Page 3 - Fall2010

Letters

RAW MILK TO THE RESCUE through his very first night, then spit other “dairy” foods using coconut milk.
Two and a half years ago, I had up when he woke, hours after nursing. It was in the middle of this dairy-
no idea what I was in for. I was seven Then I noticed patches of eczema on free time that we learned about raw
months pregnant with my first baby and his arms. I was already on hyper-alert milk, and towards the end, I found a
we hadn’t yet started our “real food” because of my daughter’s dairy allergy, local source for it. We waited until my
journey. We ate whatever sounded good so I decided that I probably should cut son was eight months old—we wanted
to us, whenever we wanted it. That back on the processed dairy. his gut to be developed and healed be-
meant a lot of boxed meals, restaurant However, I continued to eat some fore we tried to re-introduce dairy, and
food and processed, pasteurized dairy, “dairy” foods — salad dressings, sheep’s we actually even did the GAPS diet for
including ice cream and cheese. I loved milk cheese, etc. I figured these were a while. Then, we tried a little raw milk
cheese and couldn’t imagine ever being “safe” because they weren’t ice cream, cheese first, and we held our breath….
able to go without it. yogurt or other obvious dairy foods. But No reaction! Not from any of us.
Fast forward about fifteen months every time I would nurse my son, he Both children were fine. We had planned
and I had a thirteen-month-old to wait awhile before trying
daughter whom we discovered unfermented dairy, but my
couldn’t eat dairy. Her favor- husband was dying for some
ite type of cheese was moz- “real” ice cream, so we made
zarella, the kind you buy in some with raw milk and let the
a bag labeled “low-moisture, children eat it. Still no reaction!
part-skim.” Unfortunately, it We’ve been consum-
was also the type she reacted ing raw dairy for about two
to the worst. After eating this months now. We found a farm
cheese, she would have horrible about two hours away and we
diaper rashes, bad diarrhea, get raw milk about every two
and eczema over her whole weeks. I make my own mozza-
body, and she’d wake several rella now, so my daughter can
times each night. As soon as have it again. She eats quite a
we took cheese out of her diet, she did would scream and arch his back away lot of cheese every day, and yet she is
much better. from me and continue to scream for fine! My son loves his ice cream and
Soon after we discovered that my a couple of hours. Others would have yogurt and thinks cheese is okay too.
husband was sensitive to dairy, too. He simply said, “He’s colicky,” but I decided He suffered some eczema, too, as he was
would get sick every time he ate it. Then finally that I had to give up all dairy… starting solids, but it has gotten better
we discovered his father—who loves ice for real. since he started having raw dairy.
cream as much as I love cheese—was Two weeks after I gave up dairy my The interesting thing is that now
allergic, too. He initially refused to give son was a different baby. He was calm we can eat a small amount of pasteur-
up ice cream but eventually we all had all the time, slept through the night, ized dairy and still be okay. Raw milk
to give it up, completely. never screamed or arched his back dur- is excellent and has really helped our
My son was born at home in July, ing or after feedings. Our house became family. And my husband swears it makes
2009. We sent my parents out for fast entirely dairy-free for seven months. the best ice cream ever!
food right after he was born. They re- Instead, we used a lot of coconut milk. Kate Tietje
turned with fake cheese and ice cream, We got very creative and were able to modernalternativemama.com
which of course I ate. My son slept bake, make cream soups, ice cream and Columbus, Ohio

FALL 2010 Wise Traditions 3