first 2 los had severe allergies, want 3rd child, anything I should be doing?

[sibdoms]

My first los, now 7 and 5, both had severe allergies and failure to thrive as infants, and followed deeply restrictive diets (neocate, no dairy/wheat/soy/nuts) until very recently. Apart from an anaphylactic nut allergy, they are both now both on normal diets. I want a third child, but I'm terrified of going through the first years - particularly the first year - again. Is there any new literature that could advise me on preventative measures I could take? For instance should I be cutting out dairy/wheat/etc whilst ttc?

Hi me too, I was advised recently to avoid too much of the allergens in late pg and then if breastfeeding I was to avoid the allergens completely.
I followed this advice and 3rd child (touch wood) seems fine.
Hope this helps. Scary though isnt it!

second and subsequent kids are less likely to be allergenic, although it obviously wasn't so for you. Try adding probiotics to your diet for several weeks before the birth and while breastfeeding. Add linseed for the omega 3 fatty acids. Presumably they were breastfed at first? If not that would be worth trying.

Avoid the allergens while pregnant and bf. My ds's have no allergies, but both my dd's have allergies.

I was advised when bfing to avoid any formula at all, as dh had severe allergies. I was told that even one sip could then make ds prone to allergies as I would be introducing a foreign/alien protein to a very young digestive system (I know that the allergic reaction doesn't take place until the second exposure to the substance, but even so, I was told that the immune system would then be on 'alert' as it were). So for 6 months, nothing other than breast milk and mud from the garden passed his lips, and he was fine.

With ds2 I decided to risk it and let him have a couple of bottles of formula early on. We didn't persevere with the formula, but he did go on to develop horrific excema and gluten intolerance, so I guess that there might be something in it.

PS Best of luck

Thank you all. Does that mean, really, that I should be giving everything up now, whilst I ttc -? Everything? Wheat? Dairy? Caffeine? Alcohol? Soya? Nuts?As well as taking probiotics and omega 3? I feel slightly scared....... Or Just when I am pregnant. Both los were breastfed till 16 months, but dd1 was mix fed from 4 months - immediately developed eczema which put her in hospital - and the other allergies followed. With dd2 I went off dairy as soon as she was born and never gave her formula, but she still developed allergies, if anything evne more severely than dd1.

Sorry upandaway - just read your message properly. The idea of bfing and being unable to eat dairy wheat soya nuts is quite terrifying. Anyone got any edifying stories? "How I learned to love quinoa" ? I guess the plus side is you lose babyweight much more quickly?

depends on their allergies, I would avoid the allergens that affected your kids. However, don't make yourself crazy either. You can only do your best. There is no guarantee this will protect your child, it is only the latest research. TJHey may come on it a few years and say don't bother.

Take probiotics when you are pregnant (third trimester) and breastfeeding. No formula at all for at least four months. Natural birth if possible. All may help protect the gut.

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some doubt being cast on whether avoiding allergens is the best strategy in the latest anaphylaxis campaign newsletter - research underway to look at it. You pass on the allergic tendency not a specific food allergy. I'd suggest avoiding nuts during pregnancy but I wouldn't avoid dairy as you and your child need calcium and its by far the easiest way to get it. You could consider taking lactase in the later stages of pregnancy and when breastfeeding. It's an enzyme that helps lactose intolerance - and its what is in gripe water, why that helps some babies with colic! Also possibly why probiotics help as they also help digest lactose.

Thank you - tatt I'll have a look at that from the anaphylaxis campaign. Cheers. I'll let you know what happens.......