Need Help with Milk Allergy

[ab-mommy]

My 6 month old was just diagnosed with some sort of suspected food allergy. The doctor had me use allimentum for one week while I cleaned out dairy and soy. Everything was going well. When we went back to nursing, my supply had decreased quite a bit so I nursed and supplemented with the allimentum. When I had my supply built back up, I tried to re-introduce soy but the diarrhea came back. So now I have been nursing while I try to clean out the soy. But he has been having diarrhea for 5 days now and I'm getting worried about him.

So, my question is - what should I do? Should I keep breastfeeding while I try to clean out the soy or is it time to switch to formula full time. I don't think that I'll be able to pump enough to keep breastfeeding if I need to temporarily stop. I just don't have any extra time during the day.

I'm really sad at the thought of having to stop. I keep crying. Please help!

[_Gypsy_]

Definitely keep nursing.

I nursed two very food allergic kids without ever supplementing, your doctor gave you terrible advice to wean for a week - just terrible :(

Please start posting at www.kidswithfoodallergies.org - they do have a membership fee, but if you can't afford it, email them and they will give you a free membership.

There is a breastfeeding with food allergies forum, and they will hold your hand through the whole process.

[DancinMomma]

Our GI doc told me to keep nursing thru it all, absolutely not to give formula *as long* as I am being strict on my diet and eliminating the dairy and soy.
What is his diarrhea like? I know you know this, but breastfed babies have super runny poops. I always knew the difference in my kids if their poop was mucusy, or if they would get diaper rash. They would also spit-up, be fussy, etc. Any of these signs and I knew I had eaten something "bad."

Anyway, hang in there Momma. If you are willing to do the diet, which it sounds like you are, then YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! I happily nursed DS2 completely dairy free for a year. DS1-I nursed dairy and soy free for as long as I could once we got the diagnosis, but was pregnant with DS2, so had to wean due to come complications with that.

The website Gypsy referred you to is awesome.


DO you have this list? Its an old list, so make sure and verfiy all the labels;

In the meantime, great job momma...I KNOW how hard this time can be.

DAIRY-FREE AND SOY-FREE SAFE FOODS LIST
Last Updated: January 18, 2005

DISCLAIMER: Here's a general list, but remember it is crucial to read all food labels, EACH time you buy a product & double check the ingredients on this list – manufacturer’s have been known to change without warning.

**** PLEASE DO NOT REPOST THIS LIST WITHOUT THE DISCLAIMER!!! ****

Thanks to everyone on the Babycenter Food Allergies board who contributed to the compilation of this list.

Breakfast
Alphabits Cereal
Barbara's Breakfast O's*
Barbara's Honey Rice Puffins*
Barbara's Shredded Oats*
Barbara's Wheatines*
Bisquick - original and reduced fat
Cascadian Farms Hash Browns (http://www/cfarm.com)
Cheerios
Health Valley Rice Crunch-ems (1-800-423-4846)
Ore Ida hash browns
Pacific Grain Nutty Corn Cereal
Plain Oatmeal
Post Shredded Wheat
Puffed Rice
Rice Chex
Rice Krispies Cereal
Sara Lee Bagels (plain & cinnamon raisin are definitely okay – double check any other flavors)
T. Abrahams Crispy O's Cereal
Whole Kids Waffles

