Breastfeeding a baby with food allergies
Categories: Pregnancy & birth, Health & safety, Eating & nutrition
When my daughter turned 12 months old, I couldn't help but notice a flareup of eczema all over her face. No matter what we tried, it didn't get better. When I questioned doctors about the eczema, I was told "it just happens."
Turns out that it doesn't always "just happen." My daughter, like many children, had an allergy to milk. Chronic constipation and eczema were some of the main symptoms of her allergy. In fact, once we removed all milk from her diet, we saw an immediate improvement.
So, when my son started showing allergy symptoms, we knew to check into allergies. While we think it isn't an allergy but an intolerance to dairy, I've had to modify my diet. When you're breastfeeding a child with a food allergy, simple things such as going grocery shopping can become very frustrating.
Sometimes, when you're the only one not eating a certain type of food, you can find yourself playing "poor me." Finding support online or in person can help.
Thanks to Ethel for the tip!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stephanie 8-30-2006 @ 3:30PM
I am dealing with this now- my 10 month old is allergic to dairy and he is still pretty much soley breastfeeding. It is challenging! Especially when planning his 1st birthday party!
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Tara 8-30-2006 @ 4:02PM
I never even considered food allergies to be part of my daughter's life. She is almost 2 years old and chronically constipated (started with the induction of solid foods around 6 months old). Before that she was breast fed and formula fed. She also has eczema, diagnosed at 4 months old. We use a steroid cream to control the eczema and I give her prune juice (Plumsmart) and mineral oil to combat the constipation. But a food allergy?! This is news to me. I'll have to bring her to my allergist to be tested. Very interesting! Thank you!
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jennifer 9-06-2006 @ 12:04AM
My son who is now 10 months old was diagnosed with eczema at about 4 months of age and when i started him on solids at about 6 months he too became chronically constipated, the doctor prescribed a stool softner. I stopped nursing him at 8 months and switched to soy formula, this is when his eczema subsided. Only recently now that i have been using similac's soy formula has his constipation subsided. It is nice to hear that other mom's have experienced the same problems as I have.
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Christina 9-08-2006 @ 10:52AM
My 7-month-old was recently seen by an alergist who did a scratch test on him. My worst fears came true...sensitive to peanuts, soy, milk, wheat, and eggs. He showed early signs with eczema (which is better with using a strict skin-care regimen) and hives on his face after trying formula the first time and recently a baby snack with cheese in it. I am confident he will outgrow most of them but the peanut one is so scary. I pray when he goes for his RAST test in 8 months, it shows a low number for peanuts. I have been breastfeeding him all along and now have to really watch what I consume so as not to exacerbate things for him. He was constipated at first with solid foods, but now maybe I'm thinking it was from the milk in MY diet. He used to cry a lot in his sleep when he was a little baby. I'm sad to think he had terrible tummy pain because of ME and breastfeeding :( Live and learn and I hope we get through these allergies unscathed.
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