Anyone on a no-dairy diet?

We've just returned from the ped's office b/c I was at my wit's end with two very fussy boys (one with normal, yellow poo, and the other with runny, bright green poo...both inconsolably fussy). The ped wants to treat them for reflux and reevaluate next week when we go for their 2-month. If the Zantac hasn't helped, then we'll visit other options: A. take dairy out of my diet or B. put John (Mr. Green Poo) on a special formula. <_<

I love my dairy products - cheese, yogurt, chocolate - so I'm wondering how I'd be able to do it. The optimistic side of me thinks, "Of course I could do it. It's for my baby!" Then the selfish side of me says, "No ice cream? No cheese? No CHOCOLATE????"

Any of you ladies out there on a dairy-free diet? If so, how do you do it?

Becky

 

I cut dairy for a while because they suspected DD had a milk protein allergy.

It stinks, but there's some good news - YOU CAN STILL HAVE CHOCOLATE! Dark chocolate is dairy-free. (And scrumptious.) You can also have soy or rice based ice cream. I know, I know, not the real thing, but better than nothing.

GL! I hope the Zantac works. :hug99:

 

I've cut out the obvious dairy for awhile now. I will have sm amounts and the babes seem to be okay with that. My older son outgrew the dairy sensitivity around 6 mos, so I am hoping that is the case this time!

 

I've been dairy AND soy free since the girls were 2 months old. It was hard at first, but now I don't even really think about it, it's just a way of life. A sacrifice I gladly make for my girls :wub:!

I drink enriched rice milk and focus on all the things I CAN eat ! PM if you need recipes or ideas, although my diet is even stricter than yours would be since I have to eliminate soy also.

 

QUOTE(Outnumbered @ Apr 1 2008, 09:18 PM) [snapback]699999[/snapback]
I've been dairy AND soy free since the girls were 2 months old. It was hard at first, but now I don't even really think about it, it's just a way of life. A sacrifice I gladly make for my girls :wub:!

I drink enriched rice milk and focus on all the things I CAN eat ! PM if you need recipes or ideas, although my diet is even stricter than yours would be since I have to eliminate soy also.


Hopefully I won't have to, but I'll let you know if I need the recipes. THANKS!

Becky

 

I cut it...kicking and screaming all the way. Now, I've added back a little here and there, but it made such a positive difference for ME having cut it (surprise) that I'm probably going to be dairy-free or at least very very minimal amounts for life.

 

I ate tofutti ice cream sandwiches (and loved them ) and truly after a while didn't miss cheese and I LOVE cheese. I actually started feeling better over all and when I put it back in my diet, I felt bloated and yucky!! Soy Chocolate Milk is rich and delicious and a perfect treat!

I did it and was able to put it back in around 5/6months and we have had no issues since! That special formula will be super expensive another reason to keep breastfeeding!!

 

Have you considered eliminating dairy for a couple of weeks before trying the reflux meds? I know it's painful - I worked at a frozen custard shop/bakery for almost a year before I was pregnant and I was seriously addicted to custard and butter by the time the babies arrived...but they are so much happier without it (I'm dying for a custard...it's beginning to get warm here...).

I only ask because 1) peds usually recommend dietary changes BEFORE medication and 2) it was so clear so quickly with the dairy for us. It does take a couple of weeks of elimination for the milk proteins to be out of your system, but you would see improvement in a day or two if that's the problem. Medication was much more complicated for us.

 

I've been dairy free since my girls were 2 months old, too. It's hard for the first 2-3 weeks, but then it does get a lot easier. This is my 2nd time eliminating dairy while nursing, I had to for my oldest DS as well.

 

Our pedi suggested I cut WAY back on my dairy, but she didn't think I needed to eliminate it completely. I think my guy was sensitive to it, but not totally allergic. I still have cheese, butter, the occasional chocolate. But I switched to soy milk in my coffee (and soy lattes) and soy yogurt. I think he is probably old enough now that I could try switching back, but I will confess that I've grown to really like the soy stuff, so I'm sticking with it anyway. And I'll definitely second the thumbs up for soy chocolate milk - I actually mix chocolate ovaltine in my soy milk - it tastes like yummy chocolate milk, and gives me some extra vitamins.

 

I didn't have to cut out dairy--but I couldn't have fat while bfing. I was waiting for my gall bladder surgery to come up to the top of the list. I finally had it when the girls were 7 months. I did have zero fat milk, but no cheese, no icecream. I also ate plenty of dark (75% Cocao) chocolate during that time. I agree with Nicole--focus on what you CAN eat, not on what you can't. And Lisa, I'd try the diet before giving my children medicine.

 

Thanks for all the input! I'm not a big soy fan, but maybe I'll try it again.

 

After re-reading, I remembered a couple of other things that I wish someone had told me up front:

It really helps to eliminate ALL dairy, which means reading labels carefully. A lot of packaged and prepared foods include hidden dairy - especially soft breads and any foods with flavoring powders, like chips with garlic and herbs or boxed rice or pasta side dishes. Keep your eyes open for lactose, whey and casein or caseinate. Actually, it's a lot easier to see this stuff now because most packaged foods tell you if they contain dairy - right there under the ingredients it will often say, "Contains soy, dairy, eggs, etc."

If eliminating all dairy works, you can add stuff back in gradually. Try starting with yogurt and cheese, because they have very little lactose. Milk and buttermilk and cream are the worst for us...

Silk makes chocolate, coffee, mocha and chai-flavored soy milk. I hated soy, too, until I tasted the coffee-flavored. Yum.

If you hate one brand of soy-something, try another - they're all really different.

Take calcium supplements!

OK, I think that's it for the brain dump. And btw, giving up dairy is a great way to get rid of that extra baby weight really fast...unless, like me, you find too many substitutes that you like...

 

I, too, had to get rid of dairy, along with eggs (except if they were baked into a recipe) and soy! At first it was very hard, but like all things, once you get used to something, then it just becomes a way of life. Food becomes a lot plainer this way, but it won't have to last forever.