Lunch/Dinner/Easy Prep
Albacore Tuna in Water (check labels as many contain soy protein - Bumble Bee has 2 soy-free tuna varieties -- one
is the "very low sodium" variety & the other is "tuna in olive oil”; Starkist also makes a soy free Tuna - I think it's the
no-salt one. And Whole Foods 365 brand tuna is soy free, both the light and white
Amy's Roasted Vegetable Pocket Sandwich - contains wheat (http://www.amys.com)
Applesauce
Armour Jumbo Beef Hot Dogs
365 Tater Tots
BK Hamburgers (no bun -- it has buttermilk)
BK French Fries (may be cooked in soy oil)
Black Olives
Bush’s Best Baked Beans Original
Cascadian Farms Country Style Potatoes
Chef Boyardee Rice with Chicken & Vegetables
Dinty Moore Beef Stew (confirmed)
Dole Tropical Fruit Salad
French Fries
Fruits & veggies (no sauce or butter) are okay, as are any unprocessed, unbreaded meats
Green Olives
Health Valley Fat Free Beef Flavored Broth
Hormel Beefy Mac (mac & beef in tomato sauce)
Hormel Spam
Hormel Vienna Sausages
Hormel - all canned meats
Ian's Alphabet fried potatoes
Ian's Chicken Nuggets
Ian's Sweet Potato Fries
McDonald's Hamburgers (no bun -- it has soy flour)
McDonald's French Fries (may be cooked in soy oil)
Pacific Foods Free Range Chicken Broth (http://www.pacificfoods.com)
Pasta
Roads End Organic Mac & Cheese
Shelton's Turkey Dogs
Swanson 100% Fat Free Chicken Broth
Swanson Organic Chicken Broth
Tyson Chicken Nuggets
Wellshire Farms Hot Dogs
Yorkshire Farms Hot Dogs
Yukon Gold Rissole Potatoes with Garden Herbs
Yukon Gold Julienne Fries with Sea Salt (http://www.alexiafoods.com)

Snacks
Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
Chi-Chi's Salsa
Desert Trading Co. Black Bean Dip
Dominick's Animal Cookies
Edward & Son's Bakes Brown Rice Snaps
Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice- Gluten Free Variety
Gerber Fruit Wagon Wheels (no veggie ones -- they have milk)
Gerber Fruit Snacks
Good Health Quilt Crackers (like Triscuits)
Hain Rich Crackers
Hain Wheatettes (like Wheat Thins)
Healthy Times HuggaBear Cookies*
Healthy Times Teddy Puffs
Honey Maid Graham Crackers - contains soy oil
Jello
Jet-Puffed Marshmallows
Jewel Oatmeal Cookies
Jiffy muffin Mixes -- blueberry, apple cinnamon & corn (just use rice milk instead of cow's milk)
Kroger low sodium Rice cakes
Mother's Plain no sodium Rice cakes
Nabisco Fun Fruits
Nabisco fruit snacks (Gerber & Betty Crocker are fine too)
Nature's Choice cereal bars*
Newman's Own Alphabet Cookies (Graham & Arrowroot - now contain a warning that they are made in a factory with
peanuts, nuts & dairy)
Newman's Own Pretzels
Plain, Old-Fashioned Popcorn
President's Choice Animal Crackers
Pringles (original) - contains soy oil
Rice crackers
Rold Gold Pretzels
Ryvita
Sesmark Rice Thins
Store brand Rice Cakes (plain)
Super Pretzels (http://www.superpretzel.com/)
Trader Joe's Potato Sticks
Triscuits
Tyson chicken nuggets
Veggie Chips (Whole Foods Brand - no veggie booty, though, it has soy)
Veggie chunks (fresh cooked)
Wheatables

Desserts
Edy's Whole Fruit Frozen Fruit Bars
Rice Dream Frozen Dessert

Milk
Rice Milk (365, Rice Dream; Pacific Foods contains guar gum & carob bean gum, which many soy-allergic folks cannot tolerate.)
You can substitute rice milk for cow's milk in most recipes with no problem.

Bread
Sara Lee Bagels (check labels as not all are safe)
Iron Kids Bread (crustless variety only)
King David Kosher White Bread (contains soy oil)
Grissini Classic flavor breadsticks (from Trader Joe's)
365 Brand FAT FREE Tortillas from Whole Foods (in the bag with blue writing)

Margarine
canola oil
Fleishmann’s Light IN THE TUB
Fleischman's light UNSALTED sticks
Mother’s Margarine – ONLY during Passover

Baking/Cooking
Canola Oil
Chocolate baking chips from www.enjoylifefoods.com
Countrys Delight Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (contains lecithin - not confirmed if soy or egg derived)
Distilled Vinegar
Duncan Hines Butter Flavor Cake Mix
French's Zesty Deli Style Mustard
Hellman’s Light Mayonnaise
Ketchup - Heinz is confirmed safe
Lard
Lipton Recipe Secrets - Savory Herb with Garlic
Olive Oil
Savion Chocolate Cake Mix
Spectrum Shortening

