I haMy b Breastfeeding is not an easy thing to do, but those who do it (like me) make the choice because it’s what we think is best for our child. This is also why I’m not eating dairy…If you want to read about the start of this journey, here’s week one and week two. 
With the holidays and planning for Thanksgiving at my house, I got a little behind on my updates. Here’s what’s going on with this dairy free life I’m leading and how it’s helping during breastfeeding:
- I’m making “mistakes” less and less. It’s gotten a lot easier not to accidentally eat dairy. They say it takes 30 days to create a habit, and this post takes me into the 30th day of not having any cow’s milk products. The habit is definitely forming, though the desire for cheese hasn’t gone completely away.
- The peanut has clearer skin. Babies always have the most beautiful skin, but my little guy suffered with baby acne or milk bumps. It resembled a heat rash all over his face and scalp. Since I’ve eliminated dairy products from my diet, his skin has gotten clearer by the day.
- I’m convinced you can make ANYTHING dairy free. If I want ice cream, there’s an option for that. You can whip up Rice Krispie treats using coconut oil in place of butter. There’s even a dairy free eggnog by So Delicious that is literally to die for…thick and creamy and perfect for the holidays. It does take a little extra effort, but I’ve learned that the alternative is an extremely fussy baby that is impossible to soothe. The effort is worth it.
- No weight loss yet. I thought by cutting dairy products from my diet I would start to lose some of the stubborn baby weight. Friends have said it takes at least a month for your body to reset itself, so I’m holding off on getting annoyed that I’m not losing any weight yet.
- Now when my baby cries, its FOR something. I’m so programmed to hear my children cry and just hold them, shushing and worrying about when they will calm down. My first son cried for what felt like a year straight. The peanut started with colic immediately after breastfeeding after about a month, but he stopped completely when I cut out diary. Now, when he cries, it’s usually because he has a dirty diaper – this one does not like being wet! It’s great that he’s not crying for no reason, which I’m not used to. And I love it!
I hope in my next post I can report some weight loss, but if not, that’s ok. I have a happy and calm baby, and we’ve made our breastfeeding relationship better. That’s all that matters!
Do you have any suggestions for Dairy Free recipes I should try? Give me some links in the comments below!
I’m so glad eliminating dairy is working for you! I have been dairy free a little over a year. It gets easier with time. Good luck!
That’s good to hear! How have you found it’s worked for your weight and overall health?