Serious answers only....PLEASE!Baby has milk and Egg allergy?

[Lilly's Mom]

I am nursing my 7 month old and we found out yesterday that she has milk and egg allergies. No if I continue nursing her I can no longer eat dairy or eggs anyone out there have this similar problem? Any suggestions..? I will have to have a vegan diet I dont know where to start either that or put her on special formula...
When I had the Flu 4 weeks ago I suplimented her with formula, she had such a reaction we ended up in the hospital, Bad face swelling and hives. Then I gave her some vanilla custard baby food and again a reaction. Her pediatrician sent us to the allergist and he tested her. He said that her ecema and rash on her face was a reaction to nursing when I eat dairy and eggs and she wasnt having such a bad reaction because the amounts were diluted in my milk but that her body is fighting it like a infection and that if I wanted a chance of her getting over either of the allergies then I would have to stop eating any dairy and eggs or put her on this neocate formula. I am struggling with the decision. I love nursing her and it is convient also but I dont want to take the chance of hurting her in any way.

[zvezda911]

My son is on soy formula because of the terrible spitting up. But my pediatrician said not to worry most of the kids grow out of the milk/dairy allergy by 12 month. How did you find out he was allergic? Didn't he have symptoms before? Is that because you ate something and he had a reaction?

[Über Poppins]

Try asking for suggestions in the 'Vegetarian and Vegan' section...there're plenty of good web sites they can direct you to. Health food stores usually have plenty of vegan stuff; things like egg-free 'mayonnaise,' dairy-free 'sour cream,' etc...

How'd you find out at 7mo? Just curious...


edit: I would throw a certified lactation consultant into the mix of specialists before making ANY feeding decisions. Best of luck to you and your baby.

"How can you find a lactation consultant?"
http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bbreastfeed/0,,3x7w,00.html

[wyattsmoma]

this is a personal decision you will have to make. You can ask the doctor if Lactose free milk may work, but its not always just the lactose the infant is allergic to. Eggs can be replaced with the artificial egg stuff... but I personally dont like them.

Formula now is not such a bad thing though, She is 7 months old and though it isn't time for her to switch entirely to solids shes starting them and you can start her on the bottle at the same time. You wouldn't have to change your Diet at all and She would be getting all the vitamins that may not be in your diet! Formula is not cheap but it is perfectly healthy for your Beloved Daughter.

Good luck in your decision!

[Claire]

Ok, this is crazy but you and I are going through the EXACT same thing!!!

I have been nursing my son for 7 months too. He was so fussy the first 6 months and didn't know why. We had him tested for allergies and he's allergic to eggs, milk, peanuts, and tree nuts. SO, for the last month and a half, I haven't been eating any of these things either. It's been SO hard. The allergist said the only chance of him outgrowing these things is if it's completely out of his diet just like yours.

He's just about 8 months now, and I really think I'm going to put him on either Neocate or Nutramigen (which is cheaper). I've begun to supplement with Nutramigen and he seems to do ok with it. I really hate how Neocate smells. Now, I say I'm going to wean him to formula, but am scared to at the same time. BUT, I know that that way there is NO chance of him getting any of those allergic things in his diet and he'll have a better chance to outgrow it. For example, yesterday I had a piece of milk chocolate that I'd been CRAVING for 2 months..it's so hard.

I've found I've been eating alot more breads (make sure you check they don't have hidden milk and eggs in them), potato chips, and potatoes since I can't have things like yogurt and cheese. I do think I'm lacking protein though, which can't be good for my body. That's why I think I'm going to put him on the formula.

Your daughter has had 7 months of nursing. If you put her on formula, she'll be ok (except the cost of the stuff...believe me I know!). I'm going to be weaning my son too, and it's breaking my heart, but this is getting to be too hard.

Did you allergist tell you what to do when your baby is a year old? Mine wants to keep my son on the special formula because it has fats and DHA in it. If you put the baby on soy or rice milk, it has hardly any fat, so not as good for baby.

Good luck!!

[Vegan_Mom]

Uber Poppins gave a good answer. However, in the Vegetarian and Vegan section, you'll get some idiots.

I think it is excellent that you are willing to do what you have to do and make sacrifices to keep nursing your baby for as long as possible. Sure, you could switch to formula, but in your case, it doesn't seem necessary.

I don't find it too hard to go without eggs and dairy, even when I first sstarted. For baking, apple sauce works as an egg substitute and vanilla soy milk is good, too. I normally buy the Wal-Mart brand because it's the cheapest, but I like the Kroger Naturally Preferred brand and Silk better. However, they all work and taste the same for cereal, and I normally drink a glass with a meal, so the taste isn't too important, especially since money saved is.

In addition to the sites I will provide, I suggest the book "How it all Vegan!" which is an good cook book that uses every day items that can be found in most grocery stores. (I looked at another vegan cook book from the library, but it used stuff that seemed to be only found at natural food stores.)

Browse both large book stores and the library (luxeries I don't have now that I have a six month old daughter) for other books.

Do searches for "vegan families" "vegan cooking" "vegan children", etc. Or, "children's allergies and cooking"

I could probably give some more help, but my daughter and husband will be coming down soon for breakfast and I think it's my turn to feed her. If she's relaxed enough for her nursing, I'll try and come back on the computer while nursing her. (Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, especially since she is almost longer than what my chair is wide.)

Also, I answered this question a few days ago and there were some good answers, so I'll give you the link.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuW998OtLRH7w7iF0rQLTkjty6IX;_ylv=3?qid =20080406170203AAfHXgV&show=7#profile-info-JIUgX8DCaa