Baby Food
Beechnut Soy Free Oatmeal
Beechnut Soy Free Rice Cereal
Gerber Apple wagon wheels
Gerber Fruit Wagon Wheels
Gerber Lil Entrees -- Turkey & Green Bean Dices and Chicken & Veggies varieties
Gerber Lil Entrees -- Turkey w/Green Beans & Sweet Potatoes & Chicken w/Apples varieties
Gerber Graduates - Turkey & Rice Stew
Gerber Graduates - Chicken Stew with noodles
Gerber Graduates Vegetable Stew with beef
Gerber Little Entrees Chicken Stew with noodles and green bean dices
Healthy Times Vanilla Biscuits for Teethers
Kid’s Kitchen Franks & Beans (may contain traces of soy!!)
President's Choice Animal Crackers

Calcium and Vitamins
Nature's Plus Calcium Supplement (also corn free)
Yummi Vegetarian Multivitamin
Yummi Calcium Supplement

OTC Medications that are okay include:
Children's Advil - liquid suspension (may contain soy oil)
Children's Dye-Free Benedryl
PediaCare
Mylicon

Antibiotics that are okay:
Amoxicillan (suspension)
Augmentin (suspension & chewables)
Lorabid

(Anything with a * has a may contain traces of peanuts warning)

There's tons of other stuff that's safe, too, so if there's something specific you're looking for that's not on the above list, let us know & someone can probably help you.

You can cook pretty easily by substituting rice milk for cow's milk & canola oil (or Fleishmann's Light in the Tub if you can find it!) for butter/margarine. I've made rice krispie treats, pancakes, cookies, etc. that way.

List of Soy Derivatives:
Gum arabic
Bulking agent
Carob
Emulsifier
Guar gum
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)
Lecithin*
Miso
MSG (Monosodium glutamate) !
Protein
Protein extender
Soy Flour
Soy nuts
Soy panthenol
Soy protein
Soy protein isolate or concentrate
Soy sauce
Soybean
Soybean oil
Stabilizer
Starch
Textured vegetable protein (TVP)
Thickener
Tofu
Vegetable broth
Vegetable gum
Vegetable starch
Xanthan gum (may be processed with soy - call manufacturer to find out)

Dairy Derivatives:
Ammonium caseinate
Artificial butter flavor
Butter
Butter fat
Butter solids
Buttermilk solids
Calcium caseinate
Caramel color *call manufacturer
Caramel flavoring *call manufacturer
Casein
Caseinate
Cheese
Cream Curds
"De-lactosed" whey
Demineralized whey
Dried milk
Dry milk solids
Flavoring *call manufacturer
Fully cream milk powder
Galactose
High protein flour *call manufacturer
Hydrolyzed casein
Hydrolyzed milk protein
Lactalbumin
Lactalbumin phosphate
Lactate
Lactoferrin (Activin system)
Lactoglobulin
Lactose
Magnesium caseinate
Milk
Milk derivative
Milk fat
Milk protein
Milk solids
Natural flavoring *call manufacturer
Naturlose (sweetener derived from whey)
Opta (fat replacer)
Potassium caseinate
Recaldent
Rennet casein
Simplesse (fat replacer)
Skim milk powder
Sodium caseinate
Solids
Sour cream (or solids)
Sour milk solids
Tagatose (sweetener derived from whey)
Whey
Whey powder
Whey protein concentrate
Xanthan gum (may be processed with dairy - call manufacturer to find out)
Yogurt

[Nipple_nectar]

Wow~ what a great list~ Dancinmomma! Also, great info from Gypsy:)

I also want to know how the food allergy was diagnosed. Was there any other symptom besides loose stool?

Also, what do your babys poop look like? Besides runny?

[DecemberBaby]

Good questions NN...

Did you see an allergist?

