Bad Cashew reaction, how long to not breastfeed?

[AutumnMama]

DS is 12 months, we had Pad Thai for dinner and he has a really bad welty rash all over his body. I've given him Benadryl, but I ate a BUNCH, so I'm thinking I should not nurse him now.

But for how long? He's still probably 80% breastfed for his nutrition, and can't have any dairy (or goat's milk).

He's never had a bottle. Should I try soy formula in a sippy cup? Should I try a bottle? He's already getting hungry. It's been a couple of hours since I nursed him last.

My pump isn't working. I'm calling a LLL person tomorrow about getting a pump.


Help!

[Tofu the Geek]

We had something similar happen. I accidentally gave my 12 month old egg white. She got a red rash all over her face and she was making choky sounds like her throat was swollen. I ate eggs at the same time she did, and eat them various other times, and I never even considered not breastfeeding her. In fact, after I rinsed her mouth out with water, I breastfed her to get any trace of egg out of her mouth! She recovered very quickly and I just keep eggs away from her, not me.

Why are you thinking you need a pump? And what about hand expressing? I don't even own a pump and if I need to I just hand express into a cup.

[spedteacher30]

my son's reactions were always eczema and diarrhea/bloody stool, so I am not sure what I would recommend with a more systemic reaction like hives.

I know that when I would slip up and eat an allergen, I always figured it was better to get breastmilk--even with the allergen in it--than the soy or dairy in formula (he is peanut, egg, milk, soy and beef allergic).

[miche28]

Did he eat the Pad Thai or just you? It could take some time (possibly a couple weeks) to totally get the allergen out of your system.

Honestly, I think PP are probably right - he's likely better off with your BM even if there's some allergen than any alternative. Soy is at best adequate and often babes allergic to dairy are allergic to soy anyway.

Good luck!

[AutumnMama]

Yeah, we both ate it. He ate only probably 2 or 3 bits of cashew out of all his bites.

And actually, I have had cashews before, and he's not reacted to them just in my milk; so maybe it will be fine to just go ahead and nurse him.

Sheesh, you'd think that after 5 years of breastfeeding I wouldn't have panicked like that!

[RachelGS]

Pd Thai usually has peanuts, not cashews. There's a lot of cross-reactivity between peanuts and soy, so definitely no soy formula. I'd give Benadryl and ontinue nursing, then no more nuts at all.

[RoadWorkAhead]

While protein can linger, the highest concentration is 4-6 hours after ingestion. I too would keep BFing unless you see any signs of an ANA reaction

[AutumnMama]

Originally Posted by RachelGS

Pd Thai usually has peanuts, not cashews. There's a lot of cross-reactivity between peanuts and soy, so definitely no soy formula. I'd give Benadryl and continue nursing, then no more nuts at all.

Yes, actually my DH made it and used cashews instead of peanuts.

I know DS does not have issues with both peanuts and almonds, but I will stay away from all nuts for a good while now.

I did continue to nurse him last night, and he's doing much better now. I gave him one more dose of Benadryl this morning because he still has some rash left, although it's nothing like it was last night.

I have a call in to his NP to see if I should have an epi-pen on hand just in case.

Thanks so much for the advice ladies!