----- Alkuperäinen viesti -----
> Date:    Wed, 15 Aug 2001 11:30:45 -0400
> From:    Barb Otterson <[log in to unmask]>
> I was asked by a coworker last night if I knew why her breastfed
baby who
> is 7 months old would suddenly start getting hives from breastmilk.
He has
> been eating baby foods for 4 months

It is fully possible that the child has started having allergic
reactions to things in his mother's milk after the direct exposure to
other food than milk. I have seen this happen in many children
including my own daughter. She never had any reactions to my milk
during the exclusive milk period from birth to around 7 months, but
after she got to taste different foods she would start reacting to the
small particles she got from my milk. Including food that she NEVER
even tasted herself (like milk, egg, fish, several spices), but
somehow the first contacts with other than bm "triggered" all possible
insensitivities.

I would ask the mother to keep a very precise food diary for herself
and the child, writing down all she and he ate, at what time, and
reactions if any (skin, bowel movement). List the usual allergens in
small children (like dairy, soy). If she notices that a certain food
gives her child hives, then she can try living without it. It can be
challenging, but it is a great reward to see your child without any
symptoms. I would also remind her that weaning to a special formula is
not an easy way out because there is no guarantee she can find a
suitable formula, plus ofcourse the child then misses out the benefits
of bf. Nevertheless, sometimes the mother just can't find a way to eat
and keep the child symtomless, but in most of the cases there is a way
to be found. Sometimes the mother needs to get some professional help
with building a good diet for herself so that also she  can flourish
on the diet.

Hanna Graeffe (who has now got back the ten kg of weight she lost last
year while dieting to keep her daughter happy)
bf support group leader, Finland
***our group's fourth year is starting***
[log in to unmask]

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html