If your baby is showing signs of a milk allergy or intolerance, you can still breastfeed her with great success. Unfortunately, there are still many pediatricians that are all too quick to guide a breastfeeding mother to a soy or hypoallergenic formula if her baby shows signs of milk intolerance. But a baby who cannot tolerate milk can still nurse as long as Mom avoids dairy.
Keeping dairy out of your diet is not as easy as it sounds, but it will soon become a habit once you learn what foods to avoid. Breast milk is best for your baby, so the effort you put into avoiding dairy will be worth every missed bit of ice cream! In addition to this, the bonding you form while breast feeding your infant is motivation enough to eat dairy-free.
While you are avoiding dairy, it is important to be getting enough calories and calcium for both you and your baby. It is recommended that a nursing mother consume 2500 calories daily. In addition to this, you need 1200 mg of calcium per day.
Your pediatrician, OB/GYN or your hospital’s lactation consultant can help you to create a diet that will provide you with enough calories and nutrients per day while you eat dairy-free. Further support can be provided by your local La Leche League, who is familiar with helping breast feeding mothers of milk allergic or intolerant babies.
Remember, if you or anyone in your family has a food allergy, asthma or eczema, it is recommended that you avoid dairy, nuts, eggs, fish, peanuts and shellfish while nursing.
So Mom, nurse your milk allergic baby and be proud of yourself for providing nature’s best for your infant!