Hi!  This is my first posting.  I live in an isolated costal town in British
Columbia Canada, area population 20,000.  Married to Tom.  Mother to Ryan
(19) Colin (15) Erika (14) Kristina (10), all breastfed.  Diploma in Dental
Hygiene (1974), BA (1980, Art History), LLL (1982) IBCLC (1987,1992).  Am
lone LC but have several breastfeeding friendly RN colleagues and two active
LLL leaders.  I work part time at public health dental hygiene, and part
time as an LC at a breastfeeding drop-in clinic based at health unit (grant
up for renewal).

I have been connected to Lactnet (lurking) for 9 days courtesy of my
firstborn's visit home from campus (computer studies).  Very excited about
my mail, and especially interested in dental perspective on tongue tie.

Had a call from a mom about ALLERGIES, ELIMINATION DIET.  Her son is 16 mo.
old. Mother vegetarian for about 10 yrs.  Family in health food business
(grandma former LLL leader).  Mom consumed dairy products in pregnancy.
Infant "colicky" from first weeks.  Has had various symptoms which mother
attributes to allergies, currently redness under eyes, itching and rash on
bottom.  Otherwise healthy and growing normally.  Mom has been on no yeast,
no sugar diet and taking "yeast killers".  No dairy products.  Favours
alternate health care, but sees family physician occasionally.  We have no
resident dermatologist or allergist.  Saw naturopath and 2 different
kinesiologists who have done testing and give conflicting results.
Kinesiologist has put mom and baby on an elimination diet and for past week
have had nothing but bananas, rice, potatoes, kinwa (sp.? high protein
grain), and spinach, & breastmilk for baby.

Her question to me was "what allergens are likely to come through in the
milk?"  She is losing weight and although not emaciated is quite slim
already.  Can she increase her selection of starches and reintroduce fats
while keeping baby on a limited diet plus breastmilk?  She is highly
literate and would appreciate references to accessible reading material.

Thanks to anyone who can suggest resources or approaches which may be useful
in this or similar cases.

Suzanne McBride