Food Allergies and Pregnancy

By Thomas K. Lo, MA, DC

Dear Doctor, should I stay away from certain foods during pregnancy?

Avoiding peanuts or other highly allergenic foods during pregnancy is not necessary – unless you are allergic to these foods. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, avoiding certain foods in pregnancy does not prevent food allergies in children, though breastfeeding may prevent or delay food allergies.

Also delaying the introduction of solid foods beyond 4-6 months of age does not prevent food allergies. Some people have also thought that food allergies can be prevented if parents delayed giving their babies certain solid foods (such as fish, eggs, and milk), however, current medical research does not support this idea.

Babies can have a reaction to a mother’s breast milk, but this is due to something the mother is eating. Babies who are highly sensitive usually react to the food within minutes. Babies who are less sensitive may still react to the food within 4-24 hours. Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, and/or green stools with mucus and/or blood, rash, eczema, dermatitis, hives, or dry skin, fussiness during and/or after feedings, inconsolable crying for long periods, and sudden waking with discomfort, wheezing or coughing.

These symptoms do not mean your baby is allergic to your milk, but rather to something you are eating.

If your baby ever has problems breathing, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.