According to the World Allergy Organization (WAO), 10% of babies suffer from allergies, even if they have no genetic predisposition. If one of baby’s parents is allergic to something, baby’s risks of an allergy are tripled [1].
What should a new mom watch out for if she’s breastfeeding?
Her own allergies
You should not eat anything that you’re personally allergic to. If you have no food allergies, feel free to eat anything you like within a healthy, balanced diet. Studies have shown that when a breastfeeding mother avoids common allergens, it doesn’t prevent her baby from developing food allergies [2]. In other words, there’s no point in avoiding peanuts, shellfish, or anything else just because they’re common allergens in the general population.
Dad’s allergies
Babies very rarely exhibit allergy symptoms while they are breastfeeding, but it does happen. They may inherit an allergy from dad, so when mom eats foods that don’t bother her, they may still bother the baby. Common allergens here are peanuts, chicken eggs, and dairy. Baby’s allergic reaction is usually manifested as a skin rash or intestinal upset. As soon as the breastfeeding mama stops eating the allergen, baby’s symptoms disappear [3]. Therefore, if your partner is allergic to any foods, it’s best to avoid those foods while breastfeeding.
Preventing allergies
Consuming common allergens will not necessarily prevent baby from developing a food allergy later in life. That said, there is evidence that oily fish with plenty of omega-3 fats in mom's diet can protect baby from future allergies to peanuts and eggs [2].
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