Jessica R.

So here's the basic story -- my daughter is 9 months old and was just officially diagnosed wtih allergies to milk, soy and peas. They did skin tests at the allergist - he wants me to go for additional allergy blood tests next week to see her levels against those allergens. My older son had a milk allergy at 9 months, and finally outgrew it at 4 years... so I'm hoping the same for my daughter though I'm truthfully a little doubtful due to the presence of multiple allergies not just milk. Anyway, since I'm still bf'ing that means no milk, soy or peas for me... and it's rough, really. I'm basically telling myself to 'just get through' to her birthday then I can switch her over to rice milk and wean her off breastmilk. But I feel selfish for that...but that's another issue. The reason I'm posting here is that I've read several things about rice milk not being nutritionally complete for young children. Well...so what are my options? If I do give her rice milk, is there anywhere I can look to see a nutrition guide as to specific supplements I should be giving her to makeup for the missing fats & proteins? Or, should I go to an amino-acid based supplement like Neocare or EO28 Splash? (Also, how true is the whole discussion I've read about high levels of neurotoxins in hypoallergenic formulas?). Sorry so many questions at once...but despite much searching online I'm just not finding answers to these questions... and I'm feeling desperate and frustrated. I'm also sad about my plan to have to wean so early - I bf'd my son to 21 months but that was just avoiding dairy...throwing soy into the avoidance list makes it sooo much harder. Thanks, Jessica R.

---

Lydia

I know how you feel. My ds is 14mo and is allergic to milk and soy proteins. I also am bfing as well as supplementing w/formula when I'm working. It was very hard in the beginning to be on a milk and soy free diet when you are so used to eating all those foods. It actually gets easier as the time goes by. I didn't think I would make it to 6months. I told myself that I would try the diet and see how it goes. I figured that I made sacrifices during pregnancy for my baby and that was only 9 months out of a lifetime, what's a few more years. And if I tried and just couldn't handle the diet then I could always wean. It was actually easier to lose the pregnancy weight without all the extra cheese and ice cream I would normally have in my diet. Plus the formula they have to drink is so costly. It gets easier once you find out what you can eat and settle into a routine.

Also, it is common for babies that are allergic to milk to also be allergic to soy. I'm kind of glad my ds is allergic to soy in a way. I've read a ton of bad stuff about soy formula. One thing I read was saying that 1 bottle of soy formula has the estrogen equivalent of taking 5 birth control pills (I believe these were the #'s that I read but it may be off by 1 or 2).

I would take dairy breaks at times (when I felt like I couldn't go on anymore) and pump and dump for like 12-24 hrs (either store extra breast milk before hand or use formula). But now that ds is older he's still allergic, but I can treat myself to a slice of pizza every once in a while or something with milk in it (and no more pumping and dumping). Just nothing with cream (ice cream, butter, etc) or he will scream for hours.

As for the rice milk- My pedi said that it isn't nutritionally complete. And that ds would have to stay on breast milk and or formula until the allergy is gone. He said we could try good start after 1 yr but it's still not broken down enough.

Good luck. Hang in there. Just take it 1 day at a time for now. And before you know it your dtr might be almost 2 and you're still bfing.

---

john

Understand how you feel - I was diagnosed with multple allergies a few years ago and I also have a biological child who suffers from similar conditions.
information can be hard to find but good resources such as this site can make a huge difference. I also found a search dedicated to allergies which was good for the childs mothers
http://food-allergies-swicki.eurekster.com/

---

Erica

I could have written part of your post myself...I too am so frustrated with the whole medical community regarding food allergies. The information I get is scattered, at best, and incomplete. I read info online at forums like this and then make the best decisions I can make for my child.
My son is 10.5 months old and I also bf. He is allergic to milk, beef, and pork (all confirmed by skin prick test). I believe he is also allergic/ severely sensitive to soy, legumes, peaches, corn. I have made a "team" of people to help me and my son get through.
1. A pedi (who I am in the process of changing to one more informed with food allergies
2. An allergist
3. A nutritionist

