> Cherie Moore wrote:
> >
> > I am doing a survey for my nutrition class-I'd like to know how many
> > allergic kids out there were exclusively breastfed for at least the first 6
> > months and continued breastfeeding to at least a year without any formula
> > given? Thanks-Cherie

     Hi, I'm new to the list, and thought this the perfect time to
introduce myself!

All three of my children have milk allergies. Not lactose intolerance,
but full blown, can't-have-it-or-else type allergies (to the milk
protein, perhaps?!). I found out the hard way that I also have this
allergy.

My first breasfed completely 'til about 9 1/2 mths of age, when solids
were introduced, and then weaned (on her own, with no prompting) at 14
mths. She was very colicky and irritable, and I didn't know to omit milk
from my breastfeeing diet. I should have.
     My second baby breastfed completely for 14 mths, and then began
taking solids. She nursed until she was 3 1/2 years old. I learned that
taking milk (among a couple other foods) from my diet was helpful in
controlling her colicky symptoms. She was a happy baby so long as I
didn't take in that stuff... and lo and behold, my acne cleared up while
I stayed away from it, too!
     My third baby also reacted to ANY milk/derivatives in my diet as he
nursed, and breastfed completely for 13mths before taking solids.
     My first still reacts to milk if she takes it in. She's okay to
apoint, but then it's like it accumulates in her system, and she has a
24-48 hour bout with nausea and vomiting. Before I learned that milk was
the trigger, she had approx. 5 - 7 bouts of vomiting per month like
this.
     Rose, my second, seems to be okay with milk products right now,
although we don't buy/use much in the house. Who knows, maybe she'll be
like me and have reactions that aren't immediately pinned to milk
allergy?
     My last, Gaelin, who is actively eating solids right now, and no
longer taking breastmilk/nursing, still reacts to milk
products/derivatives if he takes any in. His bottom bleeds.
     I was a bottle-fed baby, and so who knows -- maybe this predisposed
me to the milk allergy, and thus my children. But I now know that when I
stay away from milk/deriv., my face clears up, my lips aren't chapped,
and I don't have dry/peeling skin (like on the scalp and cheek area).
     I'd be interested in hearing what you all do to satisfy the milk
craving. Soy products don't "trip my trigger" at all. I don't like soy
cheese, etc... :( So, sometimes I'm naughty and eat a little ice cream
or eat a cheese soup or somethign... and then pay the next day. :(

Carrie