Pregnancy and Food Allergies?

[goomjiji]

So, I *could* be pregnant. I'm a day late and haven't tested yet. I already have a DS who is allergic to dairy, eggs, tree nuts and possibly peanuts (never been exposed, scratch test was for combo tree nuts and peanuts), but I personally don't have any food allergies.

How have other mama's handled nutrition for a subsequent pregnancy when an older DC has food allergies? I've read that peanuts should be totally avoided, but what about the others? We're not veggie--partly because of DS's allergies--so I wouldn't be making grains and soy my only sources of protein, but I'm still a little concerned. I would like to be able to eat eggs and dairy. I could probably do without nuts--they weren't really palatable to be during my first pregnancy which I find interesting given that DS is allergic to them.

Would you avoid all things older DC is allergic to? Would you do a rotation diet? Would you just eat whatever you wanted? Any input would be very helpful! TIA!

[Caden's Mom]

My understanding is and if you want me to get the resources, I can, is that you can essentially eat how you want the first two trimesters. In the third trimester, you should avoid the foods your older DC is allergic to. You should also start taking dairy free probiotics. Buy as much organic as possible as there may be a GMO link to food allergies. Once the baby is born, he or she should also be dosed with dairy free probiotics daily.

I don't have #2, but those are my plans to try to avoid another food allergic child. It may or may not be successful. The other part of my plan is birth vaginally since from what I understand the risk of having a food allergic child in an allergy prone family is significantly increased by c section.

[goomjiji]

Thanks! Great info.

[elmh23]

i avoided peanut during my pregnancy w/ number 2 because number 1 with the allergy nursed throughout the entire pregnancy. when i was 6 or 7 months pregnant, i was spilling protien which means you need to eat more protien. i couldn't eat a lot of meat or cheese and eggs made me vomit, so i found some nut-free protien bars. they were soy. within a week dd was sick and covered in hives. 2 months of illness go buy and we see our allergist for the first time and wouldn't you know, dd tests positive to soy!

so i immediatly stop the soy (and dd got better ) and at my next appt i'm no longer spilling protien, lol.

did i answer the question or did i just ramble? yes i did avoid my dd's allergens because dd was still nursing. i personally have a nut free home (we avoid tree nuts because of cross reaction) so there isn't even an opportunity for them.

[caholcomb]

When I was pregnant with ds (#2) I was still bf-ing dd and avoiding dairy due to her sensitivities to it. After she weaned (during my 7th month of pregnancy) I was then able to eat dairy again (and boy did I). I suppose not suprisingly, ds was extremely colicy for at least 6 months, and (to make a very long story short) it turns out he is allergic to dairy and sensitive to wheat, eggs, chocolate and apples.

I have read that sensitive/allergic children show signs even in the womb through chronic hiccups and strong kicking ("Is this your child?" by Dr. Doris Rapp). I don't know if it is true, but both of my children had hiccups serveral times a day in the womb and also kicked so hard that it felt like they were bruising my ribs. I suppose if this is true, you could adjust your diet during pregnancy based on their reactions.

[goomjiji]

Originally Posted by caholcomb

I have read that sensitive/allergic children show signs even in the womb through chronic hiccups and strong kicking ("Is this your child?" by Dr. Doris Rapp). I don't know if it is true, but both of my children had hiccups serveral times a day in the womb and also kicked so hard that it felt like they were bruising my ribs. I suppose if this is true, you could adjust your diet during pregnancy based on their reactions.

I totally buy it. I had no basis for comparison, but seeing his activity level outside the womb compared to that of other kids, I now realize he was a VERY active baby in utero too.

I've often wondered if my nausea was an indicator. It was a strange thing, in retrospect. I felt so sick from 7ish weeks to 21ish weeks. And even sometimes after that. The best thing I found to relieve the nausea was cheese. It always settled my stomach, but I wonder now if it was a "reaction" of sorts that produced a vicious cycle. Or if all of the cheese and eggs I consumed when I was pregnant set us up for the the allergies he has now. Who knows? He's allergic to nuts as well, and they just seemed gross to me when I was pregnant, so if my theory is even remotely accurate, there's absolutely no consistency to how it manifests.