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Before having a baby I would have said formula, but when I had my baby I understood why mamas are willing to go to all these lengths. I would change my diet.

My mentality has always been if there's something *I* can do to make things better for her then I will start with myself.

When I suspected that she might have a MSPA I started by cutting out all major dairy items such as milk, butter, cream, cheese, ice cream (sob) yogurt and major soy such as soy milk, tofu, etc. I did not go to the extent of cutting out snacks that have milk as an ingredient, whey, casein, etc. I def watch my chocolate intake as well.

I'm on week 3 and I have seen a vast difference in M's fussiness along with cutting out all gassy foods from my diet.

It seems like once a week I find that something I ate possibly caused diarrhea in her. Last week it was watermelon and I LOVE watermelon. But I stopped.

For me, it's just one of the things I feel I should do as her mother. It's nothing that causes any harm to me but does to her. I probably should start taking some calcium supplements though!

@winniebee: that's all your baby can expect out of ya! give it a try and see! And I agree with others, if it truly makes you miserable to cut out all those things then it's better to switch to formula so baby boy has a happy mama!

Honestly, I personally would switch to formula. I'm a relatively picky eater in general, and LIVE on dairy products. I don't think I'd be able to eat much if I had to eliminate it. That's just me though. I say do what feels best for you! Happy mama & happy baby are most important, no matter the way you get there

I would switch to formula. It's hard enough to eat with a newborn with a normal diet. My LO gave me no time to cook, or even put her down to eat my meal, so I was limited to finger foods so I wouldn't spill on her if I ate when I was holding her. I couldn't imagine dealing with that and having such a difficult diet too.

I'd eliminate. The health benefits of breastfeeding are undeniable, and it may not be a bad diet change for mama either!

I would probably transition to formula in your shoes. I never really loved breastfeeding myself, and I know I would be resentful if I had to restrict my diet (but that's just me!). I would be a happier, better mama if I fed my LO formula.

Good luck with the decision! Honestly, either decision you make is going to best for you and your LO so don't stress about it too much!

I don’t have my baby yet so what I would do may change once he’s actually here but at this point I think that if I was faced with this I’d do the elimination diet. Right now my goal is to get my LO the breastmilk for as long as possible since the health benefits are so huge. However, I know that’s easier said than done and after all of the BF issues that you’ve had no one could blame you for switching to formula.

ETA: I had to change my diet while TTC (I eliminated all gluten, dairy and most sugar) so that may be why I’m pretty sure that I’d eliminate. I have the hindsight of knowing that I can do it and that I actually really loved the way that I felt health-wise while eating that way so my opinion is definitely biased off of that.

in the end... happy mommy means happy baby. you have to do whats best for you and your family. everyone knows you've tried, just gotta do what's best as always, good luck

ETA: i personally wouldn't have been able to do it...

People can preach breastfeeding and how a woman should go to any length to breastfeed all they want... in the end, you need to be happy too.

When I was trying to relactate to be able to breastfeed, I was driving myself crazy. I spent so much time and energy trying to do it until I realized that I was torturing myself and my daughter was happy and healthy on formula. I was spending time and energy on the breastfeeding issues when I should have been spending that time and energy with her. When I talked to me LC about it, this is the message she sent me:

" I don't think you failed. I know that me telling you that isn't going to instantly make you feel better, but I want you to know that. And anyone who tells you that you did fail should be donkey-kicked in the teeth. You tried; you tried so hard. But it wasn't working out, and you made a decision that was best for your family as a whole. There is no failure in that; that's being a good mom. C is beautiful and healthy. To me, the most important thing is the bond between mother and child. If breastfeeding is getting in the way of that, it's gotta go. I've told that to moms before, who were exhausted and crying and telling me they felt like they weren't bonding and just dreaded feeding."

Very sound advice.

I would probably switch to formula if I were in your shoes...especially if it means you will be happier and less stressed. You have gone through a lot of hardships with your LO and feeding in the past 8 weeks so you can be proud how much you have already done to make breastfeeding work thus far!

@winniebee: I cut out dairy once for myself. I cut it out for a few months. It was hard but the results were amazing. I felt like a new person. If I had to do it for her? I would.

But hey, if you hate it and it's making you miserable, go to formula! You won't help yourself or him by being miserable!!

@Mrs. Jacks: when do you think is a safe time to reintroduce dairy? I've been reading 6 months their stomachs might be more developed?

@Mrs. Jacks: thanks! I was planning on reintroducing in small amounts at six months and see how it goes.

@brownie: we also supplement! And oddly enough with a soy isomil formula. Just curious if you've tried reintroducing dairy yet?

@regberadaisy: Yes, we have a tough time with it. Our Gastro wants us to feed him dairy specifically. We have been trialing off and on since he was 11 months old and had gained a pound a month. The Gastro wants him to gain more and faster and dairy is of course the way to do that. Who would have thought that one of the scariest things I would do as a parent is feed my child cheese.

We don't see the stool effects we used to see. But when we fed him cheese every day he gained 3 oz in a month as opposed to the 1 pound he had been gaining (I personally find it amazing he can gain that much even walking etc. So I know we are doing something right). So, we have backed off again.

At this point we are Not Trying Not To. Which means that we will eat some cheese or some greek yogurt. I can be less careful of prepared foods (so going out is much easier). But we aren't specifically going out of our way to get it into his system.

My sister's daughter was "allergic" to milk (peanuts and eggs) from 2 years to 3 years. She was just declared allergy free at her last appointment. So it can happen later.

I'm going to be the minority and say I'd I was you I would probably switch to formula. I love my son but there gets to a point when you need to be happy. Happy mommy = Happy Baby. My friend had breastfeeding struggles and switched to
formula. Her husband was not understanding but you have to do what you have to do.

In your case, I think I would have a hard time in not switching to formula honestly. I would probably give elimination a try, but if I found it too hard switch.

I went with elimination. I LOVE milk, like LOVE it.. I could EASILY drink a gal in just a day & a half by myself! It was REALLY hard at first and I just about cried everytime I opened the refrigerator and saw the milk BUT that passed and now we're 3 months dairy, soy, egg, and nut free! For me it's been worth it and really I did consider going to formula but the alimentum & nutramigen both still have casein in it so I figured I was better off just eliminating.

You have to do what's best for you! I'm glad I went with elimination but still have days where I don't like that I have to cook EVERY meal and wonder if I can really do this long term. For now I just take it a day at a time. =)