Breastfeeding Elimination Diet

Yes, I had success with this in helping to reduce my son's reflux by removing dairy and soy. He was breastfed only because I could not get him to take any formula. However, he ended up having many other food allergies that exacerbated his eczema and we didn't fully discover it all until about 18 months. So depending on what symptoms you are having, there could be more. And now, at 3 1/2 he can eat an almost completely normal diet with only peanut restrictions, so yes, getting it out of their systems for an extended period of time can make a big difference.

I nursed two boys while avoiding things they were allergic to. It was really hard at first, but once you get the hang of what you can eat and find things that you really like to take the place of stuff you have to give up, it gets easier. If you're looking for some dairy- and soy-free recipes to try while you're on the elimination diet, our website, www.welcomingkitchen.blogspot.com features recipes and product reviews that are free of the 8 common allergens and also gluten-free (though you can substitute all-purpose flour if you can tolerate it). Sometimes having a cookie that you can eat can make the transition a lot easier!

It will work! I had to give up dairy with my daughter. My lactation consultant said it can take up to 3 weeks for some people to get rid of the casein. I was very discouraged at 13 days when my daughter was still projectile vomiting, but one day she miraculously kept all her breastmilk down!
She has no allergies now.
Good luck! You're doing a great job!
Peace,
M.

My friend had to eliminate everything from her diet while nursing her baby, which she did until nine months. She cut out dairy, wheat, all gluten containing foods, tomatoes, and the list goes on. She was able to nurse successfully and her baby was fine!

HANG in there! If the dairy is not the problem, try nuts or citrus. It also could be wheat. If he is having problems with your breastmilk, he will likely have problems with formula. Keep trying different foods, but YES you do need to give it time to leave your system.

If you need a lactation consultant, contact Linda Worzer, IBCLC. Her contact info it at www.naturalbeginningsonline, she is GREAT.

K. Voigtsberger

I have a couple friends who did it. I know it's hard:( You have to look at EVERY label when you buy food and make most things from scratch. And yes, it takes 3-4 weeks for dairy to fully be out of your system.
I actually know two women, a friend and a cousin, who's babies were so allergic (and still are) to everything that they had to cut almost everything but rice and chicken out and then add one thing back in at a time. Hang in there:) You're doing the best thing for your baby and it will give him a much better chance of getting past those allergies. My cousin's son is much better now and can even have peanuts! But it's taken time and he's 4 or 5 I think.

If you haven't already...check out Dr. Sears's elimination diet. It's very helpful. Go to askdrsears.com and search for it.

I had to do it while nursing my son, he was very sensitive to dairy (projectile vomitted), and tomoatoes (very gases), and I did go to a lactation consultant and was doing everything right. Some babies are just sensitive. My son still has allergies and now asthma. But it was all very worth it. I just thought if I stopped nursing and switched to formula we would still have problems, and I would have ended up putting him on the most expensive formula out there. And as an added bonus for a very restrictive diet, I lost even more weight than I have ever been able to lose. I really think I need to take dairy out of my diet now and I would be able to lose that last 10 lbs. My child was so bad a first, I had to try the diet I think I found on Dr. Sears website, that was down to eatting organic chicken, stemmed squash, and stemmed pears and that was it, and then add foods back one at a time. I also heard that some babies can't tolerate raw fruits and veggies, so keep that in mind, and I found a very yummy vanilla flavored rice milk (Rice Dream I think it is called) that quenched my thirst for milk. Just hang in there you can do it!!! Oh, and I was able to nurse my son for the first year!!!

