Allergies and breastfeeding
by Barbara Dehn - 02nd July 2009
Many moms wonder if they can breastfeed their babies if they have a family history of food allergies. Others wonder if they eat the foods that their other children have been allergic to, will it trigger an allergic reaction in the new baby. Some decide to skip breastfeeding and go right to a hypoallergenic formula. Many parents of older children with allergies have had experiences seeing blood in their babies diapers, which can be overwhelming and frightening. The question is should moms who have older children with multiple food allergies still breast feed their new baby? Should they avoid eating all the foods that their other children are allergic to? Should they eliminate dairy, nuts and other potential allergens?
What’s tricky for some babies is that the foods that mom eats can lead to allergy symptoms in the baby that range from a red rash on their cheeks to blood in the stool. Most moms need to talk to their pediatric NP or Pediatrician to help decide whether an elimination diet is necessary. If there is a family history, many families chose to use the hypo allergenic formulas from the beginning. Breast milk has so many benefits that this has to be evaluated by a licensed professional. Clearly here, one size doesn't fit all.
Many babies will “grow out of allergies” if they are allowed a long time ( 3-6 months up to 2 years) without exposure to the offending food. Some children who develop eczema or a skin rash from a food allergy will go on to develop asthma too. My niece Amanda had an early allergy to milk proteins and had to be on a Soy formula. She didn't grow out of it, and is now allergic to all nuts and has asthma.
In these cases, be sure to get advice from your health care provider for your own baby and their situation.
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