 Your
breastfeeding diet: food allergies and irritants
If you're a breastfeeding mum, it's not just you that'll be tucking
into mince pies, Christmas pud and turkey this Christmas - your baby will
be lapping up these festive foods, too.
That's because minute traces of all the foods you eat end up in your
breastmilk. Usually this is a good thing: some experts believe that breastfed
babies enjoy the variation in flavour caused by day-to-day changes in
your diet. The downside is that certain foods can irritate your baby's
digestive system or, more rarely, trigger allergies.
The differences between irritants
and allergens
It's important to distinguish between foods that can irritate your baby
and those that can trigger full-blown allergies, known as food allergens.
As far as irritants go, some breastfeeding mums find that 'windy' vegetables
like cauliflower, cabbage and onions upset their babies, while others
swear that hot, spicy foods leave their babies unsettled after feeds.
Other possible irritants include chocolate (which can cause diarrhoea),
nicotine, alcohol and caffeine.
Meanwhile, the foods that most commonly trigger allergies in babies are
peanuts, cow's milk, tree nuts (such as almonds and walnuts), fish, shellfish,
sesame seeds, egg, wheat and soya. Although allergies are quite rare in
babies - only about 3-4 per cent are affected - it is possible for exclusively
breastfed babies to have allergic reactions to foods in their mothers'
diets.
Will it happen to my baby?
When your baby is born, there's no way of knowing whether he'll be sensitive
to irritants in your diet. However, we do know that babies who have a
strong family history of allergies are more prone to allergies themselves.
'Infants who have a history of allergies on both sides of the family have
a 60-80 per cent risk of developing an allergy or allergic condition,
such as asthma, while those with allergies on one side have a 30-50 per
cent chance,' says Carina Venter, an allergy dietician at the Hide Asthma
and Allergy Research Centre in the Isle of Wight.
Food allergies are the most common kind of allergy in babies and the
main triggers are cow's milk and eggs. 'Up to two and half per cent of
children under three are allergic to dairy products, while up to one and
a half per cent are allergic to eggs,' says Carina.
Irritants - the signs and symptoms
If your baby is irritated by something in your diet, he may become unsettled,
windy or cry inconsolably after a feed. He may also sleep badly. Symptoms
will improve within 24 hours.
Common irritants
Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, peppers, onions, garlic,
spicy foods, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine.
What to do
Keep a diary of the foods you eat and your baby's behaviour for a couple
of weeks to see if you can trace unsettled periods back to a certain food
or foods. If you do pinpoint the culprit, do talk to your health visitor
before cutting that food out of your diet.
Allergies - the signs and symptoms
'Allergies can vary significantly in severity - from a mild bout of diarrhoea
a few hours after a feed to immediate breathing difficulties and even
anaphylactic shock (a severe allergic reaction), although this is very
rare in breastfed babies,' says Carina. Other possible allergy symptoms
include: hives (a blotchy, raised rash), itching, rashes or redness of
the skin, breathing difficulties, facial swelling, vomiting, eczema and
blood in stools.
Common triggers
Cow's milk and eggs are the most common causes of allergies in babies,
but peanuts, tree nuts (such as almonds), fish, shellfish, sesame seeds,
wheat and soya are also common culprits.
What to do
If you suspect your baby is allergic to something you are eating, it's
important not to alter your diet suddenly. There's no need to give up
breastfeeding, either.
Instead, you should see your GP, who will rule out any other conditions
that may be causing your baby's symptoms. She may then refer your baby
to a paediatrician, allergist or dietician for further investigations
and tests. You may be asked to keep a food diary and possibly eliminate
certain foods from your diet for a while as well.
If your baby is found to have an allergy to a certain food or foods,
your doctor or dietician will recommend that you remove these foods from
your diet completely. They'll also give you advice on how to adjust your
diet so that it's still balanced and nutritious for both you and your
baby.
If your baby has a severe reaction following a breastfeed - if he develops
breathing difficulties, swelling in his face or starts to turn blue, for
example - phone an ambulance straightaway.
Should I avoid peanuts while I'm breastfeeding?
According to the Food Standards Agency, your baby is more at risk of
developing a peanut allergy if you or your baby's father, brothers or
sisters have an allergy or an allergic condition, such as asthma or eczema.
If your baby falls into this higher-risk group, you'll need to avoid peanuts
while pregnant and breastfeeding. Otherwise feel free to tuck into those
festive bowls of peanuts this Christmas!
by Martine Gallie
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