You can do it! I cut out all dairy from my diet for my son for the last 14 months - I am still nursing him because he needs the good bacteria from my breast milk to help his little system (he's had issues with slow transit & constipation too). It was very hard at first, mostly because I had to cut out common allergen foods (dairy, eggs, wheat & all gluten, nuts, chocolate) & gradually add them back in until we determined that it was dairy & nuts that affected him & that took several months (& started when he was about a month old)! After I got through that wait & see time & learned substitutes for dairy & other things to eat, it wasn't that hard. Coconut milk (found at most stores) is good in cereal - so is rice & almond milk, & you can cook/bake with any of them. There is a strawberry coconut milk keifer from Redwood Hills Farm that is really good to drink & super good for you (can get at Whole Foods & maybe Sprouts?) Earth Balance has a good non-dairy butter & you can get that at most stores. There is a So Delicious brand of coconut yogurts - try the blueberry! & coconut ice cream that is really good. You can find them at Sprouts or Whole Foods & they are better for you than the soy versions. I learned to like avocado & guacamole & used that as a "substitute" for cheese on sandwhiches or tacos or something. There are also goat milk products - milk, goat milk keifers, yogurt, cheeses - I started my son on goat milk & goat yogurt after he turned a year old & he had no problems with it & really likes it! He is almost 15 months old & I've just started trying to add a little dairy back into my diet & he has not had any reactions from my breast milk! I was also able to add in almonds & almond butter a couple months back with no adverse reactions from him! I am so glad I stuck with it & continued nursing! I also took a probiotic & put him on an infant probiotic. Best of luck to you & your baby! God Bless!

Karen,

I just want to encourage you to stick with it. I know it takes a total revamp of your eating, but breastmilk is the best thing for your little boy. There is a really good Almond Milk at the store my son loves it. Also make sure you are taking a good multi-vitamin and I would suggest adding a probiotic to your diet as well. Your son may need more healthy bacteria in his digestive system and he can get that through your breastmilk. I can direct you to a good one if you are interested. I had a friend who did this and she was able to breastfeed her daughter til she was 1 year old. The side benefit is that it usually helps you to lose that last little bit of baby weight as well as being a healthy diet for you.

Remember cheese also. My daughter eliminates dairy for the last trimester and the whole time she nurses, about 17 months. Look at all the foods you can have and not just what you cannot. Rice milk and almond milk are great and soy is fine in moderation, even soy ice cream. But we freeze fruits and use a Champion juicer to make frozen fruit cream that satisfys the craving for something cold and tasty. Some blenders can handle frozen fruit and banana and strawberries are delicious.
Good Luck !

I have a lactation consultant that I love! I met Teressa at Banner when I had my daughter in July and have been nursing her successfully since. I'm happy to give you her number if you're interested.

I don't know much about baby allergies and mom's diet, though. I'm sure Teressa does. Have you checked out kellymom.com? That is THE guide for nursing moms. Good luck and way to go on committing to breastfeed despite problems. Seriously pat yourself on the back. It's hard work but worth it.

I can tell you, however, that my first son was "having a reaction to my milk" with green acidic poop and a very bad diaper rash. It wasn't a reaction at all but he was getting too much foremilk and not enough hind milk. I was switching him from one breast too soon. I ended up stopping breastfeeding at 7 weeks because I could not figure it out and had no lactation help or support. I wish I had the consultant or kellymom website. You can plug in symptoms and stuff will pop up. Anyway, good luck. You are doing the right thing by reaching out for encouragement! Great job.

I'm not fully clear on what you mean by the term breastfeeding elimination diet...if you mean he is allergic to foods you eat, my sis went through this recently, and although she had to cut out things she really liked, she found other things she could eat, and it was so worth the sacrifice...my niece is healthy and rash free..

I believe you can do anything you set your mind to, don't give up, and check online to see if there are any herbs you can take that won't affect the baby negatively, but will help clean out your system faster

YOU CAN DO IT!

Hang in there! I cut dairy and soy (including all hidden stuff) out of my diet when my son was 2 months. He actually came down with EGID.... bc I didn't know that he was intollerant to other things like Eggs, Wheat, Etc. Watch his symptoms and if they aren't cleared in a couple of weeks... you might need to go back to basics and then add more food in. Once my LO was diagnosed with EGID, I went on a Total Elimination Diet from Dr. Sears. I was on that for 4 months. It is totally doable! PM me if you have any questions! Good luck!