How to have a Dairy Free Easter

Dairy Free Easter eggs

N.B. This is not a sponsored post, I’m simply sharing some products I’ve found in the hope that it helps you to enjoy your dairy-free Easter too.

Easter can be a really crappy time if you’re intolerant or allergic to dairy. Milk chocolate eggs are everywhere, and you can’t go more than a few steps without being slapped in the face with a giant chocolate bunny. Easter eggs seem to hit supermarket shelves from the end of January, so there is a long and painful build-up to this chocolate-covered holiday.

How to travel with toddlers

We’re off on an end-of-Summer-holiday this week; the four of us are heading to New Zealand for my dad’s wedding, and to catch up with other parts of the family.

I probably should have included a question mark in the heading of this post because, to be honest, I have no idea how to travel with toddlers! The last flight I took was just the Stuntman and I, when he was a pre-walker, and he had a lovely time being smothered in red lipstick kisses by the LAN flight attendants while I sat and had a relaxing cup of tea. 

The Stuntman making friends on our last flight

The Curse of the Upper Lip Tie

When Little Miss was born 3 years ago, she refused to take my breast for the first 24 hours, and was fed my colostrum through a syringe. It was a pretty worrying time for me, wondering if she’d ever be able to breastfeed. After a day she seemed to get the hang of it and would latch on, but really, our first few weeks of breastfeeding were pretty awful. She’d scream and turn her head away whenever I offered the breast, and it would take a lot of persistence on my part to actually get her attached. Once on, she fed pretty well, so we (me, Mr McD and all the Dr’s and nurses we saw in those first weeks) all put it down to her being born 3 weeks early, and still a little immature. After the first 2 weeks or so we found our groove and things got much easier; we ended up having a wonderful breastfeeding relationship until she self-weaned at 16 months (by which time I was 4 months pregnant with the Stuntman).

When the Stuntman came along, I was prepared for a similar initial breast refusal, but in fact he wriggled and maneuvered his way up my chest like a newly hatched baby turtle, and attached himself to my boob less than 5 minutes after he came out. It was the most beautiful moment, and I remember crying and exclaiming “he’s doing it, he’s doing it!!” to Mr McD and my mum in the birthing suite, so excited was I that it seemed that he had this breastfeeding business under control.

The Stuntman, 1 day old

A few hours and several feeds later, I noticed my nipples were shaped like lipsticks with a weird line down the centre. It didn’t hurt though, so I wasn’t too concerned about it. I got the hospital’s Lactation Consultant to assess our latch, as well as a couple of midwives, and they all said it looked fine, and that if it didn’t hurt, I shouldn’t worry. The Stuntman was checked over by the hospital Paediatrician, given the all clear, and we were sent on our way home after one night’s stay.

The next few days and nights turned into a blur of excruciating nipple pain, endless puddles of vomit, and some serious sleep deprivation. The Stuntman was wanting to feed every 1.5 hours round the clock, and then vomiting most of it up before falling asleep for less than an hour, then repeating the whole cycle again. My nipples were cracked and bleeding and the poor little Stuntman just wasn't happy. It’s safe to say I was not having a very good time, and I’m pretty sure it was only my Placenta capsules that kept me from going over the edge.

I’d been seeing a lovely lady, Jo, throughout my pregnancy for some wonderful reflexology and massage (to deal with SPD), and she offered me a post-natal treatment as well, to get things back in alignment and re-balance my hormones. To my great fortune, she was also a very experienced counsellor with the Australian Breastfeeding Association, and offered to have a look at what was going on for us. After 2 minutes of watching the Stuntman feeding, she did a quick check and told me that she thought he had an upper lip tie, and potentially a tongue tie as well. The Stuntman at this point was about 10 days old, and had been assessed by 2 different paediatricians, my GP, several midwives at the hospital, the home visiting midwife, and a nurse at the Early Childhood clinic. No one had even mentioned a lip or tongue tie, and all had just told me to ‘work on our latch’ to improve the situation. As a second time mum, it was just assumed that I knew what I was doing and could work it out.

Within an hour of seeing Jo, I had an appointment for the Stuntman with a wonderful husband and wife team in Sydney who specialise in lip and tongue ties in babies. The Stuntman was diagnosed as having a Class IV upper lip tie as well as a posterior tongue tie. An upper lip tie is where the piece of skin under a baby’s top lip (‘maxillary labial frenulum’) is attached too tightly to the gum, and looks like this:

A Class IV upper lip tie. Photo courtesy of Dr Lawrence Kotlow

A Class IV upper lip tie means that the labial frenulum extends down between where the two front teeth will come in, and wraps around and attaches to the hard palette underneath.

