If your kid have allergies/asthma - were they c-section and bf?

[strangerjo]

Hi all, I'm 38 wks pregnant and stressing about asthma and allergies (I have both and they run in my family). I've been told c-section increases the risk; I'm scheduled for a c-section so not sure whether to try natural to reduce the likelihood of asthma/allergies. That said, I was born vaginally (albeit forceps) and have allergies. I wasn't breastfed; I want to breastfeed but it might be contraindicated for me sometimes due to a health issue.

I imagine there are many factors involved but I'm curious to know from people with children who have allergies whether they were born by c-section and whether they were breastfed?

There are very few health issues that stop women BF and you should have advice on this by now , if you are 38 weeks. So why are you saying it " might be contraindicated for me sometimes " ?

Also you have to have a c section for medical reasons , what's the point of worrying about it ? There's nothing you do can .

I don't see how my saying how many of my children have allergies can help you. You need professional advice about YOUR medical condition and why YOU need a CS. Not random information about other peoples kids .

Hi OP. My DM breastfed me for over 2yrs and had c-section, I have never had any allergies.

My DD1 was born vaginally and breastfed for nearly 2 years and had CMPI. She is now 2.6 and was tested at 2yo to see whether she is still allergic and came back negative.

No one in family suffers from asthma.

I was breastfed and born vaginally. I have asthma and allergies. All my babies were breastfed and born marginally. Two out of four have asthma and allergies. Don't worry xx

Haha vaginally auto corrects as marginally. Whoops!

I was born vaginally and formula fed. No allergies.
Dd s both born vaginally and breast fed both have many allergies.

If you suffer from allergies and asthma then there is a high probability your child will too regardless of how they were born of fed.

I was born by c section and formula fed and have no allergies.

My dcs were both vaginal deliveries and extended bf and guess what? One has eczema and allergies and one may have asthma.

Seriously, don't stress about this shit. I had one bf advisor say "but that's not supposed to happen!"

Thanks for your response. I have consulted midwives, obstetricians and specialists. I was just interested in people's lived experiences if they were open to sharing them.

In response to your points: Regarding breastfeeding, I have an infectious disease so my virologist has suggested I avoid breastfeeding if I have any abrasions to my breast/nipple.

It is borderline whether my c section is needed. The hospital approves either option- but it's unfortunately not clear-cut. Reducing the likelihood my baby will get asthma and allergies is a big factor in my decision which is why I'm interested in hearing other people's views and experiences.

Cheers

Both my sis and I were born vaginally. I was ff she was bf. Both have various allergies and asthma. My DD does too and was bf then ff. Didn't wean til 6m but made no difference. None of us had antibiotics in first year. Made no difference.

Thanks all! That's very interesting.
I know there might be a genetic component which is unfortunate since I've got multiple allergies. That said, they've been infinitely better in the last 6 years thanks to immunotherapy treatment on the nhs (which has saved my life).

I was born by c section, was formula fed and have no allergies.

DH was born vaginally and formula fed and has a few allergies.

Our DC were all born vaginally, were breastfed for six months plus. One has mild asthma linked to hay fever, the others have no allergies.

I think family history will have more impact than how children are born or fed.

Both my nieces have allergies and yes they were both born by c-section AND BF.

Unfortunately, my first niece has got a couple of allergies, had horrendous eczema as a baby that used to get infected, and has asthma. She was born by em. c-sec which was done at 10 cms and my sister had been pushing so some of the fluid would have been pushed out. She was BF for over a year.

Second niece has one allergy but not as severe as first niece. No asthma, very mild eczema, no other problems. Born by elective c-sec and BF for over 2 years. Neither of my nieces ever had formula to my knowledge other than special prescription stuff (they are allergic to something in normal formula) but that was only ever put in things like porridge.

That said, they are slowly getting less allergic. My first niece is still classed as severe but was extremely severe as a baby. Her eczema has improved a huge amount and she hasn't had problems with asthma for ages due to her inhalers. No-one else in my family other than an uncle has got asthma but we have got a history of eczema and autoimmune conditions and I'm sure it's all linked. Also, my sister had severe hayfever when she was pregnant, particularly with my first niece and I sometimes wonder if that had an impact.

