Food allergies are immune system reactions that occur after consuming specific foods. Food allergies in babies occur when their immune systems mistakenly identify certain foods as harmful, triggering reactions that can range from mild symptoms like rashes or digestive issues to severe reactions such as difficulty breathing.
Fifteen to 20 years ago, healthcare providers often recommended that women avoid eating allergy-provoking foods while pregnant or breastfeeding and that new moms delay the introduction of these foods. In fact, some recent scientific studies have shown that the reverse is true.
No need to avoid allergy-provoking foods during pregnancy
In the past, pregnant women were told to avoid allergy-provoking foods like tree nuts, peanuts, soy, fish, shellfish, milk and eggs, to prevent their babies from developing allergies to these foods later on.
Now, moms-to-be are generally advised to eat a variety of foods while they are pregnant. That means pregnant women don’t need to avoid peanut, milk, or other food allergens. Eating allergenic foods during pregnancy may, in fact, protect your child from developing food allergies later in life. In other words: Your baby is less likely to be allergic to foods that you consumed while pregnant and breastfeeding!
Is your baby facing allergy risks?
Did you know 1 in 3 babies today has a higher risk of allergies? Discover if your little one could be affected with our easy Allergy Tracker!
And check out how to reduce your baby’s future allergy risk.
