For Breastfeeding Vegetarians Only.

I was in a similar situation with my first. I had to cut out all dairy because it gave him gas. I switched to soy milk, which was great. There are also a lot of protein-rich foods that you might not expect. Brown rice, broccoli, lentils, etc. Here is a good web page with a list of protein-rich foods: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/vegetables-high-in-protein...

Good luck!

Have you tried hemp protein powder? There is nothing but hemp in it and there are 15-30 grams of protein in one serving. We make smoothies every morning and add the hemp protein powder in it along with flax seeds.
Also, sunflower seed butter might be an option. It isn't a nut, it's a seed. :)

I have been a vegetarian for fifteen years, through three pregnancies. I also breastfed all three, but I never had any trouble with allergies like you.

Have you considered adding a limited amount of fish to your diet? When I was pregnant with my first baby, a nutritionist suggested that I add shrimp and scallops to my diet, because they are rich in protein, but don't taste too fishy. She also suggested that I drink protein shakes, which I drank, even though I couldn't stand the taste.

Long story short, I had a fat 9 pound baby! For my next two pregnancies, I made no changes and remained a vegetarian (no protein shakes) and I had two more fat 9 pound babies. So, I don't think the additional protein had any effect.

So really, I wouldn't worry too much about getting enough protein. Most Americans eat such a huge amount of protein, we take in more than we can use, even when breastfeeding.

I would suggest that you look into the Quorn products at natural grocery food stores. They are made from mushrooms, not tofu or milk products, but are full of protein. Their "chicken" chunks are delicious and you can use them in so many recipes. I would also suggest that you start eating Quinoa, if you haven't already. Do rinse it before you cook it, otherwise it can have a strange taste.

Hope this helps. http://keystosimpleliving.com/

The baby's sensitivities won't last for very long--in a month or so you can probably start slowly integrating dairy and nuts back into your diet. It really is a "newborn" thing for them to have such sensitive tummies. I wouldn't go back to consuming meat just yet. Your body will tell you if you're not getting enough protein--if you feel fine then chances are you are just fine. best of luck and congratulations with your new baby!

Have you tried some of the meat alternatives? I know you have to be careful with the amount of soy intake, but I eat partially vegetarian and I love Gardein. It's made from soy and ancient grains-can get it at Whole Foods and Super Target.

Also, have you tried milk alternatives like Rice Milk or Hemp Milk? Another good item is Tahini (sesame seed butter) it has some protein in it and is great for making sauces, etc) You could always try smoothies/shakes too made with some type of Vegan protein powder (there's lot of options) and lots of fruit, juice, etc.

I would try a Vegan cookbook, I am a big fan of Alicia Silverstone's the Kind Life...every recipe I have made out of there is hearty and fantastic.

Also might want to try seeking out the advice of a naturopath or herbalist in your area if you can find one.

Good luck and bravo on both counts, eating better for the planet and breastfeeding!

PS: if you can give a little and allow some animal protein in, I would opt for WILD fish 2-3 times per week. Loads of lean protein and the omegas are good for you and baby-best way to get the most bang for your buck and still mostly avoid meat. I eat fish and cruelty free poultry.

You are probably getting enough protein on tofu and nuts, If not pick up other fake meats, and nut butters to add to your diet. Most people (even breastfeeding women) get too much protein under the fear they are not getting enough. What americans mostly lack in their diet is good fatty acids, and iron rich leafy greens, not protein.

Dont start eating meat again.

If your baby is allergic to the proteins that are in milk, eggs, cheese then the ones found in meat are not better, and its not better for you.

i've been an on an off vegetarian. I think some people do better with some meat especially when they have dietary conditions like sillic disease. If your diet has gotten that restrictive, then add some meat. But if you want to keep trying with the beans and such and feel energetic, thats good too. Don't forget that there a plenty of grains with protein in them too. Eat quinoa.

google "high protein vegan diet". My DIL is vegan and had no problems with her milk and my granddaughter was a fat little chub. I know she ate a lot of quinoa.

Like another respondent, I had to add some fish. And I second contact a lactation consultant!!! And, echo someone who mentioned it won't always be like this. Around three months their systems become a bit more mature and you can add what you like, bit by bit. By the fourth month, I was eating as I always had. Bf your baby will hopefully out weigh the mental strain.

And I just read your response and wanted to state again lactation consultant or bf support group. Being surrounded by other women at this time who's bodies are all adjusting might be just the ticket!

It's not exactly the same, but I was a vegetarian for 10 years and then I got pregnant with my daughter. I _had_ to eat meat. I craved it so bad. I dreamed about it. I felt soooo much better when I started eating it about 10 weeks into my pregnancy. But when that pregnancy was over, I was also completely fine going back to being a vegetarian. I felt a lot of guilt, but I also knew that being a vegetarian was a choice that I made in response to the treatment of animals, NOT because it is actually a natural way for humans to eat. Pregnant, I had to consume a more "normal" diet. I think that if you need to eat meat, then you should find some ethically raised meat (that's what I did) feel good about spending your "meat buying dollars" on an ethical product, and then you can give it up again when your daughter can handle a more varied diet.