We had both ties snipped then and there. It was a quick procedure performed by a surgeon (the Lactation Consultant’s husband), and, while I can’t say it was painless for the Stuntman, I think the worst part of it for him was being tightly wrapped and held down on the table while it was happening. There was some blood and some screaming, but I think I was in worse shape than him!

As soon as the procedure was performed, I was encouraged to pop him straight on the breast. Apparently breast milk acts as an analgesic and can also stop bleeding. The difference I felt on that first post-snip feed was amazing; there was still some pain as my nipples were in really bad shape, but it was only ‘surface pain’, and not the excruciating agony I had been experiencing up until that point. He had the longest feed he’d ever had, and actually fell asleep on the boob – something he had never done before. The consultant explained that he’d had to work so hard to feed before the snip, that he’d probably never quite gotten to that milk drunk stage. 

Milk drunk, at last!

We had to do some lip-stretching exercises over the next few weeks to make sure that the frenulum didn’t heal back onto the gum line, but that was it. This simple procedure actually changed mine and the Stuntman’s lives; without it I really doubt I could have continued breastfeeding (and certainly not still be going strong 18 months later!).

If you have any suspicion or worry that your baby might have an upper lip or tongue tie, I urge you to go and see a qualified Lactation Consultant for an assessment. Early correction can make a huge difference.

Some of the signs that a baby may have a tongue or lip tie that is interfering with breastfeeding include:

• nipple pain and damage
• the nipple looks flattened after breastfeeding ('lipstick' shaped)
• you can see a compression/stripe mark on the nipple at the end of a breastfeed
• the baby keeps losing suction while feeding and sucks in air
• the baby makes a clicking sound when feeding
• the baby fails to gain weight
• the baby cannot poke his tongue out beyond his gum or lips
• his tongue cannot move sideways
• the tip of his tongue may be notched or heart-shaped when he cries
• he may readily gag
• the tip of the tongue may look flat or square instead of pointed.

 (Source: Australian Breastfeeding Association)

I now realise that Little Miss also suffers from an upper lip tie, and that this was most likely the cause of our early breastfeeding issues. She also now has a small gap between her front teeth, and is unable to say the letters ‘f’ or ‘v’. She actually can’t move her top lip up off her front teeth enough to be able to touch her front teeth to her bottom lip (which is how you say ‘f’ and ‘v’). So it looks like we may have to get hers corrected too, but, at her age, the procedure is going to be much more of a big deal. A paediatric dentist will perform it, most likely using a laser to cut the frenulum. I’m somewhat reluctant to move forward with this, but I know I should do it sooner rather than later, or speech therapy might be required for her as well.

I wish I could say that this simple procedure put an end to all of our troubles, but unfortunately we then had to contend with milk over supply (due to the constant feeding), and a long road to discovering that his sleeplessness, fussiness and excessive vomiting was in fact due to a cow’s milk and soy protein intolerance (CMPI / MSPI) (Read my post How we came to be dairy and soy free for more background). 

Here are some great links for further reading about tongue and lip ties.

Mommypotamous has an awesome step-by-stepguide on how to identify a tongue or lip tie.

Dr Lawrence Kotlow is a world-renowned expert on lip and tongue ties (USA) and produced this Fact Sheet for new parents.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association has some great info on tongue and lip ties.

Personally, I’m almost convinced that there is some kind of link between a tongue and/or lip tie and CMPI / MSPI. So many mums of CMPI babies that I’ve spoken with have also discovered that their little one has a tie –too many to be a coincidence in my opinion! 

What about you - does your baby have CMPI and a lip/tongue tie? 
Leave a comment below!

Ham it Up - 5 ways with leftover ham

I don’t know about you but I’ve got a fridge full of leftovers from Christmas, especially ham! I am so sick of ham and coleslaw sandwiches… so here are five easy recipes to use up some of that delicious Christmas ham.

 

Turkey and ham free form pie (Image: Taste.com.au)

Turkey and ham free form pie (recipe from Taste)

No leftover turkey? Use chicken thigh instead. Or leftover BBQ chicken! Use oil instead of butter, and skip the cream to make this dairy free. It doesn't need it! Most puff pastries are dairy-free (just double check the ingredients), but generally do have soy lecithin in them so go with what you can tolerate.

We fell off the milk ladder

This week I had planned to start the Stuntman on a journey up the ‘milk ladder’. Despite this post's heading, we didn’t actually fall off – we never even made it onto the first rung.

For those not up with the lingo, the milk ladder is a step by step process that aims to desensitise sensitive little tummies that are intolerant to the proteins found in milk. There are specific recipes that go along with each step, with the amount of dairy increasing and the amount of cooking decreasing as you progress. Baked goods that contain dairy are more easily digested than raw dairy products, and separated milk solids (such as those used in flavouring) are often harder on the tummy than straight dairy. The milk ladder was developed by allergy specialists taking all of these factors into account, and has been proven to be a very effective way to reintroduce dairy into an intolerant little one’s diet.

