Nutrition, Dieting & Breastfeeding Questions 

Should I limit my diet to prevent allergies

I am expecting my third child in early October.  My first two boys are highly allergic. Their allergies include anaphylaxis to peanuts and my second was milk allergic.  My children's allergist suggested I eliminate peanuts, wheat, eggs, fish, milk, and limit soy consumption while I breastfeed. This seems a bit overwhelming to me as I thought breastfeeding was the best way to reduce allergies in children.  My OB has a different opinion, thinking that the allergist is being alarmist. What is the correct answer, I feel stuck and confused but I want to give my child the best start.

Thank you





This is fairly controversial, even in my profession.  There is some work that has been reported recently from England on this topic.  One study showed, for example, that in the last few weeks of pregnancy, mothers should be more conservative about the types of food that are potential allergens for their family. (JA Lovegrove, JB Morgan and SM Hampton Dietary Factors influencing levels of food antibodies and antigens in breast milk. Acta Paediatrica 85:778-84, 1996)

For example, many mothers think they need large quantities of some foods, such as milk, during pregnancy.  This is not true. Three 8-ounce glasses of milk is plenty for pregnant and lactating women.  This is the same amount as needed by non-pregnant adult women, too.

I would encourage you to consider modifying your diet late in pregnancy and during the early part of lactation.  I think that you can very easily eliminate peanuts, eggs, and fish, and consume more red meats instead, which are less likely to produce allergies.  You can be modest about your intake of wheat products - but don't eliminate wheat products.  You can also use more calcium-enriched soy products, which are less likely to produce allergies than cow's milk, if you are concerned about cow's milk allergies.

The key is that modification of your diet may not prevent the allergies in your baby, but that it will likely delay the onset of allergies in your baby, until the allergies are less likely to affect growth.  Finally, I would encourage you to seek out a perinatal nutritionist in your area to help monitor your diet during pregnancy and early lactation.



 

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