Breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months of baby's life is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Babies cannot be allergic to their mothers' breast milk, but they can have an allergic reaction to proteins or other components in foods that the mother eats.
Signs
Baby's fussiness can be related to foods mother eats.
Numerous signs of distress in baby can point to a possible allergic reaction: rash, projectile vomiting, redness around the anus, blood in the stool, mucous in the stool, fussiness, eczema, sleep difficulty and slow weight gain.
Diagnosis
A complete health history for both parents and the baby allows health care providers to determine the likelihood of allergies in the baby.
Allergens
Potential allergens exist in many foods.
Common allergens present in breast milk are: nuts, soy, dairy products, wheat, eggs, fish and meat. Some babies may be allergic to other foods or additives.
Treatment
Mothers of babies who are experiencing an allergic reaction are advised to follow an elimination diet. They remove allergens from their diet for a period of time to eliminate the adverse effects and determine which allergens may be causing a problem for the baby. It may take from two to four weeks for each allergen as the baby's system heals from the irritation.
Outcome
With or without allergies, baby can enjoy eating.
Most babies with food allergies outgrow them by the age of 3.Those that don't can learn to live within the limitations of their diet when parents make eating enjoyable.
Tags: allergic reaction, allergies baby, breast milk, mother eats, their diet