[ab-mommy]

Sorry, this is going to be long. Thank you all so much for your help! That list is great! And thank you for the website. I will definitely be diving into that further. So, here's my full story:

This is my second child. My first was breast fed exclusively with no issues. I mention this because of my experience, I knew that something was wrong from the beginning with #2. His stools were green and mucousy. He never had that "mustard colored, seedy" stools. It sometimes would go to a dark brown color, but never hit that mustard color. He also has eczema on his face. And he has had a slow weight gain. He was 9 lbs 2 oz when he was born and was 13 lbs 5 oz at 6 months.

The doctors said not to be concerned. That as long as there was no blood in the stool, as long as he didn't have reflux, colic, green foamy stools, or wasn't losing weight, he was fine. He didn't have any of these symptoms and always been the happiest baby I've ever seen.

When he started solids (brown rice cereal) the diarrhea became horrible! It was so bad that if I tilted the diaper it would pour out. And the smell was bad. I know poo smell and this wasn't normal. It smelled almost chemical. This is when I called the ped and said that I know something is wrong! He suggested seeing a GI doctor. While I was waiting for the appt, we should try 24 hours of just pedialyte (no real change) and then go on allimentum until we see the GI doctor. We got in to see the doctor 3 days later and he had gained 8 oz. The GI doctor told us that due to the stools, eczema and a red anus, it was obviously a food allergy. And that it was either milk, soy, peanut, wheat, seafood, meat, or eggs. He said that I needed to stop breast feeding and give allimentum for one week while I cleaned out of something. If I went back to breast feeding and the diarrhea returned, I'd have to return to the formula for another week and remove something else, and so on. We never saw an allergist since we had received a definite diagnosis.

I'm a vegetarian who doesn't eats meat and rarely eats eggs and seafood. And I hadn't eaten peanuts in a few weeks, so I decided to start with milk and soy since it was a large part of my diet. I did this and the diarrhea stopped for 3 weeks and he gained a lot of weight and his stool was normal. And the eczema really improved. I decided that I would try to add the soy back. So I had soy on Saturday night. Everything was fine. Tuesday morning, I gave the baby oatmeal for the first (and only) time and a few hours later the diarrhea returned. I stopped eating soy again immediately and started 1/2 formula and 1/2 breast milk but the diarrhea hasn't left yet. Oddly enough, last weekend the eczema flared up again but it now is better than ever. But the diarrhea hasn't gotten any better.

So that brings us up to now. Thank you all so much for your help. Just hearing from you guys gives me some hope. Everyone around me is telling me to stop being selfish and give up the breast feeding. That I need to put the needs of my child first. But everything inside me is screaming that I need to keep breast feeding for my child. So, thanks for your support! I really need it.

[madelsmama]

If you have an allergic child, the best thing that you can do for him is continue to breastfeed. With a little luck, some of his allergies may be outgrown, but choosing to formula feed would only further his risk for allergic tendencies. So, you are absolutely doing nothing BUT putting your child first. Do your family and friends honestly think that you would endure a food elimination diet just for fun??

I think seeing an allergist would be wise. S/he would be able to further assist you in determining what is going on. A GI doc is not as well-educated in the subject of food allergies as an allergist is. In addition, he may be able to have blood testing done to determine what he is more likely to be allergic to (more experienced moms here to confirm this).

Hang in there. I wouldn't personally give formula any more. And the pedialyte advice made me cringe (not at you, but your doc). :(

Way to stay on your toes and do what's best for your little one!

[_Gypsy_]

"And that it was either milk, soy, peanut, wheat, seafood, meat, or eggs."

I am SO sorry you have been given such bad advice.

I WISH my kids were only allergic to the above list -

Here is everything they have been allergic to - copied from my signature at kidswithfoodallergies.org

Lisa - Child Passenger Safety Technician, Breastfeeding Counselor, Homeschooling Mom Extroadanaire & Breastfeeding mama avoiding peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, egg and sesame for the last 6 years for the health and safety of my children. NOW EATING CHOCOLATE!! & SOY & DAIRY!!! YAY!!!

