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I'm on week two of going dairy-free after Djuna had a bad reaction (mad hives) to touching cheese last Monday. She's had chronic eczema, on her hands and feet/ankles, for months and it had gotten worse in the past few weeks. She is still primarily breastfeeding and seems to have little interest in eating food; she won't even open her mouth for me if I try to feed her. In an effort to improve her eczema I've given up nuts too as I worry that almond milk and the other nuts in my diet might be exacerbating the issue as well.
My morning coffee is now an Americano, and I am eating lots of protein, vegetables, and fruit to keep my energy up throughout the day. Without dairy in my body, I actually feel pretty great. If Djuna's skin does improve, I will give it up while she continues breastfeeding, which could mean being dairy-free for two years or more. I have even toyed with the idea of cutting dairy from my diet on a more permanent basis. Though, I do love me some cheese. And ice cream. And buttered toast.
3 comments:
Isn't it interesting that when we cut out stuff that's not doing our babies well, it also seems to make us feel better? It's pretty great that you're able to pinpoint exactly what's causing her rxns - sometimes it takes years to figure that out.
I was on a restricted diet for about 9 months because my baby had a "milk-protein allergy" starting at 3 months, except in addition to not eating milk, I also gave up soy, nuts, eggs, fish/shellfish, wheat, all meat except lamb -- because giving up just milk and soy didn't clear up her allergy to my breast milk. Anyway, the main inconvenience was not being able to eat any take-out, because butter (and soy) are in everything! Also, for the first time in my life I was actually too thin (it's true that eliminating dairy and bread makes you loose weight like crazy, so get ready), but I felt completely fine.
Breakfast was the most challenging meal for me (because for lunch I ate soup or salad and for dinner I ate lamb or non-wheat grains/pastas with vegetables, oh, and tacos!). So, I ate oatmeal or bob's red mill creamy buckwheat cereal made with coconut milk every day.
I have since learned a couple of things that I would do now if I had to diet like that again:
1) Make your own coconut milk like this to avoid carrageenan and such in prepared ones:
http://www.bonzochoochmushyandme.com/2014/03/easy-healthy-creamy-mostly-homemade.html#.U0857-ewL-Q
2) Make pancakes/muffins using gluten-free recipes and coconut yogurt or milk
Also, this sauce makes everything taste better (noodles, in soup, on salad)
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/spicy-lemon-coconut-sauce-recipe.html
It may take years yet, Aralena. I have a feeling this kid is going to have a hard time with allergies.
Olga, thanks for the information! I've also cut out nuts, strawberries, avocado, tomatoes, and honey...so we'll see. I'm going to try the coconut milk recipe for sure!
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