The basic 'milk ladder'

We worked with a paediatric dietician to develop a specific plan for the Stuntman,  incorporating his likes and dislikes, as well as my style of cooking.  The plan was to start on the first rung this week, moving up the ladder over the holidays, with the end goal of him being able to tolerate some dairy in time for him to start kindy early next year. So I had menu-planned, shopped and scheduled my baking days - I was feeling pumped, and ready for the challenge (if you’ll pardon the pun).

That sneaky soy stuff

I’ve been living free from dairy and soy for over a year now, while I breastfeed my son who is intolerant to both (CMPI / MSPI). While I have every hope of trying to introduce some dairy back into both of our diets at some point, I have absolutely no intention of doing the same with soy.  Soy is one of the more difficult foods to eliminate because it is in so many products, but now that we've done it, I'm not going back!

I used to consume quite a lot of soy prior to eliminating it from my diet for the Stuntman’s sake – I’m lactose intolerant, and soy was the most convenient and seemingly-healthy dairy alternative I’d heard about. A year or so ago I could easily have 3 takeaway soy flat whites a day, as well as maybe some soy yogurt at breakfast, and soy cheese with lunch. Not to mention all the sneaky soy that is used in processed foods (as filler, as flavour, and sometimes to ‘improve’ texture). Then add in soy sauce, tofu and miso, and I was swimming in soy soup!

Time to start Practicing Mindfulness

I really need to start being more mindful in my daily life. To be present and concentrate on what I’m doing. Stop trying to multi-task, and stop doing things without really focusing. In short, I need to just think about what I am doing, rather than thinking about all of the other things I need to be doing.

My mind is clearly not on the job at the moment. In the last few weeks I have:

• Almost put my dirty clothes into the toilet instead of the laundry hamper
• Started the coffee machine without putting a new pod in it ABOUT 27 TIMES
• Bought the wrong bread from the supermarket (this is quite a big deal due to the Stuntman’s cow's milk and soy protein intolerance)
• Worn a pair of maternity tights to work, and had to keep hoiking them up under my dress all day 
• Walked away from the supermarket without my shopping
• Driven home from kindy to our old house (yep, turned into the drive and everything)
• Turned up at the chiropractor on the wrong day
• Turned the washing machine on without putting any detergent in.

While a lot of it may be down to sleep deprivation (pesky kids!), these silly little mistakes are also an indication of my current state of mind. Individually they're not a big deal, but when you add them up they've wasted time, money and energy. So I’m going to try and just relax a bit, think before I act, and concentrate on doing one thing at a time.

Ohm.......

Easier said than done with a couple of toddlers underfoot, but that’s my goal for the week.

So I'm after some advice on how to become more 'mindful', all suggestions welcome!

Breastfeeding a toddler (a.k.a. 'Boobnastics')

I love breastfeeding. I love the fact that my body can provide nourishment for my child, and I love the way it connects us. I feel very lucky that I've been able to breastfeed both of my children, as I know some mums don't have the option. I'm confident to breastfeed wherever I choose to (or wherever my child chooses to), and I feel proud to still be feeding my toddler. 

Having said that, breastfeeding a toddler is not quite the love-fest that breastfeeding a newborn or young baby can be. 

Once you get the hang of it, breastfeeding a baby is pretty simple - you find your comfy feeding chair/lounge/bed, prop yourself up with pillows, attach bub correctly to boob, and away you go. Breastfeeding an active toddler is slightly different. Forget finding a comfy chair; if my hungry toddler spots an uncovered breast for some reason (e.g. while I'm getting dressed), he'll launch himself across the room like some kind of hairless chimpanzee and help himself to a drink. Self-service style. At the moment he likes to feed while standing up, so I sit and he stands in front of me, calling the shots. The term "feeding on demand" has never been more true than when describing breastfeeding a toddler.

Newborn and baby breastfeeding involves lots of long, loving eye contact, and a sense of sharing an exquisite and intimate experience. Toddler breastfeeding involves fingers up my nose, trucks being driven across my belly, kicks to the head, and my boob being twisted round so he can watch TV while he's drinking. Oh, and not to mention lifting up my top and flashing my other boob for all to see. It's not relaxing or comfortable, and it's certainly not discrete, but still we persevere.

The Stuntman is now 15 months old, and is still a big booby monster. I don't mean that he loves big boobies, he just loves boobies. A lot. Mine in particular. Although sometimes he'll nuzzle into Nanna's or Aunty's or a random stranger's chest, just to see if anything is on offer, which can be a bit awkward (for them, not him). He doesn't have many words yet, but he can say "mumma boo boo" as clear as day.

