Food sensitivities during pregnancy? « Back to Group Discussions

[hotsauce]

So I have a lot of theories and very little actual knowledge about how our bodies interact with certain foods.  I am a bit of a nutrition nut and do tons of reading on diet but have no real known allergies to speak of.  My issue is that twice during this pregnancy I have broken out in an itchy rash around my mouth and I'm assuming it has to do with something I've eaten, the strange thing is I haven't eaten anything that's outside of my normal diet.  It's primarily on my upper lip, slightly bumpy but not really red or aggravated skin and slight bumps around the corners of my mouth.  Both times it happened after eating Thai food so I'm suspecting maybe coconut or peanut oil they use for cooking.  I believe kinda kooky things like you have cravings depending on what baby needs and, for instance, if you have type A blood and do great as a vegetarian but your baby is a meat-eating type then you will crave meat.  I know SO many vegetarians that HAD to have meat during pregnancy and ended up with meat-loving babies.  During pregnancy with my son I didn't crave meat at all and now have a healthy 5-year-old boy who's tried meat two or three times at my urging but refuses to eat it.  We've really tried to allow him to choose for himself and to teach him to listen to his own body, and that different people's bodies have different needs.  I eat meat and fish when I crave it but am predominantly vegetarian.  His father eats low on the food chain or what's local.  Son wants nothing to do with any of it and thinks I'm 'mean' for eating fish.  Anyway, has anyone heard of allergies becoming apparent during pregnancy?  I'm tempted to do an elimination diet to figure out what I'm reacting to as I've never had anything like this before and it's really uncomfortable.  

[Cynthia Mosher]

Just thought I'd bump your post up for attention. Hopefully someone will respond with some helpful info. :)

[lulu27]

I already have food sensitivies - dairy, soy and gluten - and work really hard on a regular basis to make sure it doesn't affect me. With the pregnancy I've found that my digestive system has been a fair mess, and am getting a lot of the symptoms that I typically have when I eat gluten - but without the yummy glutenous food! (so unfair!)... I've heard of food allergies disappearing during pregnancy but not of new ones appearing...
 

[organicviolin]

I think it may depend on the person. I have heard of some people who can't tolerate xyz when pregnant but then once finished they are ok. I wonder if perhaps the baby is sensitive to something? Most often the culprits are pasturized dairy, soy, gluten and corn. So perhaps check there. Make sure all eggs are corn/soy free and pastured etc. Hope you get some relief. That type of reaction sounds perhaps like a reaction typical for a mild berry allergy. Maybe the peanut oil in Thai food? Coconut oil tends to be one of the best/easiest oils to use - rarely that I know of are people allergic to it. Best of luck!

I would write a food log and keep a log of what reactions you have. Digestive issues, itchy mouth. That will really help you pin point it.