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[thehealthymummy-blog]

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[jessicaruth90-blog]

Dairy Free Update!

It's Sunday 22nd January and I am now on my fifth day of dairy free living.

I made the decision to go dairy free due to my babies ever worsening baby acne and dermatitis, but it has actually helped with so much more.

Firstly an update on his skin. The spots have completely vanished on his chest and have almost gone on the back of his shoulders. His ears are now thankfully crust free and the spots he was getting all over his scalp have also gone. His cheeks, which seemed to suffer the brunt of the condition have improved enormously! He still has a little bit of rough, reddish skin where everything is healing, but no more new spots are emerging and everything seems to be getting better by the day.

The best changes haven't just been to his skin though, he's a much happier baby in himself aswell. Dairy intolerance in babies can also cause stomach pains and digestive problems and he used to look like he was straining despite not being constipated. His cries would also sound like he was in pain despite the fact we had fed, burped and changed him. He no longer does this and seems more content and easier to settle, which I can only put down to me no longer having dairy in my diet.

I first heard of babies having a dairy intolerance from a friend of mine who also had a small birth weight baby (Rafe was 6lb 9). Her baby was suffering with eczema and straining frequently despite not being constipated. She was originally told by a doctor that the pain he was having was simply wind but got a second opinion and was told that switching formula (she was bottle feeding) would probably help the condition.

Having been told this I directly asked my GP at our six week checkup whether it might be a good idea to give up dairy and was told it didn't have anything to do with it and his skin condition would go away by itself by the time he was six months old. In hindsight I am very glad I ignored him or Rafe would have had to endure months more of pain and irritated skin.

I would definitely recommend any other parents with a baby with any skin irritation or conditions that seems to cry as if in pain even after you have eliminated all the causes to try giving up dairy if you are breastfeeding or trying a dairy free formula. Obviously a doctors appointment would be the first point of call but if you are fobbed off then get a second opinion.

From the research I have looked at online the intolerance is from the protein in dairy not lactose so the lacto-free products that are avaliable are probably not going to be an option.

The lack of ice-cream, chocolate and cheese in my life is somewhat depressing (especially when pizza is my cheat meal favourite) but it is 100% worth it for a much happier less spotty baby. I am very thankful my friend passed on this knowledge and I hope it helps some other mums and bubba's out there!

I would also like to apologise for not posting about my post baby diet as promised. Going dairy free means that I have had to make a few changes to my eating habit and I have had to revise my plan. I am aiming to get it posted next week when I have investigated some more dairy free alternatives food wise.

Jx