Hi, I have never had any food allergies, nor has my partner, but it seems like kids these days are allergic to everything. I've read a little bit about it and heard theories like better diagnostics and poorer food quality... but I'm wondering what environmental factors, if any, are within my control to prevent my baby girl from developing intolerances to certain foods.
We're breastfeeding right now and I know that waiting to introduce solids is recommended, but is there anything I should or shouldn't be doing that could affect the onset of allergies or other GI issues? I enjoy eating dairy products, nuts, gluten etc and so far I haven't noticed my daughter becoming any fussier due to any foods I've eaten; she's only 2 months but so far seems normal.
If it makes a difference, I do try to buy mostly organic foods.
Re: Can I prevent food allergies?
I honestly just think it's genetics. My dad had a milk allergy as a baby and asthma, environmental allergies and eczema all run in my family (these things are all related). I did not eat many allergenic foods while pregnant and have eaten organically for years and LO has food allergies/GI issues. There are many different theories about it, but I don't think it's something you can control.
P.S. DS showed signs of allergy at 2 weeks so I wouldn't worry too much!
No allergies on either side here. NONE.. no asthma, no seasonal allergies, no food allergies and my poor son is allergic to milk/soy/eggs/peanuts (eggs and peanuts is sever).. we were completely blind sided and i didn't even know food allergies existed with infants until we rushed my son to the ER b/c he was having an anaphaxis reaction at 7 months. So i don't believe it's genetics all the time..
Here is a great video you should watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rixyrCNVVGA ... I'm sure genetics play a huge role in allergies, but now-a-days there is something else.
my son's allergist told me to eat everything in moderation during this pregnancy. I had so much PB while pregnant with DS1 and 2 eggs every morning.. I ate like sh*t.. i don't know if that was a factor but i never really was too conscious with what i ate. I ate bocca burgers (sometimes 6 patties a day).. and i never was worried about gmo's or eating organic. This time around i'm much more cautious.
One last thing.. my allergist said that if you have asthma / seasonal allergies / food allergies than you have bigger chances of having a child with either food allergies / seasonal allergies / asthma. The three have something in common.
I really wouldn't worry about it too much unless you start seeing signs (eczema, blood in stool, itchiness...). Keep introducing foods and introduce them for several days before starting a new food (most reactions happen on the second or third exposure).
One last thing.. my allergist said that if you have asthma / seasonal allergies / food allergies than you have bigger chances of having a child with either food allergies / seasonal allergies / asthma. The three have something in common.
We have NO history of any food allergies in our families and DS Is dairy/egg/peanut/turkey allergic. DH has seasonal allergies and we suspect he had asthma as a child.
DS's allergies totally blindsided us as well. We had no idea. I ate a full diet (not restricted at all) my entire pregnancy and while BFing. It wasn't until we introduced dairy based formula at 8.5 months that DS had an anaphylactic reaction. We've been back and forth to the allergist for the last 18 months diagnosing him with other allergies as well.
For the record, I did not over-indulge on any of DS's allergic foods while pregnant or BFing but I did consume them. I'm still baffled how he's allergic to turkey!
love is for every her, love is for every him, love is for everyone
Right now I'm most inclined to believe that antibiotics are capable of really messing up your immune system and thus allergies springing as a result of that.
Except for my sulfa drug allergy and a shellfish intolerance, NONE of my family nor my husband's have any allergies, asthma or eczema. Maybe seasonal allergies or some obscure thing that I don't know about. Until DD, you would all hate me, too because I always thought, pffft, we're not one of those allergy people.
And then DD develops terrible eczema, we figure out a dairy intolerance eventually and there is something up with tree nuts (skin reaction, will test for this) and I don't even want to think about peanuts or shellfish right now! :::head in sand::: There was other stuff that was very transient like reacting to egg whites, eggplant, tomato - she seems fine with those now.
We did all of the stuff you're "supposed to" do to prevent allergies supposedly like have a pet around, not be overly clean-freaks (so easy, lol!), not especially avoid or overindulge in any food, exclusively BF (still do), at 5.5 mos intro'd solids slooooowly in the rec'd order...
BUT, I took antibiotics 3x surrounding my pregnancy. Twice, it was a freak occurrence for the first time in 15yrs and at birth for GBS+. I really think something got screwed up with our balance of good/bad bacteria. In addition to DD's issues, I have a terrible time with environmental allergies and I started breaking out in random hives. So weird.