Anyone with food allergies??

shellmh · December 2012

I have a severe milk allergy and a possible egg allergy, and my sister has a peanut allergy. I've been looking online to see if my allergy is something that I could pass along to my baby, but surprisingly, haven't been able to find anything. I'm not worried about not being able to handle it (I've had the allergy since I was born, so I definitely know how to deal with it), I just would hate to have my child go through what I've had to go through.

Anyone else have any food allergies and/or know anything about passing them on? DH isn't allergic to anything, so maybe that helps our chances.. who knows.

ninambutler · December 2012

Since they don't know a lot about what causes food allergies, they really don't know if there is any sort of genetic link. You will find a lot of people who believe it is genetic and therefore could be passed on. There are a lot of people who believe it is all environmental and therefore will not be passed on. Honestly, I think its a little of both. I would definitely watch your child closely as you introduce new foods down the line and talk to your pediatrician about this.

wittyschaffy · December 2012

I'm lactose intolerant (not the same as an allergy - I realize) and so is my Mom. Both of my sisters are as well. In that instance, heredity is huge. As for allergies, I am not really sure. I guess the people I know with things like hayfever tend to have family members with the same but that could also be environmental. :-/

shellmh · December 2012

wittyschaffy:
I'm lactose intolerant (not the same as an allergy - I realize) and so is my Mom. Both of my sisters are as well. In that instance, heredity is huge. As for allergies, I am not really sure. I guess the people I know with things like hayfever tend to have family members with the same but that could also be environmental. :-/

Yea, see, that's the only thing I can find online when I'm searching, but it is different.. ugh.

shellmh · December 2012

vmihelci:
Since they don't know a lot about what causes food allergies, they really don't know if there is any sort of genetic link. You will find a lot of people who believe it is genetic and therefore could be passed on. There are a lot of people who believe it is all environmental and therefore will not be passed on. Honestly, I think its a little of both. I would definitely watch your child closely as you introduce new foods down the line and talk to your pediatrician about this.

That's basically all I was planning on doing. I don't know what else to do. I guess it'll be easy for me to notice the early signs of a milk allergy, since growing up, my mom always told me how it was when I was a baby. I hate the waiting game (for some reason, this is harder for me than waiting to find out if it's a boy or a girl!), but at least it is an allergy that would be easy for us to deal with. DH drinks almond milk and uses dairy-free butter, and 90% of our meals are dairy-free (he will add shredded cheese on top of the other 10% after it is done cooking).

Country Girl in the City · December 2012

Here is what I found from NIH: "Allergic reactions to foods are an important medical problem throughout the industrialized world. The occurrence of food allergy appears to be strongly influenced by genetics, but the basis of the genetic predisposition to food allergy has not been differentiated from that for atopy in general."

I have a shellfish allergy and no one else in my family does. I am hoping that DD does get it since I did not develop it until I was in my 30's.

LJM0521 · December 2012

A lot of my cousins had food issues as babies, and some of us still have problems today. I'm allergic to gluten and corn (true allergies, not just intolerant), my FIL has Celiac's and my MIL and SIL are intolerant to gluten. I have not had my boys tested, but neither can have gluten without getting sick. I don't think it's environmental because I grew up as a military brat and moved around. My cousins are spread across the US and a lot of our children have issues (most with dairy, one with eggs, and mine with gluten).

rm2013 · December 2012

shellmh:
Anyone else have any food allergies and/or know anything about passing them on? DH isn't allergic to anything, so maybe that helps our chances.. who knows.

I have bad food allergies, I'm allergic to about a dozen seemingly random vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Not all, just certain ones. Even before getting pregnant I had to be very careful when eating out and carry an epi-pen. My reactions can be mild depending on the level of allergen present, and the specific allergen (i.e., some things may just make me break out in hives, whereas others can make my throat swell up). Like you, my DH has no allergies.

What I've been told is that of course, genetics play a huge part. (I'm hoping LO gets her dad's genes on this one) however, the advice I was given was that the best way to minimize the possibility of passing on the allergy is to AVOID having any allergic reactions while pregnant. I.e., while I can't control my LOs genes, if I don't suffer an allergic attack and circulate the response in my blood to LO it reduces the risk of LO having that sensitivity, even if LO gets my genes. And the suggestion is even if LO does have dad's genetics, the mom's allergic response while pregnant ~could~ cause LO to have the allergy. Is this an exact science - NO. Does it guarantee anything, NO, but anything I can do to help LO avoid this I will try because it SUCKS!

Since getting pregnant, not much has changed except I'm just more vigilant where before, I might have taken a chance and figured I'd just take a bunch of Benadryl if I had a reaction.

As others and you mentioned, I will also be careful when introducing any foods to LO that contain anything I'm allergic to, especially since one of the worst ones for me is soy. I'm planning on BFing exclusively, and neither DH or I are lactose intolerant, so I feel okay there in case BFing doesn't work or we need to supplement. As for the fruits and veggies, I'm planning on making my own baby food and will control it while LO is little. I will likely get her tested by my same allergist as a toddler to have peace of mind before starting daycare/school.

One question for you - are you and your sister's allergies adult-onset or did you have them as children?

ann_jeremiah · December 2012

The way I've understood allergies is that its possible for anyone to have them... That's why you are suppose to introduce one new food at a time for several days in a row, so you can pinpoint the allergy.

jannv11 · December 2012

DH and I have NO food allergies nor does anyone in our families. DS is allergic to everything! Vaccines, GMF's,.....being that food allergies are so common now and weren't in the past it has to be something babies are getting at a young age???

beforesunrise · December 2012

Our soon-to-be pediatrician said that there is a decent likelihood my DH's seasonal allergies will pass along to our LO but did not express the same confidence that my food intolerances (lactose, gluten) will.

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