How did you know that it was the dairy causing the problem?
With dd1 discovered around 8 months, she was always a chucky Bub with low weight gains, we had to increase her formula feeds. It was trial and error as some made her worse including soy. Finally tried lactose free in desperation one day. She then refused all bfeeds or ebm, if she did have them she was violently ill.
Ds had very low weight gains (50g) and reflux, worked quickly it was most likely an intolerance, tried eliminating all dairy from my diet and saw some improvement. He had to go onto formula top ups to try to improve his weight gains so trialled soy and goat to see if it was a protein or lactose issue he reacted badly so went onto the lactose free formula, he self weaned at 4 months and his reflux calmed down although still on meds and he started gaining 150g a week.
Was it an immediate or delayed reaction?
It was about 30 minutes after a feed but sometimes overnight too. It was a thick sticky chuck for dd and with ds it was a constant trail of chuck following him.
Did you get allergy testing or any other medical consultation to confirm?
No allergy testing for dd but talked to my gp and pead, they were happy with us to treat it as an intolerance as she finally gained weight.
Went to a nutritionist with ds to guide us through the elimination process this time.
How did it impact your introduction to solids?
Just used the formula in cooking and avoided cheeses etc. Swapped to lactose free milk at 2 years but she now has all other dairy.
Had to avoid wheat with ds for a while but he recently went onto the lactose free milk and can now have grains.
Did your child grow out of the allergy or become able to tolerate small amounts?
Slowly introduced yoghurt and cheese at around 18 months with dd and ds is having small amounts of yoghurt and cheese at 14 months.
If your child had to maintain a dairy free diet, did you have to increase the intake of other foods to ensure they got appropriate calcium and nutrients?
Both were good with vegies and their formula had calcium.
And while breastfeeding, did you alter your own diet for the same reasons?
Only with ds once I realised the problem, feel guilty that I never realised there was a problem with dd.
Both my DDs had dairy, wheat and gluten intolerances - DD1 much more severe than DD2. We saw several paediatricians and ended up seeing a paed who specialises in allergies. Both girls were tested (faeces and blood) and both showed positive to intolerances, with DD1 considered allergic to dairy.
Both my girls screamed 20 odd hours a day, were rigid with stomach pain and had explosive liquid poo two or three times per breastfeed.
They initially had delayed reactions, but it builds up in their systems so by the time we got to say 6 weeks both girls were having immediate reactions where they screamed and pulled off the breast during feeding, and their poos were becoming more immediate.
I tried altering my diet with DD1. I was basically dairy free right from the start and then included a whole heap more foods - got to the point where I had excluded seemingly everything and she was still unsettled and in pain, which is when I switched her to formula.
DD2 now eats yoghurt, cheese, ice cream etc and drinks lots of milk. DD1 won't touch milk or yoghurt at all, and will eat tiny amounts of cheese.
Thanks for sharing ladies, it's been really helpful reading other's experiences. It sounds like there is a broad range of severity and reactions, as well as 'prognoses'.
Poor little man has been really squirmy and uncomfortable all day. Barely slept and has had a couple of serious bouts of screaming. Very unlike him so I'm becoming more confident that it was the cheese I ate on Thurs. Still considering whether to get it further clarified / confirmed medically if it's possible. I need all the evidence and accountability I can get to make me stay off dairy... it's gonna be tough for this little cheese-addict.
How did you know that it was the dairy causing the problem?
We didnt at first, we came home from NICU/SCN and discovered that after 18 days she hadnt done a poo... We went to get her checked out and everyone passed it off as being BF, spoke to the paed and they suspected Heirsprung's after invasive testing for that it was concluded she has dairy/soy allergy. After eliminating it from the diet she has pooed every 3 days on cue.
Was it an immediate or delayed reaction?
She didnt poo immediately, for 18 or so days. After dairy/soy was eliminated she improved almost immediately
Did you get allergy testing or any other medical consultation to confirm? No allergy testing as far as Im aware but she was tested for Heirsprungs due to her birth.
How did it impact your introduction to solids? It hasnt as we are already ona dairy/soy free diet. Although we have to check most prepackaged baby foods etc.
Did your child grow out of the allergy or become able to tolerate small amounts?
She can tolerate traces of without major impact, no trial of full exposure has been given.
If your child had to maintain a dairy free diet, did you have to increase the intake of other foods to ensure they got appropriate calcium and nutrients?
We are yet to get to this stage...
And while breastfeeding, did you alter your own diet for the same reasons? Hmmm. Not really lol. Should probably look into that haha.
I've been a dairy addict as well. How could I not be as a daughter of a diary farmer. It's hard initially to keep off diary but I got into the swing of it. I've discovered a cheese in the greek deli called mini chol. It's not dairy free but it's lactose free and made from soy. DS seems to tolerate small serves of this cheese. Some bubs who have the milk protein allergy also have a soy allergy. I'm lucky that DS seems to be fine with soy.
Thanks Lisa. Yeah, he seems to react to soy as well... though I switched from dairy to soy and gave up on this after only a few days as he was still miserable. From what you wrote about dairy staying in the milk and the gut taking time to heal, he may have still been reacting to the dairy so might trial soy again in a couple of weeks.
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