Worried about future child having a food allergy?

alyciamrs · May 2015

Now I realize that none of us are doctors or scientists here, that I know of, but was just looking to get opinions on the topic. There is a very distinct peanut allergy that runs in my family and it literally skips from one generation to the next to the point that you can track it happening. My dad had the allergy, I do not, which means DD would be next in line. For what it's worth, I have eaten and craved peanuts during pregnancy with no issues. Just wondering about the allergy and if there was anyway to prevent it etc. Anyone experience anything like this and did your child end up with the allergy? Anyone else worried about their child having a food allergy? I have not asked my doctor but have done research and there seems to be no definitive answer.

hclzmm14 · May 2015

I have seen some studies recently that recommend giving peanuts the first year to prevent that food allergy.

carleym93 · May 2015

I myself have a strong allergy to eggs and gluten. DH has no allergies. My mom has severe allergies to soy, dairy, beef, and potatoes. My nephew also has a severe allergy to peanuts, eggs, bananas, and dairy to the point where he needs an epi pen to help him breathe if comes in contact with them. He is only a year old, but they discovered his allergies when he was about 6 months old. I'm worried about my daughter having food allergies since I have them and they run strongly on my side. From what I've been told, its the luck of the draw. You either end up with the genetic make up to have food allergies or you don't. There isn't any way to prevent them, you either have the gene or you don't. If you do have the gene, you could have an allergy to things that your parent or family member doesn't (ex: I'm allergic to eggs but my mom isn't, she is allergic to dairy but I'm not) This made me a little sad to know that there really isn't anything I can do, but if you have a history of allergies, especially severe ones, they can keep an eye on your little one and be cautious with reactions when she starts eating solid foods. I've also heard of and had family members who picked up on their baby's allergies while breast feeding. My SIL would eat dairy or eggs and notice a reaction in my nephew. That may be a way to tip you off if there is an allergy before you start introducting your daughter to those foods. Another thing that made me feel a little better is although your child has a 50/50 chance at allergies, she also has a 50/50 shot of outgrowing them. My nephew's ped said he may not continue to need the epi pen as he gets older. My brother had a severe dairy allergy as a baby and a toddler and by the time he was about 10, dairy didn't bother him anymore.

mrswiebe09 · May 2015

Like pp said, it's kinda the luck of the draw. And remember, this baby has a whole other side of genes from daddy, so there is a small chance baby wont have them.
I'm afraid of allergies too but there are no histories on either side of our families, thank God!
Actually I think in a weird way if your baby gets any food allergies you will be lucky because you know the signs, symptoms and how to handle things because of your family history, where I do not.

Miz_Liz · May 2015

It is insanely scary when you are talking about something that for some is literally life or death. My advise is talk to your pedi about it sooner than later to see what they suggest. We do not have a history of food allergies in our family, but I was still terrified to give DS peanut butter the first time. I will admit I waited until we were on our way to a regular Dr's appt anyway so God forbid he had a reaction, we would already be there. Just remember people live with these allergies every day and if your little one has any, you will learn how to deal with it. FX it will be a non issue.

breezymeema7 · May 2015

My H and I are lactose intolerant. That's it for allergies. DD1 has zero allergies (that we know of, knock on wood) and DD2 is lactose intolerant and allergic to nuts. What I'm trying to say is, it's the luck of the draw. Considering how severe it is, I would definitely bring it up with your ped before you introduce solids to baby. Hopefully you won't have to deal with an allergy, especially a nut allergy, it's hard.

tarheelgirl8 · May 2015

I worry about this too. Luckily, DH and I both have no known allergies so hopefully that minimizes our chances. What I really worry about is allergies to pet hair. I think we could manage food allergies, but I would be absolutely devastated if she was allergic to our pet, and we had to give him away!

thesportsgal · May 2015

We have no allergies whatsoever on either side. I craved peanuts throughout pregnancy and ate tons of peanut butter while nursing. LO has a peanut allergy. Seems luck of the draw to me and its a lot easier to have a peanut allergy these days than it used to be. Your pedi will guide you through it with your history.

dkizz82 · May 2015

Yes! My brother is deathly allergic
To peanuts. Since being pregnant, I don't tolerate peanut butter very well. I don't know if this is a sign that she'll have the allergy or not. I'm just gonna talk to her pediatrician and see what he says. Regardless, she won't be getting peanut butter unless we are in an ER parking lot.

sjra1028 · May 2015

We've been worried about our lil girl having allergies. His kids are mildly allergic to strawberries, my son is deathly allergic to all nuts. My son was also mildly allergic to dairy products, soy, & gluten. Luckily he outgrew the last 3. According to my son's allergist, he's allergic to nuts bc I over indulged in them during my pregnancy. You'd think that would make him immune, but according to her it's the opposite.
The fact that you're aware and know the signs is a great thing! I was completely unprepared when my son had his first reaction. It was his first halloween and first reeses cup. He's had 2 reactions since then. It's scary having to jab your toddler with an epi pen. When he started school, I made sure to educate him on the symptoms and how to inject his thigh with his training pen. I'm so proud of him bc now he reads the labels and won't accept anything from anyone without checking if there's nuts.

emmacake08 · May 2015

I read a lot about different studies on allergies and I've read ones that indicate early exposure helps prevent allergies and others that say late exposure helps also to prevent. Since it seems like no one has hit the nail on the head, all you can do is follow your pedis advice which will most likely be to wait until after LO is 2 for first exposure with your family history. My LOs are milk and soy protein intolerant (MSPI) and I noticed it from eating dairy and soy while nursing led to buckets of spit up. I feel so lucky that their allergy is a gastric reaction compared to needing an epi pen because that can be so scary. Some foods can travel into breastmilk and I'm not sure if peanuts can but sometimes that's your first clue for food allergies. Good luck!

puccagirl77 · May 2015

alyciamrs said:

Now I realize that none of us are doctors or scientists here,

I am a scientist.

There are lots of non-food allergies in my family and my daughter ended up with a peanut and sesame allergy which she luckily outgrew. I asked the Ped what I should do with this baby and she recommends starting peanuts at 6 months, given the latest research. My allergy doctor would also say that the generation-skipping phenomenon in your family is coincidence and that there is little that is definitively known about what causes particular allergies, but that family history of ANY type of allergy (food or environmental) will make one more likely to develop allergies. My Dad and I both have terrible environmental allergies; my Mom and brother do not. My husband has no allergies, but our 5yo does.

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