GOING DAIRY-FREE BEFORE BREASTFEEDING
Most mothers are aware of the benefits of breastfeeding, as medical professionals tell us that this milk contains the nutrients and antibodies needed for efficient brain development, palatable digestion, and reduced risk of SIDS.
There are also health benefits for moms, as breastfeeding re-balances hormones and reshapes the uterus after pregnancy. But there probably isn’t as much discussion about internal chemistry and how this affects the quality of the milk being delivered to the child. For example, there’s a fantastic argument against consuming dairy products while breastfeeding, as some infants may be sensitive or allergic to a cow’s lactose. All humans are said to be somewhat intolerant to dairy as per our genetic makeup. And since infants can only communicate by feeling unhappy and unwell, it might be a safe bet to avoid certain compounds as a precaution, especially if a mother has educated herself on how to provide an equally nutritional benefit.
DAIRY-FREE WHILE BREASTFEEDING
It may take about 6 to 10 days for milk to exit the system, while other sources report that complete removal could take up to three weeks. For mothers transitioning into a dairy-free lifestyle and concerned about breast milk that may be causing symptoms, a popular option is to substitute at least some of the milk with a hypoallergenic formula. Hypoallergenic is preferred as opposed to soy, which is often popular with vegetarians. So depending on your dietary goals, avoiding soy could potentially reduce symptoms.
AVOIDING THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Gluten / Casein / Sugar / Soy
Gluten in wheat, Casein in milk, sugar, and soy are four of the most popular when it comes to identifying food-derived symptoms. Therefore permanently eliminating these ingredients from yours and the baby’s diet could drastically cut back on illness caused by digestive ailments. However, illness could be caused by any number of ingredients found in foods, and there is always a chemical mixology afoot when we are eating. Therefore, mothers may do well to keep an open mind in the case that an elimination diet is necessary to find out which foods, if any, are causing a baby distress – observing how well it is digesting various foods.
BABIES EXPERIENCING DISCOMFORT
Any symptom thought to be typical of nursing babies could be the expression of a food allergy or sensitivity, including colic, gagging, nausea, rashes, fevers, etc. If mom consumes dairy products, she will pass the milk protein – casein, onto the baby. The presence of such compounds could result in symptoms such as congestion, mucous and blood in baby diapers, wheezing, coughing, diarrhea, rash, eczema, congestion, spitting up, gas, and irritability. There may be many other signs as well that the milk baby consumed is disrupting its digestion. However, it is possible that a child will outgrow the allergy.
LACTOSE-FREE DIET
The mother’s milk is full of lactose, which is a sugar that baby is meant to digest, so that there’s already one major ingredient to be dealt with as far as digestion goes. Normal lactose intolerance means that the digestive process lacks the enzyme lactase, which should clear up on a lactose-free diet. There are also techniques for handling intolerance, such as changing the baby’s position while breastfeeding. Sources say that a baby with severe lactose intolerance is dehydrated and underweight. This could also happen if the baby receives any antibiotic treatment.
BREASTFEEDING DAIRY-FREE DIET PLAN
It’s best to consult with a physician before commencing with any new diet plan, since there may be something about mother’s chemistry and state of health preventing the consumption of certain foods. Observing the laws of food-combining and natural hygiene is another way to detoxify breast milk. In general, the healthiest way to improve milk is first and foremost – to consume plenty of vegetables – and next, healthy fats, nuts, beans, fruits, and grass-fed animal protein.
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