KerryAndGabe.com

During my pregnancy, I was sometimes frustrated by all the “rules” that I had to follow when it came to certain foods. Since this was my first pregnancy, I was very diligent about what I ate and especially what I didn’t eat. I was supposed to avoid hot dogs, deli meats, soft cheeses, honey, herbal teas, and sushi (this one was not a problem!). Certain fish was to be avoided entirely, and others were supposed to be consumed in moderation. I generally avoided caffeine, save for about one Diet Coke or two each week. Most of the time, all of this wasn’t too big of an issue, but sometimes it was difficult like when we went out to eat or food options were limited. When we went to a few football games, I really wished that I could get a hot dog…something about stadiums and ballparks makes me want to consume a tasty hog dog!

Avoiding all these foods seemed like a big deal at times, but I think it pales in comparison to my new dietary restriction. We deduced that Maddie has what is hopefully a temporary dairy allergy. Not to be confused with lactose intolerance, this is an allergy to the protein in cow’s milk (not her Mommy’s milk). Maddie’s symptoms included irritability/colic, excessive gas, and diaper issues (I’ll spare you the details for now). We noticed improvements when I completely cut dairy out of my diet. This means no milk, butter, cream, cheese, yogurt, and more. Most chocolate, most desserts, and many breads are off limits.

I’ve been very strict with my diet as the milk protein can stay in my system for 4-6 weeks and then in Maddie’s system for an additional week or two. Due to this fact, I’m hesitant to trial dairy too often or too soon. For the most part, if I’m unsure about the exact ingredients, then I will avoid the food. I have had to make some exceptions when my options are limited, but even then I absolutely avoid obvious sources. My will power has been historically weak when it comes to food. It helps that this is an avoidance issue versus a moderation issue, but I also find it easier to do it when I know it is best for my daughter.

Some foods that contain dairy may surprise you. Go Dairy Free has been an excellent resource for me and has a list of sneaky dairy sources. I have found most chocolate (even dark chocolate) and potato chips tend to contain milk products. I have encountered deli meats with dairy, and even my favorite Herby Turkey at Bruegger’s Bagels has dairy in both the turkey AND the sundried tomato spread. Almost all breaded chicken products tend to have dairy. Lactose free milk is not safe. Surprisingly, the “veggie slices” of cheese in the grocery still contains casein, a sneaky milk product. Many soups, aside from the obvious creamy ones, are not safe. Fake soy-based meats tend to contain dairy as well. Most breads and other bakery items contain milk. I have learned to read ingredients very carefully!

It’s an interesting challenge, but it is worth it for the health of my baby (and the sanity of her parents)! I feel that breastfeeding is the best thing for her, so it isn’t all that hard to make the sacrifices. Plus, as I mentioned in my previous breastfeeding post, avoiding dairy has its own benefits. I definitely feel that I have lost my baby weight faster by avoiding cheese, creams, and most desserts. Gabe and I have definitely been eating healthier at home as a result. The amount of time that I have to make these sacrifices is really insignificant. Even if I nurse Maddie beyond her first year, most babies outgrow the allergy by the end of their first year.

I plan to post more on this topic with my experiences with avoiding dairy. I intend to post restaurant recommendations, recipes, and food alternatives that we have discovered.

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Posted by kerry on Sunday, August 24th, 2008 at 6:42pm.
Categories: life.