc.

Then don't do substitutes just eat differently. I mean pretend cheese yuk instead add more seasoning, herbs etc. Loads of fruit and veg.

Bourbons and party rings are dairy free. You can bake with pure spread. Betty crockers cake toppings are DF.

My 3 kids grew out of it. I stopped feeding them between 1 and 1.5. It's not forever.

A large proportion of dairy allergic babies are also allergic to soya which is a pain but it’s probably worth cutting out both. It’s a bit of a pain but perfectly doable once you’re used to the changes. Lots of dairy free spreads available which are also good for baking. Some dark chocolate is dairy free. Snack wise bourbons and hobnobs are too. I quite enjoyed almond/ hazelnut milks. Soya was more of a pain as it’s in lots of breads etc but you soon adjust. There’s a great dairy and soya free group on facebook.

Eating out is the biggest pain annoyingly.

It's totally doable, but does need a little more thought and planning (and a bit more ££, if you want to buy a lot of ready made foods). I did it with DD, 2.8, who's still dairy-free and even in the last couple of years, the supermarket ranges have improved greatly.

Be aware that it'll take a couple of weeks or so for any trace of dairy to leave your milk. Also, be aware that you should cut out soya too, as most CMPI babies are also intolerant/allergic to that too. You will need to read labels, as dairy and soya are in a lot of foods you wouldn't expect to find them in.

As pp said, bourbons are dairy free. Nairns do some good df biscuit options, look for their 'biscuit breaks'. Also the supermarkets do their own ranges.

For chocolate, of course dark chocolate is mostly ok(but check, esp for soya). For milk chocolate subs, I think Om are best. Moo are ok. Booja Booja are amazing, but £££. Their chocolate ice cream is incredible.

For a little chocolate pudding, the coconut collaborate chocolate pots are lovely. I think their coconut yogurt is the nicest brand.

For milk substitute I think Alpro unsweetened roasted almond milk is the best. It's fortified with calcium etc to the same level as cow's milk.

You will need to take a calcium supplement if you are not taking in enough calcium in fortified alternatives.

For sandwiches etc you can use Pure sunflower or olive spread. Or just drizzle olive oil.

For main courses I find it's better to avoid substitutes and instead cook food that would naturally be dairy free.

Oh and for cakes, supermarkets do a range. When eating out/making, I think the Italian sort of cakes made with polenta or ground almonds and oil instead of butter are the nicest.

Thank you all, this is so helpful!

My dd is ebf and I have been dairy free for 4 months.
A lot of bf babies will reject the prescription formula at 1st as it tastes so different according to dd dietican (in her words very bitter, basically disgusting).
When dd was diagnosed with CMPA I got told by the hospital junior doctor to put her on formula which I was quite upset by, not sure if it was a language barrier issue but consultant stepped in a told me I was fine to keep bf if I went dairy free. Tbh as you know it’s for your little one it is easy... like not drinking when pregnant. There are so many options available in the supermarkets and even Ben & Jerrys have started doing dairy free ice cream.
Most restaurants will have allergy advice freely available and some even have dairy free menus. Not being able to eat some of my usual stuff has only made me try stufff I would never have bothered with - never knew I love hummus!
Milk is in a lot of stuff, check ingredients of everything, even stuff you would never imagine such as chorizo and sausages. But also check ingredients on items you would assume have milk.... Tesco value bourbons and Oreos are fine!!!!
Lastly my dd symptoms (blood in poo and dark green ‘pesto’ poo) took 6 weeks before we were back to normal.
Totally possible to bf an CMPA baby.
Good luck and take a look at the Facebook group breastfeeding support for CMPA and there is also a weening support group for later.