Milk allergies get progressively worse with each child?

[FlipMom23]

A friend of mine had a baby with cow's milk allergy, and the specialist told her that the allergies tend to get progressively worse with each child a mother has.  I can't find any literature to back that up, so now I'm looking for opinions and experience.

My first child didn't cry every, but she projectile vomited all the time until I switcher her to soy formula (from bm - I thought it was my milk that she was allergic to :( ).  Then she just spit up a ton, but wasn't crabby and didn't have any respiratory / eczema / GI issues other than that.

Second child was horrible.  He screamed day and night, had eczema all over his face, diarrhea, stuffy nose/cough all the time, slept for no more than 30 minutes at a time....  I was about to lose it when I finally figured it out on my own (doc said some babies are just like that!  GRRRR!!!!).  Then he was a completely different baby.  But I eventually figured out that soy made him grumpy and he also screamed if I ate eggs.  So I did the elimination diet for the first year, til he outgrew it.

Third child projectile vomited when she was only a couple days old after I drank a glass of milk.  I knew right away what I needed to do, so she never had to go through what ds did.  She's always been a very crabby child though, so I'm guessing that I've missed some of her other allergens.  Eggs and peanuts are also a no-no with her.

Now I'm terrified that this fourth baby will be even worse!!  I sooo hope that doc was wrong!

What is everyone's experience with siblings and allergies?

[tanyalynn]

I've only got 2 kids, but the 2nd has more intolerances and more reactions than #1 did and overall his health started out poorer. 

I've been working on my health a lot since #2 was born--I really wasn't feeling good, not very functional--so I'm hoping that #3 (potential, future kid) will be better off.  But the household is also gluten and dairy free and I'm not sure I'll be able to introduce either before then, so to some extent, we're avoiding the problem rather than completely fixing it, or at least avoiding part of it. 

[kjbrown92]

I have 3 kids. First child: no intolerances. Second child: milk/soy intolerance (or so I thought). Third child: many more intolerances. However when I tested the second child, at age 7, he had many that I didn't know about. Because the third child was restricted largely since age 1, she seems to have healed much faster from hers, because I think she's only avoiding 5 foods now, while my second child's intolerances have not healed as fast. For us, my two later kids (and I) have chronic lyme, so getting treatment has helped them. Second, you need to heal your gut. You get more and more nutrient deficient with each child because you're giving a lot to them, and if you don't actively try to restore that, it might be some of the problem. At least you know the signs now, since a lot of doctors are no help at all, so the sooner you figure out the foods and get them off them, the quicker they seem to heal. Are they intolerances or allergies? There was an article, but I'm not sure I bookmarked it about it.

[changingseasons]

There was just a study published showing a correlation with maternal levels of things like vitamin D, E, zinc, etc. and how deficiencies contributed to allergies & asthma in children.  So if you're not replenishing your own body's vitamin/mineral stores before getting pregnant again, the next child is starting out even more deficient- and may have worse allergies because of it.

[elanorh]

Dd1's allergies were worse than her sister's.  Or at least, more severely impacted things.  Dd1 was allergic to dairy/soy/egg/wheat/all legumes, had severe reflux, and was hospitalized for near-FTT as we were figuring it all out.  In retrospect, I think she was born reacting to foods I had eaten.  When supplemented, which she had to be for awhile, it was only Neocate which she could tolerate.  She outgrew all those allergies except egg, before she was two.  Her egg allergy persists.

With her sister - I didn't eat any eggs for the entire pregnancy, and cut out all the Big 8 during the last month of my pregnancy.  I also added probiotics to my diet (a couple months from the due date).  We didn't challenge any foods 'til SJ was 4 months, but she was fine with wheat in my diet.  She did react to dairy - and was sensitive to it to the extent that if I touched dairy (say, making egg-free sugar cookies that Christmas, or when my lotion's formula changed and it had dairy in it) - she would break out in eczema almost immediately.  She didn't have an egg allergy (just dairy and soy) when we finally tried egg with her (we waited 'til she was two).  She outgrew dairy/soy when she was about 2 1/2.  She has no allergies, food or environmental, now. I will admit - since we were avoiding from the get-go, I have no way of knowing whether SJ's reactions would have been worse than her sister's, since we avoided and then challenged rather than having potential allergens in my system. 

I think a LOT of it has to do with maternal gut health.  The probiotics made a big difference for me; if I'd known about them and taken them seriously longer, they might have made an even bigger difference (say, if I started them before getting pregnant with #2).  I've been taking zinc for about a year now in addition to probiotics -- I will be very curious to see whether my zinc/probiotic combo makes a big difference with a third baby, if we have one.  Incidentally - I was skeptical about the gut theory initially, because I eat very healthily and always have, so didn't think my gut could need healing.  But it's about a lot more than just what we eat. 

