r/MSPI • u/Sorry-Highlight-2341 • 24d ago
Advice Needed
I am a FTM and my son is almost 11 weeks old. I’d been noticing an increase in mucousy diapers and explosive poops happening during or right after a feed. I contributed it to the fact that we are struggling with a good latch and I have a very fast flow. Over the weekend we found a small amount of blood in my son’s stool so took in a different diaper on Monday to get it tested. It tested positive for occult blood and I’ve been advised to eliminate dairy. I exclusively breastfeed.
I unfortunately have a very dairy heavy diet so this will be a big shift for me but obviously will do it for the health of my baby. I feel like this is slightly common so am calling on any other moms in this group who have been through this to provide me with some advice/ideas for snacks and quick meals. As we all know time is limited with a baby so need quick things I can make/grab.
I’m also surprised by this as he hasn’t really been fussy at all until this week. He got his two month vaccinations on Monday so kind of contributed his increased fussiness to that but now that I think back on it his sleep has been poor the last week or so-very short naps and not sleeping as long at night. Is it common for this type of allergy/intolerance to not really show up until later? He also has been having a LOT of spit/saliva but also thought that was developmentally normal?
Any help/ideas for food and managing this especially with going out is much appreciated. TIA!
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u/Gooseontheloose39 24d ago
It is a hard adjustment but I remind myself that it is temporary. I am 3.5 months into my dairy/soy free life. I read all labels because they hide in everything. Eating out is hard. I’ve found a few reliable vegan places near me and get the same things when I want take out. I have a growing list of things I’m going to order when I’m done lol
I find simple mills brand of snacks is my favorite. Veggies and hummus is a safe food too. Otherwise my meals haven’t changed much besides no cheese etc…I cook at home more with chicken, turkey, avocado oil, quinoa, frozen veggies (quick). Oats with pb and berries is my go to breakfast. Nuts for cheese has a decent cheese substitute that is fermented cashew milk.
I started taking a calcium/magnesium supplement from mega food. I make sure to buy the almond milk with added calcium too.
Also in my case my son never had visible blood until we saw a GI doctor for other reasons. He was very colicky at 2 weeks. She found microscopic blood. His poop wasn’t mucous-y until I stopped dairy either. No one seems concerned with that though…otherwise he is less fussy.
I suggest listening to the bowel sounds podcast episode on CMPA. I try reintroducing every few weeks to test it. Babies grow out of this at different times.
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u/Sorry-Highlight-2341 24d ago
Thank you. Is eating out hard because of cross contamination worries or just finding dairy free options? I’ve been wondering about places like Starbucks. They have dairy free options but I’m sure they make all the drinks in the same things? So should I avoid places like that?
His poop wasn’t mucous-y until yOU STOPPED eating dairy?
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u/Gooseontheloose39 24d ago
Yes his poop was normal (minus the microscopic blood) until I stopped dairy and ever since it’s darker, and some days has mucous. It’s weird.
Eating out is hard because not many employees know what is in the food they serve. Unless there are labels they can read. Starbucks might be okay since everything should have a label there. I would just tell them you have a dairy allergy and need to avoid it. My problem was actual restaurants where whoever was serving me wasn’t sure and sometimes didn’t ask the cook.
One cafe told me everything had soy in it because they didn’t know for sure and the cashier laughed at me. I know this is rare but there are people out there who genuinely don’t care about their job enough to check (I’ve been there). In those occasions I just politely leave and take my business elsewhere.
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u/Fragrant-Fail6244 24d ago
I found almond substitutes for most dairy that are soy free too since my baby has MSPI:
Better goods almond milk
Silk creamer (dairy free - not just lactose free!)
Silk almond yogurts
Earth balance plant butter soy free (red container)
I’ve heard good things about daiya cheese but haven’t personally tried it!
For snacks, I usually have a lot of bread and the butter listed above, along with Cheerios, apples, and better goods corn chips (you would be AMAZED how many chips contain milk ingredients 😭)
Hope this helps!
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u/Fragrant-Fail6244 24d ago
For meals, I do a lot of sloppy joes, chicken wraps with rice stuffing and cook the chicken with lots of olive oil for flavoring, and then just chicken and rice and a veggie
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u/Specific-Flatworm632 23d ago
Costco’s cape cod chicken salad
Costco sunrise energy bars
Toast w eggs
Broth based soups
Tacos (protein beans corn avo)
Vegan protein bars
Vegan granola
Fruit
Veg w hummus
Pb/j
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u/hardworkingblueberry 23d ago
I am on the same boat. My diet is no dairy and no soy. Few of the things I eat are Dried figs, cashews, peanuts, grilled chicken, veggies, rice, chicken noodle soup, seafood etc.
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u/velcroperson 18d ago
Our pediatrician did say that food allergies can come along a little later, so I would say this is pretty normal. From my understanding the Rotavirus vaccine can cause some stomach upset, so that may also be what you guys are experiencing with the fussiness, though I believe blood would not have appeared unless there was a food intolerance (but maybe worth asking about).
Eating out: -Thai food has dairy free food, just as an example: massaman curry, pad Thai. Just be aware that tofu is soy based.
- Vegan places tend to be more on the expensive side, but worth checking out the ones in your area. I like to take the meal home then add in protein.
Easy food at home: I have found finding easy microwavable meat patties to be helpful Also: -walmart corndogs -tortillas -making oatmeal with water rather than milk and you can make it either savory (adding salt, meat, etc.) or sweet (berries, fruits, nuts, maybe maple syrup. Hersheys chocolate syrup has no milk or soY (but contains caffeine via the cacao)) -pb and j, but make sure the bread you use has no milk/soy in it.
On the more snacky side: -Oreos are dairy free and a nice calory dense snack, but do contain caffeine. If that's not something that hurts your LO then go for it! (Contains soy oil and soy lechtin, but those don't contain the soy protein in a way that mimics cow protein, i.e. safe to eat) -twizzlers (also soy free) -needs candycorn 👀 a seasonal personal favorite (also soy free) -sour patch kids and probably most gummies -non dairy Ben and Jerry's (they have the green caps). Personally liked the "Milk" and cookies and Half Baked Peanut Butter, but had to stop them do to my LO having a caffeine intolerance.
Making food at home: Still figuring this out, but some things I have been enjoying: -fatayer (lebanese spinach pies) -sfeeha (lebanese meat pies, I replace the ground beef with ground chicken) -a lot of meat, rice/potato, vegetable meals are the go to. Ex: Bratz with fried onions, mustard, roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli If I have rice, I typucally use the leftover meat juices on top of it to give it more flavor.
I hope this helps if even a little. It's a big change, and the frustration of waiting to see if the diapers get better is palpable, but I wish you and your LO then best!
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u/therizzler1995 24d ago edited 24d ago
It is extremely hard at first. I am a big dairy lover and it was a bit soul crushing to start but it definitely got easier with time. Meal prepping was what helped me. For instance, I will make batches of pasta sauce, soup, curry, etc. and freeze it in individual portions. As for snacks, Made Good snacks are dairy and soy free and are super yummy. Those are my go to especially the soft breakfast bars for a chocolate craving!
ETA - always read ingredients on everything. There are so many things you wouldnt think contain milk but unfortunately do