Monday, July 13, 2009

Pray for Charlotte!

Well, we had a busy and confusing week this past week. Our little girl had more than a fussy reaction to the cereal we gave her. She had quite a bit more blood in her stool. We headed to the doctor and after much discussion we have all decided that we think Charlotte has a milk sensitivity. Other things that have been going on with her should have pointed me to this months ago, but I didn't. This is unrelated to the cereal incident. I am still not sure if the cereal is what made her so fussy throughout the night or if it was the milk thing. Either way, she doesn't get any more cereal until at least her six month check up. Right now I am on a non dairy diet. It is proving to be more challenging than I first thought. If Charlotte improves over the next few weeks I can start slowly introducing dairy back into my diet. If she doesn't improve, we are off to a gastrointestinal specialist. Here is a list that is certainly not exhaustive, of the things I can not have:
  • Baked goods such as pancakes, biscuits, muffins, cakes, crackers, baking mixes (read labels for dairy product ingredients)
  • Au gratin foods
  • Butter
  • Buttermilk
  • Calcium caseinate
  • Candy (especially creams and chocolate)
  • Casein
  • Cheese
  • Cheese sauces
  • Chocolate milk and drinks
  • Coffeemate
  • Cold cuts (such as bologna)
  • Cottage cheese
  • Cream
  • Creamed or scalloped foods
  • Curds
  • Dry cereals containing milk powder, such as some granolas
  • Dry milk powder
  • Dry milk solids
  • Evaporated milk
  • Fondues
  • Grated cheese
  • Gravies (some)
  • Ice cream
  • Malted milk
  • Margarine (most)
  • Meat loaf and patties (some)
  • Milk: whole, skim, 1%, and 2%
  • Milk shakes
  • Milk sherbets
  • Nondairy creamers (most)
  • Non-kosher luncheon meats (some)
  • Ovaltine
  • Puddings (most)
  • Sausage (some)
  • Sodium caseinate
  • Wieners (some)
  • Whey
  • White sauces
  • Yogurt
Sounds like fun, right? Yeah, not so much. Ryan asked me why I just don't start her on formula. If anyone else were in this situation I would recommend going that route, but I don't know. There is just something inside me that would rather restrict my diet than give up nursing. Maybe it's because I know it is a good possibility that this is my last baby. Well, anyway, you don't want to get me started on THAT topic!
So, if you think of it, pray for our dear little one and her little sensitivity. Pray that we find out exactly what the problem is, that her health improves and that she grows out of it soon!

3 comments:

Jenny said...

I'm so sorry! A friend of mine dealt with this with her second child, too. She read some sort of book that had a diet you start out with that is guaranteed not to cause reactions - let me know if you want me to find out what it is.

christina said...

oh, suzanne... i feel horrible for you. but i know the tension that's going on in your mind. wanting to spend those extra special only-possible-with-mommy times vs. starting her on formula. you can do it, girl! a mom can do anything for her baby. especially if it's your last.... RYAN-- YOU NEED TO RECONSIDER AND THEN TALK TO YOUR FRIEND NATE AFTER YOU REDISCOVER THE JOYS OF LOTS OF LITTLE BABIES.

i will be praying for you and charlotte. go with your gut. God gave it to you for a reason. :)

jeileenbaylor said...

Praying for you and your sweet girly! Maddy misses her bff. We seriously have to get together :)