Being a parent to a food intolerant kiddo is a tough road to navigate, as anyone who has been there is well aware of. Sometimes the biggest help is reassurance from others who have been there to build your confidence that you are doing the right thing. I wanted to share some words of wisdom written by Lana Erickson, many of which I have repeated to myself many times through our journey. Lana is a long time supporter of parents with food intolerant children, who has been there herself. She has been a huge support for my son and I over the last year and I am very grateful for that! Please note that these are generalized statements and are not intended as medical advice. As always, please consult your doctor or pediatrician for specific medical advice.
Lana’s Words of Wisdom:
Trust your instincts. As moms, you know more than you think you know.
2) It's always okay to get a second opinion (or 3rd). As the only advocate out there for your child, it's your right and your duty to try to find the best answers and the best care for your child and your family.
3) Mucous in and of itself is not a terrible thing. We all have mucous in our stools; we just don't always look ;-).
4) If it's not broken, don't fix it. If your baby is happy, healthy, and growing, who cares if he/she doesn't have perfect poo.
5) (Especially to any TED mommies) Breastfeeding isn't worth it if you are not physically/emotionally healthy enough to take care of your child. I am totally of the mind that breast is best, but if you are dropping weight so rapidly that you are experiencing significant health problems, or if you feel like you are resenting your child for a restrictive diet to the point that it's interfering with your ability to care for your child, then you need to get help. Every mother of a food intolerant child I have had the privilege of knowing, including myself, has dealt with some grieving and/or depression as a result the symptoms and restrictions of food intolerance. If these feelings become overwhelming to you, it's okay to get help. You are the best mommy you can be when you take care of yourself too.
6) Time truly does make things better. There is not one family I've known that hasn't felt that their situation has improved over time.
I cannot even explain how many times I had to remind myself of #3 & 4, in the quest for the perfect poo! It was so tough to find a stopping point on eliminating foods when I hadn’t resolved every symptom. In reality, no matter what I eliminated, Sebastian didn’t have “normal” stools until he was eating solids regularly.
Even in recent days, I still have to remind myself to trust my instincts. Over the last week, Sebastian was so fussy, not sleeping well, hitting and just uncomfortable. There were so many variables in there with the Halloween treats, some new ingredients, a cold, new reflux medicine (which he was spitting out most of his doses), some recent additions in my diet and having Dad out of town. Even on top of that list, who knows what I missed or any accidental exposures at daycare that I may not know about. It’s so easy to start panicking and cutting everything back out. Instead, I just trusted myself that it was a reflux issue, not an intolerance issue. I got Sebastian back on the Prevacid several days ago and all seems to be well again for my little guy! I hope that these words of wisdom will be as helpful to others on those rough days, as they have been for us.
Lana’s Words of Wisdom:
Trust your instincts. As moms, you know more than you think you know.
2) It's always okay to get a second opinion (or 3rd). As the only advocate out there for your child, it's your right and your duty to try to find the best answers and the best care for your child and your family.
3) Mucous in and of itself is not a terrible thing. We all have mucous in our stools; we just don't always look ;-).
4) If it's not broken, don't fix it. If your baby is happy, healthy, and growing, who cares if he/she doesn't have perfect poo.
5) (Especially to any TED mommies) Breastfeeding isn't worth it if you are not physically/emotionally healthy enough to take care of your child. I am totally of the mind that breast is best, but if you are dropping weight so rapidly that you are experiencing significant health problems, or if you feel like you are resenting your child for a restrictive diet to the point that it's interfering with your ability to care for your child, then you need to get help. Every mother of a food intolerant child I have had the privilege of knowing, including myself, has dealt with some grieving and/or depression as a result the symptoms and restrictions of food intolerance. If these feelings become overwhelming to you, it's okay to get help. You are the best mommy you can be when you take care of yourself too.
6) Time truly does make things better. There is not one family I've known that hasn't felt that their situation has improved over time.
I cannot even explain how many times I had to remind myself of #3 & 4, in the quest for the perfect poo! It was so tough to find a stopping point on eliminating foods when I hadn’t resolved every symptom. In reality, no matter what I eliminated, Sebastian didn’t have “normal” stools until he was eating solids regularly.
Even in recent days, I still have to remind myself to trust my instincts. Over the last week, Sebastian was so fussy, not sleeping well, hitting and just uncomfortable. There were so many variables in there with the Halloween treats, some new ingredients, a cold, new reflux medicine (which he was spitting out most of his doses), some recent additions in my diet and having Dad out of town. Even on top of that list, who knows what I missed or any accidental exposures at daycare that I may not know about. It’s so easy to start panicking and cutting everything back out. Instead, I just trusted myself that it was a reflux issue, not an intolerance issue. I got Sebastian back on the Prevacid several days ago and all seems to be well again for my little guy! I hope that these words of wisdom will be as helpful to others on those rough days, as they have been for us.
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