[Naturopath Mom]

Originally Posted by changingseasons 

There was just a study published showing a correlation with maternal levels of things like vitamin D, E, zinc, etc. and how deficiencies contributed to allergies & asthma in children.  So if you're not replenishing your own body's vitamin/mineral stores before getting pregnant again, the next child is starting out even more deficient- and may have worse allergies because of it.

 Yes, well said. Most mom's nutrition levels decline during the course of their pregnancies. And the more kids you have the more drained your body can become, especially if you are not replenishing your vitamin levels!

For my kids they were all different, all with allergy problems. But you know, I think everyone has allergies, just most people ignore them. Child 1 had eczema/mold allergies. Child 2 has behavioral reactions to food and child 3 had reflux. Not sure if you could say that they got worse over time, but I do think it is highly probably for most, considering the above info.

[Sneezykids]

This is true in my experience.  My firstborn, dd, had a milk allergy, but was able to have it around age 5.  My ds still can't have it and he's 9.  While dd had reflux and some pretty bad reactions (milk, peanut) the extent and impact of ds's allergies have been far worse.  I'm nervous about this baby due in the spring.  I started a probiotic and will eliminate foods probably the 7th month...though I've already cut down (on dairy esp!) 

[Biscuits & Gravy]

Originally Posted by changingseasons 

There was just a study published showing a correlation with maternal levels of things like vitamin D, E, zinc, etc. and how deficiencies contributed to allergies & asthma in children.  So if you're not replenishing your own body's vitamin/mineral stores before getting pregnant again, the next child is starting out even more deficient- and may have worse allergies because of it.

I wish I'd known this. Hopefully it will help others!

My first is allergic to dairy, but his allergy has decreased to a point where he can have very limited amounts of it. My second DS is more allergic, and is allergic to peanuts on top of the dairy. His health issues have been much worse than my first child as well.

[Sandrine]

D3's allergies are worst than dd2 and dd1.

DD1 reacted to dairy at 1yr old but outgrew it and is now able to have it.

DD2 reacted to dairy, corn and eggs. She outgrew eggs and corn by the time she was 2 and at almost 7 can have dairy.

DD3 is still reacting to her allergens(wheat, dairy, oats, corn and soy) and she's 4.5 yrs old.

For this new baby, all i have done right now is cut out dairy as I show signs of being lactose intolerant. I'm hoping this baby won't be as allergic but it can happen and so I'm ready for the challenge.

[Thing1Thing2]

Hello, Ive been reading through this thread. I am pregnant with my second child, due in Sept.

My first was horrible. Colic, no sleep (still after 2.5 years), always reacting to something (wheat, eggs, soy, corn, dairy, salicylates... and possibly more).

I have food allergies as well, which don't bother me a bit during the 2nd and 3rd trimester, but since I'm eating all of these normally "unsafe" foods - I'm questioning whether it's safe or not for the baby. What if I am passing antibodies on to the fetus?

Also wondering why some of you chose to cut out allergens only in the last trimester. Would it make a bigger difference to cut them for the entire pregnancy?

And those of you who cut the allergens, did you have allergies as well, or only your LO's?

Thanks - this thread is very interesting.

[kjbrown92]

I would think if you know you have allergies/intolerances that it would be more important to cut them out during the whole pregnancy and breastfeeding (vs. the last couple months of a pregnancy), and I question if you have them at other times, why? I'm just curious. I'm terrified of my trigger foods. For me they cause agonizing back spasms but still, it seems like you're just perpetuating them if you keep having them, vs. letting your body heal. Am I missing something? I didn't know I had food intolerances prior to any of my pregnancies. It wasn't until my youngest was 3yo that I decided to try cutting out the top common food triggers of my kids. But if I knew then what I know now, I wonder if things would be different.

[scsigrl]

There is no scientific data to back that up at all.  If your parents have ANY allergies, the child have a 70%+ chance of have allergies.

Also, there is no scientific information that cutting out anything during pregnancy helps.  Some Dr's suggest staying off nuts/peanuts but that's 50/50 there too!

My #1 kid has way way way more issues than #2.

Edited by scsigrl - 3/6/11 at 9:05am

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by changingseasons 

There was just a study published showing a correlation with maternal levels of things like vitamin D, E, zinc, etc. and how deficiencies contributed to allergies & asthma in children.  So if you're not replenishing your own body's vitamin/mineral stores before getting pregnant again, the next child is starting out even more deficient- and may have worse allergies because of it.

this.  there is a trend that shows things often get more advanced with each progressive child, but it's really likely that's it's just maternal depletion.  So, if you make health, nutrition and lifestyle changes between children there's no reason why this has to be true.  I also think it's important not just to look at succession, but time between conception.  So a second child that's conceived within a few months of the previous birth is more likely to have these types of issues than the next if the next is conceived 3 years after that birth.

