Miranda wrote:

>  So for the past six years, I have been heavily consuming dairy products
> with no symptoms.  UNTIL I got pregnant again.  This time the lactose
> intolerance started right away in the first month of my pregnancy, and is
> more severe than last time.  I can't even tolerate butter on toast.  My
> problem is easily manageable, but my concern is the baby.   I want to
> breastfeed, but I am afraid to chance it.  I don't want to put another
> child through that kind of suffering.

If you can manage to stay away from milk products now, why can't you
manage to stay away from them for the time while you will be
breastfeeding?  Do you crave certain foods that you need dairy free
recipes for (mine was always chocolate anything while nursing  :-D)?  I
don't understand why you feel breastfeeding would hurt the baby.

Breastfeeding has been shown repeatedly to help in cases of allergies.
It is so much better for *every* baby.  If you want literature and
refrences, please contact LaLeche League International at
1-800-La-Leche.  They can get you any scientific studies you may need.

I breastfed both of my dairy allergic kids for -long- periods of time.
It was worth it.  Both can now rotate milk occasionally without bad
effects and although I suspect they will never really outgrown their
allergies, I know that they will be okay.


> Another thing I have wondered about
> is that since I am only lactose intolerant when pregnant, could it be the
> some sort of rejection by the fetus?  If so, could I be causing a milk
> allergy or lactose intolerance or harming the fetus by consuming dairy?

While nothing can be certain in any individual case, I would also
suspect your baby or your body is trying to tell you something.  Some
women actually develop allergies when they are pregnant that have
nothing to do with the baby itself but have everything to do with the
overproduction of hormones in the woman's body.  You may have actually
developed a temporary, hormonal response.  Again, this may have nothing
to do with the baby.  On the other hand you may be experiencing a strong
signal from the baby that it is allergic so you can't tolerate it.  If
this is the case - good for you and your baby that it is so strong as to
protect itself like that!

Many people don't believe me, but I knew - without a doubt - that my
first was allergic to milk when he was only 7 1/2 months gestation by
the way he acted.  I could then and still can't describe how I knew -
but it was there.  Moms can just get these signals if they are in tune
with the baby.

As for you causing an allergy or harming the fetus, there have been a
number of studies done that indicate many allergies are actually formed
well before the mother even knows she is pregnant.  Often, the first
exposures to allergens come within the first weeks of life.  *YOU* do
not cause an allergy, you only ate the stuff.

There are a great many things that are suspected of causing allergies
including stress, vaccinations and antibiotics, over exposure, genetics,
etc.  When these happen you can't really control them.  They are just
there.

I am not a doctor, I am a mom who has talked with many women who
complain of symptoms and worries like yours though.  I had them too.
You are not alone.

--
Kathy Wentz                   Childhood should be a journey-
[log in to unmask]                 not a race.  Homeschool