Just ate something I'm allergic to!

[taffywelsh]

Hi,
So, guess what...a few hours ago I ate a whole package of fresh figs. Fine, I have done so before. But this time, my tongue became swollen and itchy, and a few minutes ago I noticed a hive in the corner of my mouth!

I already knew about a sensitivity (I don't know if I'm clinically "allergic") to eggplants, and I had an incident like this with raw tomatoes a few weeks ago. Squashes and cucumbers have done it to me in the past, but not lately. The symptoms are always the same: swelling and itchy tongue and inside-of-mouth, and hives in the corners of the mouth a bit later on.

But now it seems like I have also developed a figs allergy of some kind.
This is obviously lame because it will restrict my fig-eating, but also I am worried...could I have hurt my little baby just now? I'm 34 weeks.

What can it do to the baby, if the mother eats something she is allergic to (or sensitive to)? I already avoid peanuts because of my eggplant and tomato problems...

thanks!

ps. I heard that vitamin C is a natural antihistamine, so I just took a tablet of that, but I suppose it's in the "too little too late" category here.

[myk]

if you eat something you're allergic to, it will not harm the baby. if it's at risk of harming you (ie, if you're having hives and swollen tongue) PLEASE get to the hospital! if you don't think it's hospital-worthy, benadryl is the most pregnancy-safe antihistimine. it's also one of the drugs they give you with a severe allergic reaction in the hospital (the others being an anti-inflammatory steroid, and epinephrine, neither of which are available over the counter).

please check back and say you're ok!

[myk]

oh and also.. if you're allergic to tomatoes, you may be allergic to all nightshades, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants.. and also may develop a cross-sensitivity to latex.

[lillymonster]

I had this reaction to bananas in the past, and I still do, but it's much milder. Oddly I am fine with latex.

Take benedryl, your baby should be fine. And you won't pass the allergy along. My daughter has no issue with bananas, she loves them!

It is more likely your child might have some type of allergy too, but to what is something you won't know. My daughter is fine with peanuts. She has a bad reaction to soy

I hope everything is better, and of course if your tongue starts to swell, you have trouble breathing, go to the ER

[xekomaya]

Vitamin C is great to take after a reaction - not too late once you notice a reaction. It will help settle your symptoms. It is not substitute for emergency medicine.

I had several reactions when pregnant with DS. He's totally fine. Had a few more this pregnancy including some more severe ones and I feel very confident this baby is okay too.

You should definitely check out the allergy board so you know what to look for just in case your baby develops any allergy issues after birth - only mentioning that because moms with allergies are more likely to have kids with allergies, and in an infant the symptoms are very different and often passed off as "normal".

[Adamsmama]

If you don't think it is a true allergy -- look into histamine intolerance. Eggplants are very high in it (I can't tolerate them at all) and tomatoes are, as well ... I think most dried fruits are, too. http://www.urticaria.thunderworksinc...whistamine.htm

If I react to anything I drink at least one packet of Emergen-C. It sounds like it would be good for you to see an allergist (after you have the baby, probably, for testing) and carry an epi-pen and benadryl at all times, as well.

[taffywelsh]

Hi! Thanks for wanting me to update...I think the Vitamin C tablet worked, no more hives etc. All clear.
I was VERY glad to hear that nobody thinks this will hurt my poor little baby. I really need to watch it with the nightshades...but fresh figs aren't nightshades...BUT according to the internet they come from a rubbery kind of tree and so contain a form of latex!
OK, thanks for the reassurance and if I start wondering about this stuff again I will go to the Allergies board. I should get some Benadryl also I guess...but I haven't taken any medicine so far during my pregnancy (except my Rhogam shot) so I'm kind of reluctant.
bye!
TW