A major concern for any pregnant mom is the health of her new baby, and what she can do to grow the healthiest baby possible. Food allergies are of particular concern, especially when surrounded by the dramatic rise in allergies in younger children as of late. And with research and guidelines constantly changing, what does a mom do? What can I eat, what can’t I?
About two months into my second pregnancy,the news of the tragic death of Amara Johnson, who died from eating a peanut on the school playground, came out and I started to research how my actions can affect my newborn’s immune reactions. Is there a link between what the mother eats while pregnant and a child’s food allergies? What about while nursing?
Obviously, the major factor with food allergies is hereditary. If you are or your partner are allergic to something, your child is more likely to be allergic to the same, and could predispose the child to more reactions. In 2000 the AAP introduced guidelines for these at-risk kids that included avoiding select food during pregnancy and while breastfeeding: cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and fish or using hypoallergenic formula if not breastfeeding. Additionally, parents were not to introduce solid foods until 6 months, dairy products not introduced until 1 year, eggs at 2 years, and peanuts, tree nuts and fish at 3 years. In 2008, the AAP amended these guidelines. They determined there was not enough research to show that a mom’s diet, either while pregnant or nursing, could affect a child’s incidence of allergies – either positively or negatively (by causing or preventing them). They also recommend that breastfeeding exclusively up to 4-6 months can decrease the incidence of eczema and dairy allergies and may aid in prevention of asthma (at least up to 6 years). There is no current evidence to suggest that soy prevents allergies. There is also no evidence that withholding certain solid foods (after 6 months) prevents allergies. In fact, most pediatricians are now advising to give a child anything and everything and monitor closely for a reaction, rather than withholding foods, the exception being honey that can contain the botulism toxin.
Food allergies are by far are the hardest for kids to deal with. When they’re little, its hard to teach them was is and isn’t okay, when they’re older, its hard to make them feel “normal” in our food-centered culture, where cake and ice cream are staples at any birthday party. The most common allergies are caused by dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, tree nuts, fish and shellfish. Cutting out any of these in a kid’s diet is difficult, but not doing it, for a child with allergies, could be deadly.
Source:
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;121/1/183