Good luck.

I am not technically a vegetarian, but I eat mostly vegetarian because of health issues and several food allergies. I am allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, citrus fruits, dairy, casein (the dairy protein), wheat, wheat gluten, eggs, apricots, blueberries, salmon, and asparagus. I also have fibromyaglia and have to stay away from the following foods because they are natural inflammatories: soy, onions, egg plant, bell peppers, tomatoes..anything from the nightshade family of vegetables.

I drink a protein shake 3 times a day. I mix a vegan rice protein in with fresh fruits and fresh vegetable juice. Right now I am adding a little soy back into my diet to see how my Fibro reacts to it and have been using a dairy free protein mix from Standard Process called SP Complete Dairy Free. I believe it is Vegan since it has no meat or dairy products in it or any of the top 8 allergens. I also add in their Whole Food Fiber powder which contains oat, beet, rice, carrot, and apple fiber. The SP powders definitely taste better than the Rice protein powders I was using, but that isn't saying much since they all taste pretty gnarly. I am just so used to tasting gluten free and allergy free stuff that the taste no longer even phases me.

For lunch and dinner I make soups or stirfrys with lentils, brown rice, or quinoa as my protein source. I make a yummy fried rice with brown rice, lentils, celery, cauliflower, broccoli and whatever else I can have in my kitchen veggie drawer. I will occasionally use blackbeans or other beans for protein as well. I LOVE to use dried beans to make soups in my crockpot. No need to soak them overnight, just throw them into the crock pot with everything else and let the crockpot soften them up. YUM!

I agree with the other Moms, you are probably feeling hungry between meals because you aren't intaking enough fats. If your daughter reacted to the almond milk, you might want to try peanut butter. Peanuts are actually a legume, a bean, not a true nut. Almonds are a true tree nut. For milk, try rice milk (it comes in flavors like Vanilla and chocolate). I am allergic to chocolate, but my best friends 5 yo son loves Rice Dream chocolate milk. I like the Rice Dream vanilla flavored milk in my cereal. You might also want to add in some sunflower seeds or sesame seeds to salads or just eat by the handful as they have good fatty acids and taste pretty good. Olive oil, sunflower oil, and coconut milk are also good options.

Hopefully your baby will grow out of these allergies. In most cases, babies this young don't have true allergies, just intolerances since their digestive systems are not fully functional. My daughter was dairy intolerant until she turned 1. And so was my son. Until age 2 my daughter was allergic to all dairy, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts, and wheat. She is now 3 and can tolerate eggs and dairy just fine. Wheat, peanuts and tree nuts are still a problem for my almost 4 year daughter. My son is now 6 and can eat everything.

I know it must seem so overwhelming right now trying to figure out what you can eat so that your little one doesn't suffer with allergic reactions. I have had food allergies my whole life, but it was still overwhelming for me when we found out that my daughter had food allergies. But thankfully there are so many more options available now for people with allergies and food intolerances than there were 30 years ago when my parents found out I had food allergies.

If you have any questions or just need to vent, feel free to PM me.

S.

Also look at textured vegetable protein. You can buy it in bulk and it comes in ready made products like burgers, patties and all kind of "fake meat" items. You might not usually consume it, but it's a good source of protein and it's not meat.
You can also try switching to goats milk and cheese.

I would be careful before blaming your baby's "sensitivity" on the foods that you are eating. True food allergies are very rare in newborns and I personally would not eliminate anything from your diet unless there is medical evidence (not just anecdotal!) that your baby is allergic.

Good luck.

I agree with Nicole M., quinoa is an excellent source of protein and amino acids! I'm not a vegetarian but we have adopted quinoa recently into our diets and love it. Plus, you can put almost any kind of veggies/spices into it to make it different every time and its as easy to cook as rice. I also recommend cooking it in veggie broth instead of just water to give it a good flavor! Good luck!

This, unfortunately, won't be the first time you will struggle with a decision close to ur heart, ethics and values concerning raising ur child. What about a compromise or some sort of middle ground. And maybe just something while your nursing. Some veggie folks will occasionally do fish, or organic chicken.

Have you thought of hemph protein drinks from while foods? They have a few vegan protien drinks I saw last week. Your doing a great job nursing. And you will STILL be doing a great job if you have to eat a little meat here and there. You could probably get away with eating meat only a few times a week versus everyday.

Hang un there!