[CarrieMF]

My mom had 4 kids.

1st - no issues with dairy.

2nd(me) - lactose intolerant ( I was bf'd for 6 weeks, put onto SMA formula & by 4months was on cows milk, I also cried all the time - gee wonder why)

3rd - no issues

4th - no issues

I have 3 kids

Oldest - probably lactose intolerant

2nd - intolerant though we're not sure to what extent

3rd - mild allergy, more intolerant now than allergy

[Mama Mko]

My kids:

1st child - really allergic to milk and eggs, also allergic to sesame seeds, intolerant to corn until he was 4. He is now almost 6.

2nd child - no allergies. sensitive to wheat until around a year. at almost 4, no allergies or sensitivities.

3rd child - sensitive to wheat, milk, and corn. she is 6 months old.

[fruitfulmomma]

I am in the maternal depletion camp. I think we all have gluten issues but #4 is the worst with that and #5 is a huge mess and I am really feeling it now and I suspect a lot of it has to do with the fact that I should have been off of gluten years ago, like when I was a kid, but didn't know anything about celiac or gluten intolerance until dd3 started reacting.

[Thing1Thing2]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92 

I would think if you know you have allergies/intolerances that it would be more important to cut them out during the whole pregnancy and breastfeeding (vs. the last couple months of a pregnancy), and I question if you have them at other times, why? I'm just curious. I'm terrified of my trigger foods. For me they cause agonizing back spasms but still, it seems like you're just perpetuating them if you keep having them, vs. letting your body heal. Am I missing something? I didn't know I had food intolerances prior to any of my pregnancies. It wasn't until my youngest was 3yo that I decided to try cutting out the top common food triggers of my kids. But if I knew then what I know now, I wonder if things would be different.

Yes, I totally agree. Not sure if you were addressing the question to me but here's why I've been eating this way. I have terrible nausea and food aversions. Its terrible - and I can't even cook without gagging. I was starving, lost weight during the first part of my pregnancy. I'm 14 weeks now and *still* having nausea. It makes things so much easier (and affordable) to have hubby run out to a restaurant and pick me up something I can keep down.

No symptoms here at all, when my usual symptoms are reflux, stomach pain, rashes, sinus infections - and the list goes on including emotional symptoms. Had the same experience with my first.

But like I said, I also wonder how this is going to affect my LO. 

Originally Posted by Panserbjorne 

this.  there is a trend that shows things often get more advanced with each progressive child, but it's really likely that's it's just maternal depletion.  So, if you make health, nutrition and lifestyle changes between children there's no reason why this has to be true.  I also think it's important not just to look at succession, but time between conception.  So a second child that's conceived within a few months of the previous birth is more likely to have these types of issues than the next if the next is conceived 3 years after that birth.

And this one was concieved 2.5 years after my DS's birth - and I had made *significant* health progress. Not sure how depleted I am, but I can imagine there are some deficiencies.

But DS's allergies have been a huge stressor in my and DH's life( and relationship) - and frankly, I'm not sure if we can handle another child with allergies.

[Panserbjorne]

tribal women in africa actually use edible clay to quell nausea and provide minerals in pregnancy.  have you ever looking in to using clay?  I've worked with moms who have used pascalite specifically and had great things to say.

[Thing1Thing2]

I've never heard about using clay before. Can you point me to a thread (or info) on it?

Also - a question about maternal depletion - shouldn't prenatal vites cover any deficiencies the mother has? I thought that all the nutrients go to the baby first and then to the mom. So wouldn't that solve any problems such as midline defects and nutritional deficiencies in the growing fetus?

eta: I didn't take my prenatals with my first... They made me too sick

[Panserbjorne]

well, the issue is that most vitamins are not easily accessed so your body doesn't really use them.  the idea behind both clay and cell salts is that they prepare your cells so that they can recognize the nutrients and utilize them.

I'll try to send some folks here-just about every time I work with someone who has iron deficiency anemia they come to me because they're taking iron and it's not helping.  I add calc phos and ferrum phos salt and within a week or two the numbers come up.  (It's usually a week, but I say two just to give a buffer!)  It's not that they didn't have enough iron, it's that their body couldn't access it.

Clay works in a similar way, so it increases your body's ability to use the nutrients and balances the body.  It's really a wonderful way to assist the body, but as with anything you should definitely do some reading on your own. 

http://www.eytonsearth.org/drinking-clay-internal-use.php

http://www.rencodirect.com/articles.html

http://www.enotes.com/food-encyclopedia/geophagy