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Parenting
Has anyone here stopped nursing due to food allergies?
As in food allergies in their child that they could not get under control?
I guess I'm looking for people that switched to formula and didn't regret their decision. My son seems to have allergies to several foods, and no matter how hard I try, we can not seem to stop the blood in his stools for any extended period of time.
I'm very, very depressed about this because nursing is so important to me, and other than the allergies, we've had no issues. Not to mention I nursed my daughter for a year. I feel like I'm living on chicken, rice, and some veggies and it's still not enough. I don't go out to eat anywhere. I don't drink anything that basically isn't water. I'm already below my pre-pregnancy weight. We still can't target what is making him bleed.
So I guess I'm looking for some positive stories. Or just a shoulder to cry on. This is really, really tough.
TIA!
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Re: Has anyone here stopped nursing due to food allergies?
I did. And cried and cried and cried over it.
But you know what? We did a trial run on Alimentum where I kept pumping, just to give his intestines a rest, and within two days he was a totally different baby. I decided right then and there to wean to formula. One of the hardest things I've ever done but I am totally at peace with my decision.
I totally feel for you because I was devastated. But I made peace with it by knowing that a) I wasn't weaning him from breastmilk to Doritos -- he was still going to get something nutritious and actually better for him than breastmilk, since we also couldn't control the bleeding and he wasn't gaining weight and b) I could be a better mom in other ways because he started sleeping better and was overall much happier. And I was getting scary thin.
Nursing is a wonderful thing to do for your baby. I nursed number 2 for 11 months. But when allergies come into play, bm is not always best, IMO.
Don't beat yourself up. And don't let anyone browbeat you into living on rice and chicken. (Which the babycenter moms tried to do to me -- I wasn't nesting at the time.)
Hang in there!
You've made it 7+months!!! That's awesome and something to be proud of! What's the average...2 weeks or 2 months or something???
Good luck!
No, I've made it 4.5 months, these Nest tickers are backwards, lol. We've been dealing with the foold allergies/blood since 3 months.
Thanks Sulla, I remember your issues with your son. My son is gaining weight ok, but did fall in the growth chart between 2-4 months. I have cried and cried too. And all I live off of is baked chicken. Seriously, I bake like 10 pieces at a time and eat it non-stop
I've tried so hard, and yet I'm still coming up short, and that's the hardest part. I am willing to sacrifice, but I also can't live off the 5 things on the total ED (I can't even find grain fed Lamb in my area, lol).
This is so tough, but I do think formula might be best for him.
so you did (or are doing) a TED? Have you idenfied the allergens?
Both of mine are dairy/soy allergic. I always said that if they had more going on (I'm actually off eggs now for DD b/c I'm not sure they are working) then I would do a TED... identify the allergens and then see if I could live with it. If I couldn't live with it I'd feel comfortable letting it go and switching to formula.
If you have gotten a lot of support/information and you're at the end of your road then please don't feel guilty.
If you feel like you need more info/support then check out the allergy boards on either mothering.com (kind of crazy site but the allergy people know their stuff b/c they are all breastfeeding obsessed) and also babycenter has some.
Formula is a great choice for those who can not breastfeed. And sometimes allergies just make it impossible to do it! You have to eat, too. And if you don't feel like you can survive on this diet then I wouldn't feel guilty.
If you think you might feel guilty anyway then do check out those sites and see if you're missing anything nutrient wise that might make you feel more balanced.
Nestie LauraMiller is a great resource, too. She did dairy/soy/nuts/wheat/eggs (I think). I have her info if you need it -page either of us.
Good luck!!
(eta: I know my post is kind of all over the place. Just IME sometimes you need encouragement to stop... and other times you need encouragement to continue).
I can't do the Dr. Sears TED. I just can't live off Lamb, squash, and sweet potatoes.
I'm off: milk/soy, nuts, corn, and eggs. If I eliminate wheat I'll feel even worse about what I can/can't eat. I feel like I can't eat anything as it is.
Anyway, I got an appointment for a second opinion at a children's hospital tomorrow... and we'll see what they think is best. Thanks for the feedback.
I definitely couldn't do the sears diet long term. It would just do it short term in case it's wheat and dairy but not soy, eggs or nuts KWIM? Although you probably already know what it definitely is if you are off all those.
I don't eat meat (only fish) so I told myself if I had to do dairy/soy and wheat I would just wean. I don't think you should feel guilty.,