Alexia, 7 years old FA's: Peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, egg, sesame. Outgrew wheat @ age 1; outgrew dairy @ age 2; outgrew soy & sunflower & flax @ age 5; outgrew peppers @ age 6. EA's cats, dogs, dust. Allergic to Amoxil.

Evan, 3 years old, allergic to seafood, citrus fruits, peaches, cherries. Outgrew chocolate allergy @ 12 months; outgrew wheat intolerance @ 17 months; outgrew dairy allergy @ 19 months; outgrew strawberry & broccoli @ 2 years; outgrew tomato @ 3 years. Allergic to cats & dogs.

[_Gypsy_]

"And that it was either milk, soy, peanut, wheat, seafood, meat, or eggs."

I am SO sorry you have been given such bad advice.

I WISH my kids were only allergic to the above list -

Here is everything they have been allergic to - copied from my signature at kidswithfoodallergies.org

Lisa - Child Passenger Safety Technician, Breastfeeding Counselor, Homeschooling Mom Extroadanaire & Breastfeeding mama avoiding peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, egg and sesame for the last 7 years for the health and safety of my children. NOW EATING CHOCOLATE!! & SOY & DAIRY!!! YAY!!!

Alexia, 7 years old FA's: Peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, egg, sesame. Outgrew wheat @ age 1; outgrew dairy @ age 2; outgrew soy & sunflower & flax @ age 5; outgrew peppers @ age 6. EA's cats, dogs, dust. Allergic to Amoxil.

Evan, 3 years old, allergic to seafood, citrus fruits, peaches, cherries. Outgrew chocolate allergy @ 12 months; outgrew wheat intolerance @ 17 months; outgrew dairy allergy @ 19 months; outgrew strawberry & broccoli @ 2 years; outgrew tomato @ 3 years. Allergic to cats & dogs.

[DancinMomma]

I'm sorry ab-mommy. SOunds like you are trying so hard. I guess you could try a total elimination diet if you think there is some mystery food that is making his diarhea flare up. Oh and I remember "the smell" of allergy poop so distinctively....yucky.
But in the meantime, I personally wouldnt expose him to Alimentium (sp?) anymore. The only formula me and our GI doc would allow DS1 to wean to was Neocate b/c it was the safest.
Anyway, hang in there momma!!! And trust your instincts;)

[ab-mommy]

Thank you all so much.

One of the Peds that we saw had mentioned that maybe it was a zinc deficiency. He thought that maybe his body had a slow absorption of zinc and that the reason formula was making him better was because it had such high levels of zinc. He was talking about giving the baby a zinc supplement if breast feeding. Has anyone heard anything about this?

[Nipple_nectar]

I agree that seeing a pediatric allergist should be the first order of business. Did you know that green stooling and slow weight gain can be solely contributed by overactive letdown? Also that loose stooling is quite common in the breastfed baby and not a cause for concern by itself.

I hear that baby has eczema which would indicate to me that this baby needs to be on a carefully delayed introduction to solids. When did the eczema set in and does he still have it? Have you tried to revert back to exclusively just breastmilk/ formula or have you continued with the solids?

I have never heard of mom needing a zinc supplement to balance the amount in the breastmilk, furthermore, most mineral supplements taken by the mother do not affect breastmilk levels. You can read more about that here: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/mom-vitamins.html

[Amy_G_]

Yeah I would BACK UP.
Don't assume allergy without a lot of testing, and trying a bunch of other things first. You need to see a Lactation consultant and get her on board with helping you with any supply issues and allergies as well (all LC's are not good in the allergy department though)

low weight gain, green poops could be from foremilk/hindmilk imbalance and oversupply. If baby is taking in too much foremilk, they aren't getting enough fat and calories to grow at their potential. too much foremilk makes green poopies. Do you switch during feedings, or keep baby on one side only?

Milk and soy could be the problem. It takes longer than 1 week for those items to be completely removed from your system, but giving formula for that amount of time is NOT the answer.