On the days I don't go to work, he can have upwards of five or six feeds a day; sometimes just a five minute quickie, but other times a long and intense suckling session of 20 or even 30 minutes. Usually while I'm trying to get out the door to do something. Stopping a feeding session with a toddler once it's in full swing is simply not possible - they are too strong, and, let's face it, they've got too many teeth. 

With the little guy being intolerant to cow's milk and soy, weaning him just hasn't been an option for us yet. I'd like to keep it up until he's ready to stop, although I may have to reassess the situation once he starts school. Just kidding.

How we came to be dairy- and soy-free - our CMPI / MSPI story

I have lots of conversations with girlfriends about whether or not we’re ‘finished’ having babies. While most of my friends have two kids, a few have three, and one very dear friend who went for number three, ended up with three and four. You know who you are my love ;)

I always thought I’d like to have three kids - I was one of three girls, Mr McD is one of three boys, and it just seemed like a good number. That was my thinking PC (pre-children), and even after my daughter was born I still liked the idea of having a brood of three. She was a text book baby you see; sleeping 12 hours a night by 12 weeks, no health issues and a lovely calm and placid nature. Perfect, I thought, we were obviously awesome at this parenting gig, look how ‘good’ our baby was! I must admit, I did have a few smug moments in the early days with Little Miss, thinking that all my research and preparations had lead us to this point of parental bliss.

Little Miss aka "perfect baby"

But that was all before the Stuntman came along, with his hourly wake ups, screaming episodes, projectile vomiting, foul, mucousy nappies and poor immune system. Woah. WTF? How could it all go so wrong? Even after getting his Upper Lip and Tongue Ties corrected at 2 weeks old, he was a screaming, writhing, exploding hot mess of a baby. 

I did everything the same as with Little Miss, but whereas she thrived on a routine, he practically laughed in my face. Or threw up in it more likely. Little Miss had never thrown up in her life, not once, and here was this little screaming creature who actually projectile vomited colostrum while we were still in the hospital. “Just a bit of reflux,” said the maternity nurse. Oh shit. The dreaded ‘R’ word.

The Stuntman - catching some very rare zzzzzz's

I’d had lots of friends with refluxy babies, and had always been very fearful of it. They told me about back arching, sleepless nights and hours-long screaming episodes. Oh joy, was this what we were in for? Apparently yes. Our GP confirmed reflux at 5 weeks old, and we started on a regimen of medication, timed feeds, and keeping him upright for as many hours of the day and night as humanly possible.

But, ever the desktop research warrior, I wasn’t convinced it actually was reflux. I started to look into dairy intolerance, as his symptoms seemed to fit that more closely. I’m lactose intolerant, and Mr McD and I are both allergic type people, so it wasn’t a stretch to imagine that he’d be sensitive too.

As I wasn’t eating much dairy anyway, I decided to cut it all out completely (including hidden dairy in processed foods) and see if that helped. After just a week there was a marked improvement, so I congratulated myself on my cleverness, and threw the reflux meds in the bin. Well done me. Except his symptoms started to creep back in, even though I was still avoiding all dairy. What else could it be?

A happier little boy without dairy... but still not quite right!

I kept a food diary like a woman possessed, recording every single thing that passed my lips (including listing all the ingredients in every meal), and kept a record of his reactions, even going so far as to take photos of his dirty nappies. Now that’s a gallery you don’t want to accidentally share with your friends.

Then I read somewhere that a massive percentage of babies with cow’s milk intolerance are also intolerant to soy protein. Light-bulb moment. I’d been having a couple of soy coffees a day, and had replaced any dairy I’d been having with soy.

By this point the Stuntman was now about 5 months old. He'd been projectile vomiting multiple times a day, and not sleeping more than 2 hours since birth. While he was still putting on weight, we were both very unhappy and exhausted. I was ready to try anything, even if it meant not being able to have a cup of coffee, and cutting out all processed foods from my diet. So I eliminated soy in all of its variations from my diet, to see if that helped. 

Now, cutting out dairy was one thing, but cutting out soy was an entirely different matter. Soy is in nearly every processed food, most commercial breads, the majority of sauces, mustards, even vegetable oil. A soy-free diet is very limiting, especially when you try to eat out. I spent three weeks eating just vegetables, rice and protein, with no sauce or seasoning besides salt, pepper and herbs. It was miserable, but I did lose about 4kgs. And I noticed a big improvement in the Stuntman. No more projectile vomits, normal nappies, sleeping better. Finally, we'd cracked it. Not just CMPI (Cow’s Milk Protein Intolerance), but MSPI (Milk and Soy Protein Intolerance). 

MUCH happier off dairy AND soy :)

And so began our dairy- and soy-free life.

Does your little one have CMPI or MSPI? How did you find out? 
How have you adjusted to life without dairy and soy?