Allergic reactions in the womb

[GiraffeMomma]

I'm so sorry if this sounds like a stupid question but I'm lying here worrying about it and Googling isn't turning up anything so I thought I'd ask here....

My husband had an allergic reaction to penicillin when he was a child and was told to avoid it, and continues to do so. I am not allergic to penicillin and was prescribed some today for a chest infection. I am aware that my baby may have an inherited allergy from his father and now I'm lying here worrying that baby might be having a reaction and I wouldn't know?!

Is it even possible to be allergic in the womb? Or do allergies only appear when baby's own immune system kicks in (I assume at the moment he's living off mine?) I have allergies but obviously baby isn't being exposed to those. Baby is moving around but at 23 weeks he doesn't have a totally 'normal' pattern yet so I'm over-analysing every movement 🙈

Does anyone have any experience/ knowledge of the subject?!

Baby in the womb cant be allergic to something that the mother is not allergic to as your immune systems are meshed together at this point. They only develop their own system once they are born, and it can take a few months to get properly up and running which is why you have to be careful to not be germy around them

A baby/child would be given penicillin regardless of parental allergy state. You don't get treated as having a penicillin allergy until you've actually had one. Penicillin is too useful to avoid.

@SeaToSki I'm so relieved to hear that! And it makes total sense, I wonder why it's not more easy to find??

@negomi90 wow that's very interesting! So my baby will be given penicillin for the first time he needs it and we'll just have to be extra vigilant? Good to know, thank you 😊