[_Gypsy_]

Yeah I would BACK UP.
Don't assume allergy without a lot of testing, and trying a bunch of other things first. You need to see a Lactation consultant and get her on board with helping you with any supply issues and allergies as well (all LC's are not good in the allergy department though)

low weight gain, green poops could be from foremilk/hindmilk imbalance and oversupply. If baby is taking in too much foremilk, they aren't getting enough fat and calories to grow at their potential. too much foremilk makes green poopies. Do you switch during feedings, or keep baby on one side only?

Milk and soy could be the problem. It takes longer than 1 week for those items to be completely removed from your system, but giving formula for that amount of time is NOT the answer.

Sure, a lot of baby's symptoms can be explained away, but the red ring around his anus is a classic food allergy symptom. I am certain she is on the right track.

[DancinMomma]

I was thinking the same thing, Gypsy. Around here, we call a red ring a "target sign" for an allergy. Weird, stinky poops, excema....the immune system is responding to something, IMHO.

[Amy_G_]

But it may be something "simple" enough that mom can avoid obvious dairy for > 2 weeks and babe will be fine. Obviously it may take much more than that, but to jump to conclusions as her pediatrician has seem to have done, is a recipe for disaster.

I have a friend whose daughter presented with similar problems. doctor said baby was allergic to her breastmilk, and got her to switch to formula. the formula helped for a few weeks, and then back to the same issue. she tried formula after formula, and they had a miserable babyhood together.

so back up and make sure you have a good idea of what you are dealing with and your options before jumping to formula, solids, and suspecting vitamin or mineral absorption issues.

An elimination diet for > 2 weeks would be an ideal start.

[_Gypsy_]

But Amy, that's not what you said:

" Don't assume allergy without a lot of testing, and trying a bunch of other things first."

Baby has an allergy, baby has classic allergy symptoms. Now she needs to figure out what that allergy is, and she is going about that the right way.

[ab-mommy]

Thanks you for all of your advice. I did consult 2 lact consultants at one month of age. There is no supply problem or hindmilk/foremilk issue. See, that's where I started too. Great minds think alike!

OK. So if I do an elimination diet for the >2 weeks, is it OK that he is having diarrhea all that time? His diaper rash is pretty bad.

I'm pretty sure that we have it narrowed down to milk and soy. When I originally removed them from my diet everything was great for 3 weeks. It's when I re-introduced soy that the problem returned. I just can't seem to get it under control this time. Of course it would have helped if I had seen that in the list that DancinMomma gave me yesterday, that soy is added to a lot of tuna fish. That's what I ate for dinner last night. I look at all labels all the time, but who would think it would be added to tuna? Arrgghh!

Weird side note: I've been giving him sweet potatoes for dinner every night and for one bowel movement in the morning we have solid sweet potato poopy. Then it returns to diarrhea for the rest of the day.

[_Gypsy_]

I'd eliminate all solids until you figure out what he is allergic to.

Yes, keep nursing, it's the ONLY way to tell if what you are eliminating is what he is allergic to, MY kids rashes were noticeably better within 24 hours, their poop was improving after 2 days once all of their allergies were figured out.

Keep eliminating milk & soy, but I'd encourage you to also eliminate all nuts (it may help prevent a nut allergy in an atopic child), and all seafood (which you may be able to reintroduce later).

If you eliminate all of that - all traces and there isn't 100% total and complete improvement, you will need to eliminate more foods. Don't add any foods back until you reach baseline - baseline is zero allergy symptoms for 2+ weeks.

[DancinMomma]

Do you have Triple Paste diaper cream? I get it at Walgreens. Its expensive, but the only thing that works when my babies are having allergy poops/diaper rash. I would use that and sometimes with a prescription anti-fungal diaper creme. Top all that with aquaphor, ....and we would have a fighting chance to get rid of the diaper rash.

I think Gypsy's plan sounds good. I too stayed away from nuts and seafood. Does sunflower butter have soy? I love the stuff, in place of peanut butter.

I feel for you momma.. Just remember its not forever and your baby thanks you for all your hard work and determination!!!

[DancinMomma]

oh I've never heard of the zinc thing???