When I went to London for work last April, I had high anxiety. I had been spotting here and there during my pregnancy and I strongly considered not going. My doctor cleared me and I went and survived, but not without driving myself crazy about everything, including what I ate. Just as an example, I ate potato salad. No big deal, right? Well, I wasn’t sure it was safe to eat. They don’t refrigerate their eggs over there so my mind went bonkers and I thought Listeria! And bacteria! And I’ve put my unborn child at risk! I consumed the potato salad on my birthday and the following day I was determined to return to the place where I dined and ate said potato salad and find out just how fresh it was. What had I planned to say? What did I plan to ask? I have no frigging clue except that I NEEDED to try EVERYTHING in my power to make the situation better. But if it had really been bogus potato salad, what was I going to do? Reach into my intestines and put it all back together and take it out of my system? Right. Well after a ton of walking, I couldn’t find the frigging cafe–and didn’t remember the name or have the receipt so I will never know what could have come from a second visit there…
So given the nutcase that I am and can be, I’ve relaxed a bit now that I am no longer pregnant. However, since I am nursing I have not completely relaxed. I drink only decaf coffee and sodas (I know, there is some caffeine in it, I know), I am not eating sushi or certain types of fish, and apart from an occasional glass of wine, I’m still on the no-alcohol bandwagon.
Never did I consider that other things would come up such as the fact that Ian has been diagnosed with some sort of allergy, most likely dairy, which causes there to be some blood in his poop. Appetizing, I know. We’ve found it only twice but after a test proving that there is blood in his poop that we cannot see with the naked eye, I am now starting a diet. And I will do this, or attempt to, so that I can continue to nurse.
Basically I’m eliminating a boatload of things. Milk. Goodbye cereal and lattes and the like. Eggs. Not that I eat them for breakfast but this is found in a number of things including bread? I’m still learning about this. Nuts. Hi, if you know me, I eat peanut butter like it’s my job. Soy. Yes, I am a soy person and I just bought it for coffee the other day–and drank 3 glasses before going to the pediatrician yesterday.
So. Can I handle this diet? Part of me wants to laugh, especially with the holidays coming up and all. But part of me wants to cry–what can I eat exactly?? I’m trying to eat oatmeal for breakfast and I must say, I’ve never liked it. I have to go to the grocery store since everything in the house breaks the rules, just about.
The bright side? Maybe now I can shed the final 10 pounds of baby, er, lazy weight hanging (literally) around.
The down side? If I have to stop nursing I will be somewhat devastated as I had wanted to for a year. I have 1/2 of my freezer stocked with pumped milk and it was a lot of work getting such a supply going.
So here is to day 1 of elimination. Wish me luck.
itsy bitsy mama 
good luck! i’ve found bennett spits up a ton if i eat citrus, corn and anything particularly spicey. BUT i already live in a gluten-free/almost-dairy-free household. try goat milk in your coffee (also goat milk yogurt and cheese and butter) if you miss milk — it is easier to digest than cow’s milk. also, i use rice milk in my cereal, not soy.
Wow, good luck with that. Yet another thing to think about huh? I know that my cousin had a similar problem with her daughter and they found it to be dairy. While she didn’t end up completely giving up breastfeeding, she didn’t do it exclusively and was able to supplement with some special formula (think Lactaid for little ones I guess). I hope all goes well!
My goodness! Isn’t it crazy what we’re willing to do once we become mommies? Good luck with the modified diet! I didn’t have that issue while breastfeeding, but I did have a supply issue (lack thereof). I had to take a ton of supplements and still couldn’t produce enough milk for LO. Unfortunately I had to give up on the nursing and go to only formula starting at 7 months even though I too had planned to nurse for 1 year.
While it may not always work out the way we had planned, you’re still doing the very best you can for your child and that’s all that matters! Hang in there!!
Oh, I’m sorry. I hope that you’re able to get the hang of the new diet. The beginning is the hardest because you’re not sure what is safe or not and you feel like you don’t have any choices. Slowly you’ll get it though.
And if it doesn’t work out and you have to stop breastfeeding? Like PP said, you’re still doing the best you can for Ian and that is all that matters. Honestly.
Good luck!
I’m so sorry you have to do this, but I hope it goes well and you find the source of the allergy soon so that you don’t have to cut out everything!! One of my nephews developed a lactose allergy about the same age as Ian and had the same symptoms…
Keep us posted!