Coping when your baby is diagnosed with food allergies

When I fell pregnant with my little boy Thomas I was determined to do everything naturally and obviously, knowing that food allergies and intolerances run in both mine and my husband’s families I wanted to try my best to avoid this for Thomas.

Thomas was born on the 19th October 2007 and despite my best efforts we are now 1 and a half years on and battling with several food intolerances. I had experienced elimination diets first hand before Thomas was born, having cut out wheat, dairy, egg, sugar, yeast, chocolate and many other nice things, so this gave me a huge head start in beginning this journey. However I have friends who’s babies have been diagnosed with food allergies and this for them is a whole new daunting world, one where it is hard to know where to turn for advice.

The main reason I wanted to write this section of the website was to both share my experiences, the experiences of my friends and my research with others mums in the hope that it may support them through any choices they have to make, or at the very least let them know that there is someone out there that sympathises with their plight. Despite Thomas being a very energetic, totally gorgeous (though of course I am biased), happy and in many respects very healthy little boy, there is not a meal time that goes past were I don’t feel the constant anxiety of thinking of what to make him and, if he eats it, worrying if he will have a reaction. Numerous meals have ended up on the floor, up the wall, spat out, or worse, eaten then followed with puffy red eyes, hives and a runny nose and a cough. The fussy behaviour is true of most babies but unfortunately we don’t have jar foods to fall back on or a quick scrambled egg to whip up or a couple of good old rusks to chew on. Having your clothes constantly covered in snotty slug trails and going out with a baby with a green sticky nose (no matter how many times you wipe it) and puffy red eyes that look like he has been boxing, is no fun and this of course adds to the anxiety that other people will not think you are doing a good job as a mum.

There is a huge plethora of mainstream advice on how to eat during pregnancy, breastfeeding and how to wean your baby, but there is only a limited amount that really covers catering for mums and babies with food allergies and intolerances. The advice in this web site should not replace that of a health care professional and I would always encourage mums to seek support from their GP, Midwife, Dietician or Health Visitor before following any alternative routes. However if your health care professional is not supportive of your conviction that you or your baby might be suffering the effects of food allergies I can offer assistance and guidence and point you in the direction of other Herbalists and Homeopaths that can offer support. The complementary therapies suggested are all designed to work alongside mainstream medical treatments if you choose to use them and when dealing with serious conditions they should not replace conventional treatment without professional advice. As a mum in this situation you can feel an overwhelming responsibility for the welfare of your baby. It can be a huge strain on you, especially if you undergo an elimination diet yourself either during pregnancy or breastfeeding as you not only have to worry about food for the baby but you also have to worry about yourself and perhaps the rest of the family. I hope this book will offer you both some practical advice and information on how to deal with the issues you may encounter. There have been times I have felt incredibly lonely, frustrated and just plain exhausted with the strain, but there isn’t a day that goes past where I don’t reap the rewards of all the effort.

Thomas during his little life so far has experienced horrendous colic, vomiting, blood streaked diarrhoea, sporadic constipation, eczema, pealing red cheeks, nappy rash, runny nose, hives, dry cough and puffy red eyes. All these things have all improved or completely disappeared with diet changes (both mine and his) and as a consequence we have never had to resort to medication. My approach would certainly not be for everyone and I certainly do not pass judgement on those who want to follow more mainstream treatments and advice, but as a mum and dad we have the responsibility to make choices everyday that will affect our children for the rest of their lives and considering all the options can help reassure us that we have done everything we can to give them the best start on their life journey.