You could try taking pancreatin, it will help breakdown the cow milk protein you consume before it gets to your milk which will make it easier for your baby to digest. Most babies have trouble with cow milk because the protien is so large. You could also give your baby an infant probiotic made by Bio Gaia which will give her digestive tract a good bacteria to help in digestion. We sell them at Milkalicious in Aliso Viejo or online at milkalicious.com

Try buying almond milk and a really good protein powder and making protein drinks.

Our pediatrician was a vegetarian and went through the same thing. She ate chicken and some fish while pregnant and nursing. She said tofu just isn't a significant source of protein to support 2 people. I figure if she resorted to eating meat, you might have to too.

Hi, I didn't have to cut anything out of my diet, but I am vegetarian and I did breastfeed. To make sure I was fine, I researched how much protein I needed per day and kept a log, I found that I was doing this pretty easily. As you probably know, most people (meat eaters) get more protein than you need, so it's often not as hard as you think.

Do you have to cut out dairy completely? If not, could you still do yogurt? Greek yogurt has tons of protein.

Also, seitan (which is made from wheat) has a lot as well.

Rice milk, lentils, wheat pastas. Oh, and I know some of the Kashi cereals claim to have as much protein as an egg (though, there may be nuts in there).

I would really look up protein sources, and find a site that lists the protein in all foods- there is protein in lots more food than you realize, so keep a log of what you eat (or would eat) and look up everything. Hopefully you'll be ok.

There is also just protein powder that you could add to things (either made from soy or from wheat). I don't remember it tasting very good, though.

I think if even if your choices are limited, there is such a variety of soy and beans that you'll be ok. Do look for seitan, though, it's probably the highest in protein.

Good luck! Message me if you need....

Quinoa (I think it is a type of grain?) apparently contains a complete protein (meaning all the necessary amino acids). Also, if you look into food combining (e.g., eat rice with your beans), you will find out what foods you should eat together to form a complete protein. Good luck!

Not a vegetarian, but a good friend is. When she was concerned, she contacted a lactation consultant who made some helpful suggestions! Can't recall what they were off the top of my head, but call the hospital where you delivered our your doula if you had one and request a referral. Different issue, but when I called with a breastfeeding concern, the lactation consultant was amazingly helpful- and calming!

I am not a vegetarian, but, I rarely eat meat. can you drink pure protein shakes? all dairy and tomatoes affected my 1st child...just a suggestion.

My daughter had a dairy allergy when she was nursing. Her whole face and head would break out in this rashy- thing. My lactation consultant suggested I take out dairy from my diet. I was heartbroken! Noooooo! But lo and behold I followed her advice and my daughter's skin problem cleared up.

But my instinct told me to try and incorporate teeny amounts of dairy anyway....so after a few weeks I ate a little cheese...yes she broke out again...but not as bad. A few weeks later...a tiny bit more.....I kept at it in small amounts until she actually no longer had the allergy when she nursed.

When she began solids, she naturally had dairy sensitivity but not a full blown allergy. Again...I kept introducing in small amounts...allowing her system to adjust perhaps? I don't know...

My daughter is now 7 years old and eats whatever she wants....sometimes I wonder is she would have the allergy if I had cut it all out and never brought it back.

Ask a lactation consultant about your baby's system being able to tolerate more things as she gets older.

Best of luck!

I only quickly referenced the other responses - so, I'm sorry if I repeat any info. If you are feeling hungry a good amount of the time, it is probably due to the lack of fat in your diet and not necessarily the protein. I get my fat through flax oil, olive oil...of course there are many others. Protein, as you probably already know, is prevalent in leafy greens - and of course legumes (beans, lentils) as well as quinoa (as someone had already mentioned). A diet subsisting on those alone would provide ample protein.

The most helpful thing I can offer you is this - All nuts are not the same. Peanuts, as you know are grown in the ground, while the rest are tree nuts. Peanut allergies do not automatically point to a "tree-nut" allergy and vice versa.

I was vegetarian for my entire pregnancy and breastfeeding. I nursed for 18 months and had no issues. My daughter is 6 1/2 now. I've been vegan for the last 3 years and my protein, iron, B12, Vit D, cholesterol, etc levels are amazing and even my doctor is jealous. Anyhow, there are numerous ways to sneak more protein into your diet without resorting to animal products. Red/pink lentils cook very fast (turns yellow when cooked) and can be made into a nice soup with chikpeas. Quinoa is a complete protein, cooks like rice (2 to 1 with water) and can be tossed in a salad or added to any kind of veggie dish. As for tofu, I would try to stick with organic and also tempeh which is very good. Seitain is made of wheat if you are ok with eating that. There are also non-nut butters and milks these days (sunflower seed butter, hemp milk, rice milk, etc.) I am also a cyclist and have never had a problem keeping pace with my meat-consuming rididing partners. I wish you luck and keep the faith! xoxo