We adore Lily Thompson for her candid insights into parenting challenges. For many breastfeeding mothers, nursing can present a range of difficulties. One significant hurdle arises when your little one has a dairy allergy. Thankfully, it’s not an allergy to breastmilk itself, but rather to the dairy products you consume. This means that if you wish to continue breastfeeding, you’ll need to eliminate all dairy from your diet.
Yeah, it’s a tough situation.
Lily Thompson, a mother of three and the voice behind the popular Facebook page “Life as a Mom,” recently shared her amusing and highly relatable perspective on her new dairy-free lifestyle after discovering that her newborn daughter, Mia, has a milk allergy. “Can we take a moment to appreciate cows? Seriously, how much do we love them and the delicious milk they produce?” Lily exclaimed, expressing her frustrations while parked in her car, mourning the absence of all things creamy. “I’m kind of having a meltdown right now,” she continued, “I’m grieving the loss of every tasty food in my life.”
It may sound trivial to some, but stop for a moment and consider what this really means. Do you have any idea how many foods contain dairy? Having gone dairy-free during the early days of nursing to alleviate my newborn’s gas (and maybe my own, too), I can confirm: it’s no walk in the park. Especially when you’re already starving from the intense hunger that comes with breastfeeding.
“I can’t have half-and-half,” she reads from her printed-out list of new dietary restrictions. “Do you know what I use instead? WHIPPING CREAM.” Sorry, but no amount of almond milk can substitute for whipped cream—or chocolate. Just imagine being a busy mom with young children and not being able to indulge in chocolate!
Lily then humorously lists the “delicious” options left for her to enjoy on her new diet. “Canned salmon or sardines,” she mentions. “With the bones. Oh, how delightful.” Yeah, right. That’s hardly a fair trade for chocolate or cheese!
“Did you know you can eat dandelion? It’s actually on this list,” she adds, visibly unimpressed.
According to La Leche League, cow’s milk is one of the top allergens that can affect breastfed babies, leading to symptoms like colic, vomiting, eczema, and sleeplessness. In my experience, my son faced gas and severe acid reflux. Reducing my dairy intake and following the pediatrician’s advice made a noticeable difference after a few months. It was definitely challenging, and let me tell you, I wasn’t filling my plate with dandelions or other weeds!
“I think I need some therapy or at least a counselor to help me process these feelings,” Lily admits. “But then I look at my sweet little Mia, and it makes it all worth it.”
Of course, it is. That’s the driving force behind everything we do as mothers. But let’s be honest; when we’re not focused on our babies and instead on a pack of M&Ms… well, we can all relate to that struggle.
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In summary, Lily’s experience highlights the emotional rollercoaster of navigating a dairy-free diet while nursing. Her humorous take on the situation resonates with many mothers who face similar dietary restrictions for the well-being of their babies.
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