Breastfeeding and eliminating foods that affect baby « Back to Group Discussions

[yellow73]

Hi mamas,

I have a question for mamas who have had to eliminate foods in the past while breastfeeding....

With my two older children, cow dairy and eggs ended up causing us some serious problems with spitting up, reflux, gassiness, colic, etc.  So this time it occurred to me that I might be able to make the first few weeks easier if I stop eating that stuff a few weeks before baby comes, so that it's out of my system by the time I am nursing.  Any thoughts?  Do you think it would make that much a difference than if I just stop as soon as he is born?  It's just something I'm mulling over, and I haven't ever heard about anyone else trying it.  Just seems like it might be easier that way than trying to eliminate later.

But then again, I'm not super motivated to do it right now either :)  I tend to start losing weight very fast as soon as I eliminate those things from my diet and since I'm still pregnant, maybe that's a bad idea?

[Nicole730]

I think it sounds like a good idea.  I think 2 weeks would get most of the dairy cleared out of your system, but even one week would be better than nothing.

[tinams8]

It depends how hard it would be for you in my opinion. If it doesn't feel like a big deal, go for it. It sounds like you think it might be too much though.  Can you substitute something else for the dairy? Maybe since you aren't taking care of a baby yet, you will have more time and energy to brainstorm diet alternatives... get all set up for it before the baby comes.

[alicewyf]

I've mostly eliminated dairy since 34 weeks. I haven't gotten hardcore about it yet (reading labels, etc), but I will if my son starts showing signs that he is sensitive like my daughter was. She is, in fact, still allergic to cow's milk protein. She had been doing OK on goat's milk but I think she is showing signs of being sensitive to that as well (she has a rash that we can't get to go away). We might be switching exclusively to almond milk. So yeah...she did have green/bloody stool as an infant, and never had any formula, so I knew it was from my breastmilk. It was a combination of dairy allergy and my amazing oversupply/overactive letdown. Glad I have a heads up about it this time! And I'm totally motivated to cut out the dairy.

[yellow73]

Thanks ladies, helps to know I'm not alone in this! :) I think I'll probably cut out the cow dairy and eggs by about 38 or 39 weeks, since I tend to go to 42 weeks before I get my baby :).