Food Talk: Can I cause my baby’s food allergies?

QUESTION: I am expecting our first child. I have suffered from food allergies most of my life. Can I cause my baby to be born with food allergies by what I eat while I am pregnant?

ANSWER: Congratulations! The answer to your question about avoiding certain foods while you are pregnant is probably no. The chances of preventing food allergies in your child by avoiding foods known to be common food allergens has not been proven to help. Maternal dietary restrictions during pregnancy or lactation do not appear to play a significant role in preventing allergic reactions in infants. There is a very, very small amount of evidence that avoiding peanuts during pregnancy and eggs or cow’s milk during lactation could possibly help, but the nutritional risk is great. This should be closely monitored by your doctor and dietitian.

Food allergies are a growing problem. It is estimated that nearly 12 million Americans suffer with food allergies and 8 percent of these are children.

A bigger problem is that you have allergies. Twenty-five percent of infants born to families with a history of food allergies develop food allergies by the time they are 7 years of age.

There is a difference between food allergies and food intolerance. Food intolerance is an adverse reaction to a certain food. A popular example is lactose intolerance. Many people have food intolerances and avoidance is the mode of treatment. If you have a food allergy, this actually involves the immune system and can be life threatening.

There are some things you can do to help your child. In 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics made the following dietary recommendations for infants with a strong family history of food allergies. They are as follows:

* Feed your child “only” breast milk the first six months of life.

* If you cannot breast feed use a hypoallergenic formula.

* Delay the introduction of cow’s milk until 12 months of age, the introduction of eggs until 24 months of age, and the introduction of peanuts, tree nuts and fish until 3 years of age.

No medication can cure food allergies. Avoiding the food you are allergic to is the only way to prevent a reaction. It is a must for you to be an avid reader of food labels.

If it is necessary for you or your child to avoid a certain food or food group, please work closely with your doctor and dietitian. If you must eliminate a food group completely, then you will have nutrition deficiencies and will need a supplement.

For more information about any nutrition issues, please call Registered Dietitian Ellen Lofits at 479-549-2425.