I am going to give neocate a shot and see how it goes,. My milk supply is really starting to suffer and decrease. Sadly, I only have about 20oz left in the freezer. I currently water down my bottles ( so pathetic, but necessary). My son drinks about 34+oz a day. My body is producing about 30 oz a day, so he gets about 4oz of water diluted into his bottles when he is at daycare.
I was going to do rice-milk, but came to the same info you did about there not being enough nutrition in there for my son. I cannot imagine going from breastmilk to straight water and having that be okay (that had been my pedi's suggestion) I figure rice milk is better than just nothing at all, and maybe neocate (even if it is flavored with Ah-Laska Chocolate Syrup) is better than just water. Even if my son only has 10oz a day of this and the rest is water, at least it's better than not.

It's so tiring trying to figure all this stuff out, eat and be nutritious for you and your child, and maintain a smiling face. Food allergies are not the end of the world, but they are rather difficult to live with.

I just had my allergist order the neocate for me. Will be trying it soon. I'm a little afraid, but hey... it cannot be as bad as some of the other things my little guy has endured as we were figuring all this jass out!

---

swaha

dear jessica, good to know your son finally outgrew his dairy allergy...I keep hoping mine will someday!

Rice milk is not nutritionally equivalent to breastmilk or formula. It has enough calories but not the other nutrients and also has no fat, which your child needs at this age. That said, it is ok for you as a breastfeeding mom to drink rice milk instead of milk or soymilk. I'm on a restrictive diet myself (believe me, its easier to list what I can eat rather than what I don't!) while I breastfeed and drink rice milk for calcium (and convenience).

My son drank Neocate after weaning from breastmilk. I don't know about the neurotoxins. Where did you read about that? My son was on Neocate for about a year and a half until he outgrew enough of his other allergies to be able to get all his nutrition from regular table foods/drink.

Hang in there!
Swaha

---

swaha

Lydia, did you know that you could donate breastmilk to a milk bank? I pumped and dumped with my son. But with my daughter who was in NICU for 2 months because of prematurity, I learned about the breastmilk bank. The donated breastmilk helps premature children in the NICU, children with cancer, etc. So this time around, I am pumping and donating, rather than dumping.

---

anna

My 9 month old son too has an allergy to milk and soy. Has anyone tried hemp milk? I discovered it on www.livingharvest.com It seems to contain a lot of protein, omegas, and fat. I am going to ask my pediatrition what he thinks. The vanilla doesn't taste bad.

---

Theresa

Janna cannot have milk, soy, grains, or fruit. She is now able to eat raisins, and if that goes well bananas. We do not know if she will ever grow out of her condition, this has just been seen in the past five years. They are calling it Allergic Enterocolitis. Try finding that on the internet!

It is very frustrating to know that there is a problem and to deal with it. My whole family has allergies so I just treat her as a severly allergic child. Luckily for me I only have one child (my miracle baby) so I guess it is easier to control our home situation.

All I can say is that it gets easier in time. You learn which brands to buy, what kinds of foods to pick and where to shop. I have learned how to modify reciepies to suit her.

Janna is two and still on formula. She is also a failure to thrive child. Because of that we HAVE to give her formula and that means that it goes into the budget. I do not have cable tv or the internet at home. That way I can get her what she needs. After a while it doesn't even bother me anymore. There are nights when we have hotdogs and mustard. She can have ball park hotdogs only. I know it is very hard but it does get easier. I know that i have some things that Janna cannot have and I am teaching her that there is mama food and Janna food. Most of the time if we eat together, then we eat the same things.

Rice milk is a good substitute for regular milk as long as you keep in mind that you have to increase the fat in your child's diet. janna eats food fried in olive oil, olive oil is used in place of butter sometimes. You might also want to ask the doctor about children's vitamins. I know that keeping my daughter on the formula is helping with her fat and vitamins.

---