My mum had a c-section when I was born and I was breastfed.

I've not got asthma or any known allergies and never have.

I don't have any links but have read that there does seem to be a link between c-sections and early antibiotics and allergies but the exact pathway which causes this is unknown and there are plenty of vaginally delivered breastfed children with allergies and c-section delivered formula fed babies without so it is far from conclusive!

The American Gut project (Google the TED talk) talks about swabbing babies delivered by c-section with vaginal flora. Also consider whether your gut flora balance is good and whether with 2 weeks to go you can affect it before the birth or focus on it after the birth. (I had frequent incidences of thrush, eczema and lots of antibiotics over the years and suspect this may have had an impact on my babies. All very speculative areas of research but it resonates with my experiences. Not sure there is enough information out there to affect a difference but could be worth considering)

Three children, all BF til 18m/2years
All three have asthma, one has nut allergy
2 born vaginally 1 by c section.
No family history of either asthma or allergies.

Thanks everyone - that's all very interesting.

Anotherdayanothersquabble - I'll check out that TED talk - thanks for bringing it to my attention!

strangerjo, I did everything "right". I avoided everything I was supposed to in pregnancy, both were born vaginally, breastfed exclusively until 6 months and then weaned. I continued breastfeeding both until they were 2. we had pets in the house, didn't use anti bacterials. DD didn't have any antibiotics when she was a baby. Allergies all showed up before any vaccinations were given so no link there.

Both have allergies, asthma and excema. Please don't stress yourself over having a c section or not being able to breastfeed, there are clearly many other factors at play here when it comes to allergies etc.

I was born vaginally and bf’d and I have had the hayfever/eczema/asthma trio. Both my DCs were born vaginally and bf (till 17m and 2.5y) and they both have hayfever, one also has asthma the other also has eczema.

DD born vaginally and bf - egg and dairy allergy (now outgrown)
DS c-section and bf - no allergies!

Please don't blame yourself if your DC have allergies.

Trixy: was there any history of allergies in your family? Did you have antibiotics / niggling health issues ? I did everything 'right' but wonder if I had addressed my gut bacteria if it would have made a difference? (I had frequent infections and antibiotics for ear infections, recurrent thrush, eczema all of which stopped when I made dietary changes and took probiotics)!

My children were born by section and not breastfed.
They have no allergies.
One of them hasn't had a day off school ill in three years.
The other has had one day off.
Chill!

DH was born vaginally and breastfed- has asthma.
DH's brother was born vaginally and breastfed (both for 2 years)- no asthma.
I was born by C-section and FF- no allergies. No asthma.
DS was born by C-section and breastfed for a year- mild asthma and eczema. No allergies.
Best friend has 3 boys. All born vaginally. All breastfed for a year. All have mild asthma, no eczema but all have quite severe allergies.

My mother delivered us 3 kids vaginally and BF until we were 1. 2 of us had asthma, all 3 of us had excema and 1 had a whole host of allergies.

So far my sister and I have had 2 children each. Mine are fine and hers have had slight problems due to my BIL having food issues. Mine were both CS and FF.

Listen to the doctors when they tell you to have a CS and FF. Sometimes they know what they are doing. There is so much pressure put on us to BF and I had some guilt about not BF DD for about 2 weeks. My friend who lost her baby at 6 months gently reminded me that it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. It's more important that both you and baby are well. All this research about CS and FF being bad is at best confusing because there is nearly always a hidden agenda as it's cheaper to deliver vaginally and BF. Sometimes breast isn't best. I'm so thankful we have the option today.

Dd1 was born vaginally. bf for three weeks and had expressed milk (all be ot not much as I didn't produce) for a few weeks after but fir the most part ff. has asthma eczema but no food allergies.

dd2 vaginally Birth exclusively ff, was milk intolerent but grown out if it. no allergies and no asthma.

Thanks everyone! I find that all very interesting.