BFing and soya milk

[SnapFrakkleAndPop]

Now I know that babies aren't supposed to have soya because it can increase the risk of an allergy (which would be a PITA because soya gets into everything) but I wondered whether that applied to BFing mothers as well?

I can't have cows milk so currently subsitute soya, except I wonder whether I should switch to rice milk whilst BFing to avoid increasing the risk of a soya allergy, should baby inherit my allergic tendencies.

I understand that the main concern with soya milk is that the isoflavones mean that for a baby drinking soya milk is the equivalent of taking a contraceptive pill a day. Not sure whether they come through in breast milk? Anyone?

Hmm, well I drink the stuff and don't worry. I really can't see this being an issue - many Asians diets have a lot of soy products in them and I don't see a mass fertility issue there!

On allergies, the current advice is that the best evidence suggests that EBF until 6 months, with the mother's diet not usually impacting LO, is the way to go. However, there are some major studies being conducted atm on whether early introduction of possible allergens (actually in solid food, not through BM) can improve allergy rates. I'm not going to wean early and will follow current guidance, but do wonder whether me having as varied a diet as possible could actually improve DD's chances of avoiding allergies. Food for thought...

My understanding was that you having allergies makes it more likely your LO will have allergies, but specific ones e.g. milk aren't passed on.

For what it's worth, I BF'ed DD for two years and live on soya, as I'm a vegan. She's not allergic to it.

Are babies not supposed to have soya? Or do you mean soya milk as a main drink?

Sorry, I misread your OP. I don't know if allergies are more likely to occur in your baby if you eat high volumes of the allergenic food.

I'd heard the concerns with soya being around fertility, but I'm not sure whether that gets into your milk or not.