Lactose in the first few months of BF

AnnaFleming

I'm hoping that you experienced ladies can help.  My friend just had a baby one month ago and they told her that because she is breastfeeding she should not eat or drink any dairy products until the baby is at least three months and then it should be at a very minimal level. 

This seemed very strange to me so I asked our birthing class instructor who is also a La Leche League person.  She said, "Yes, you should avoid lactose during the first few months of breastfeeding and then introduce it back into your diet slowly."

I told her I couldn't understand why this would be true and she said, "Especially for people who have lactose intolerance in their family history..." etc.

Well, I don't have lactose intolerance in my family history and it pains me to think of not eating or drinking dairy.  (This is my favorite food group!)

This doesn't make any sense to me.  Did any of you receive the same advice?  Did you follow it?  I'm just trying to figure out if this is 1) overcautious, 2) completely reasonable, or 3) totally normal and I'm just an idiot for not accepting it.

Thanks for your help!

makclair

Sorry, that sounds sort of crazy to me! I have never avoided anything while breastfeeding, especially milk. You need more protein and calcium at this time! Maybe if a previous child had lactose intolerance or something, but otherwise I would not avoid dairy!

TimsMayBride

It's not lactose intolerance that is the issue, it's a sensitivity/allergy to the protein in dairy.  It seems to be the most common allergy but I think cutting out all dairy preemptively is a bit overcautious.  Signs can mimic signs of "colic" or reflux.  I went on a trial of dairy elimination after C was having issues, and it has helped.  Some moms have to cut out all dairy (even hidden dairy in procesed foods) while some see improvement with just eliminating primary dairy (milk, ice cream, cheese, yogurt...) 

relros

TimsMayBride:

It's not lactose intolerance that is the issue, it's a sensitivity/allergy to the protein in dairy.  It seems to be the most common allergy but I think cutting out all dairy preemptively is a bit overcautious.  Signs can mimic signs of "colic" or reflux.  I went on a trial of dairy elimination after C was having issues, and it has helped.  Some moms have to cut out all dairy (even hidden dairy in procesed foods) while some see improvement with just eliminating primary dairy (milk, ice cream, cheese, yogurt...) 

This.  If your baby has the dairy allergy, it will become apparent.  There is no reason to deprive yourself of dairy just in case your baby develops this allergy.

ncbelle

I was never told that nor have I ever read it anywhere.  I eat plenty of diary and never had an issue.  If your LO has signs of diary intolerance then sure you might have to cut it out but I think it's unnecessary to cut it out for no reason.

mrs.baum

I have never heard that before. The only instruction I received about dairy was that I didn't need to drink milk to make milk. Sadly, my MW said she is asked this a lot.