Effects of soya on milk supply - does anyone know???

[Academicmum]

Maybe this is something that is well known, but I've been reading around and can't find anything. Anyway, the background is that my ds2 has a milk allergy and I need to maintain a dairy free diet whilst b/feeding. This is all fine and well, but I'm veggie and therefore removing dairy from my diet will mean I need to eat a ton of soy to keep up my protein levels but soy contains high levels of phytoestrogens. My question is therefore that if oestrogen lowers milk production (e.g. when you start taking the combined pill) - do phytoestrogens have a similar effect? If so, I guess I need to limit my intake of soy as well. Does anyone know of any research on this subject?

Don't know about research sorry but I have heard that a high intake can produce PMT-like symptoms.

I used to take soya milk in my cereal every day then switched to rice milk and feel much better hormonally.

I know this is only anecdotal and nothing to do with milk supply but I too would be interested in reading any research which can be linked.

I prefer rice milk to soya as well. I also manage not to eat too much soya protein stuff during the week either..more lentils and veggie curries, bean chillis and stir frys etc. I love eggs as well - although I'm pregnant at the min so I've cut them way down - but there's nothing nicer than a veggie frittata...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

It is virtually impossible to be protein deficient on a western style vegan diet. You do not need loads of soya.

I am a vegan.

I drink soya milk.

I am bursting with mummy milk.

I think its cobblers, personally.

You want to be careful about the level of soya in your diet - assuming your ds is under a year. They have shown some link between high levels of soya in boys under one and infertility and hormone problems later on in life.

There are plenty of other ways to get protein.

I've read the stuff about fertility and soya in boys, but assumed that this would be OK when he is getting it second hand? Good to know others don't seem to have a problem with supply though, but I guess I still need to have a rethink of my protein sources (I normally live on cheese, cheese and a bit more cheese-lazy I know).

Academicmum - have you tried goats or sheeps milk in your diet instead?

Your ds2 might be ok if you switch and certainly goats milk/cheese/yogurt is stocked by most of the supermarkets (or it is round here anyway)

Don't know about the soy thing though, sorry.

i was dairy and egg free (and also veggie) for over a year with ds2.
i did not eat lots of soya.
i didn't even drink soya milk. i have rice or oat.
we had tofu now and then, but that's it.

plenty of other sources of protein!

I tried goats cheese, but after this ds came out in blisters on his neck! (His allergy is confirmed and to the point of anaphylaxis). Thisisuesterday, I take your point, there are other options but I realised a few days ago that I was eating rather a lot of soya and I also noticed that my supply seemed to be getting lower. It could just be coincidence, but I wondered if there was any connection.

oh bugger. i am going through a liter of soya milk every few days. i gave it up in pregnancy but thought it was fine now, and also think DS is sensitive to dairy in my diet. i wouldn't say i'm bursting with milk, but hadn't thought this was affecting my supply ...

so many things to worry about.

You shouldn't eat so much dairy anyway, for your own long term health. and if you eat cheese, cheese + more cheese, where do you get your iron from?

I'm veggie and whilst I do like my smelly cheeses and the odd bit of smoked tofu I also eat lots of pulses (also good for iron AND calcium, nuts and seeds (ditto pulses plus lovely essential fats) and different cereals, such as millet and quinoa. I don't eat "weird hippy" veggie food either, most of my meals can be described as "mainstream" (also because I have a non veggie DP to cook for).

You really don't need soya, nor milk or meat substitutes. If you want an alternative milk substitute, try almond milk. It's more expensive but full of calcium, protein and good fats. Much better than soya milk imo (but them I am partial to a nice bit of vanilla flavoured soya milk).

Brangelina - maybe the cheese, cheese + more cheese is a little exagerated, but certainly I have a big weakness for (too much of) the good, stinky french stuff. I don't eat many nuts because ds1 has a peanut, cashew nut, almond (and a few others) allergy so I'm wary about sensitising ds2 to these as well and only realised that the amount of soya was creeping up slowly. Before I had to cut out dairy I didn't have all that much and I've now swapped the soy milk in tea on cereals etc for oat milk so I'll see if that helps.

Leonie I'll check out the website. Thanks.