Elimination diet and vegetarianism?

[We Three]

Hmmm...anyone have any experience here? My friend is here w/her 4 week old and she suspects reflux.  Ped told her to cut back on dairy...but I told her to know for sure, she'd have to eliminate...is that right?      Anyway...she is a vegetarian...how does one do ED this way? 

*I am going to get her to join...I gave her Tracy's books as a gift already*   

[~ Vik ~]

No BTDT unfortunately because I am not vegetarian, but ultimately it's definitely possible to do an ED and be vegetarian.  Plenty of vegan women (so no animal products AT ALL) have healthy pregnancies and BF with no ill effects.  It would just be important for her to get calcium/vit D and protein from other sources.  So, depending on how *strict* she is, she could have fish (especially salmon/sardines, bone in for calcium), eggs, lentils, coconut milk, fortified rice or soy milk, etc.

I do agree though that to know for sure she would have to do a full elimination.  Simply "cutting back" really wouldn't tell her for sure one way or the other - some babies are so sensitive that they react to even trace amounts of dairy, while others can tolerate when mom eats cheese or yogurt, just not straight milk.  The fastest way to know for sure is to fully eliminate all dairy (including trace/hidden) for a minimum of 2 weeks (better if one month, takes 2 weeks to completely eliminate protein from breastmilk, another 2 weeks to completely eliminate from lo's system).  Some moms notice improvement right away, others it takes longer.  If she notices improvement, she could try reintroducing trace/hidden and see if it's tolerated.  (And if it is she could go further and try to reintroduce yogurt or cheese if she wants to, etc.)

Especially given that she is vegetarian, if she's going to do a strict elimination I would consult with a dietitian - just to make sure that she's getting all the nutrition that she needs

[We Three]

Thanks Vikki.        I think she'll see this herself, but I'm going to get her email and send it as well.  So hard to tell with a newborn...she has *some* signs of reflux, but not all.       My friend does feel that her lo's cries are definitely from discomfort.      

[jess, lukeys_mom]

Anne, just adding (as a vegetarian for 30 years who was brought to the dark side by the smell of bacon during pregnancy ;-)) -

It is possible to do an ED and be vegetarian - you can do most things as a veg as long as you are particularly conscious of food choices. However, vitamin B12 is only available in animal products. Therefore, unless she is not as strict and eats fish, she would be best off taking a B-12 or a B complex supplement with food.

[We Three]

OOhhhhh...Jess.....I didn't know that about you!  I have to get her in here for some help!  I *think* she would eat fish....but I'm not sure.  I think she might do just about anything in order to keep on BFing.