Not directly, but babies who are exclusively breastfed are still vulnerable to food allergies.
This is according to Dr. Sarah Connolly a pediatrician who wrote this piece on Bundoo, a website which allows users to ask questions to doctors. This is so because the babies are actually allergic to the food the mothers eat, which are then passed down to the baby through the breastmilk. Mothers need to be wary of what they eat, considering the next meal they take might cause severe allergic reactions to their offspring.
Furthermore, Dr. Connolly stated that the most common allergy-causing foodstuff in breastfed babies. Symptoms of allergies include eczema, bloody stools, and severe reflux. Currently, there is no medically recommended list of foods nursing mothers should avoid, Kelly Mom states. However, certain foods are more likely to cause allergic reactions than others. Apart from cow's milk, these include eggs, peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, soy, and fish, according a list compiled by WebMD.
Mothers need to immediately identify the allergy-causing food and stop consuming it altogether.
"Like older children with food allergies, babies can show hives, profuse vomiting, lethargy, and even have life-threatening episodes of anaphylaxis when exposed to an allergen via breast milk," wrote Dr. Conolly in her piece in Bundoo. "Treatment is aimed at identifying which foods are causing the reaction and then completely eliminating them from the mother's diet."
Other possible signs of food allergy include visible discomfort and a difference in their babies' behavior, especially after feeding sessions. They may rather be fussy for prolonged periods, cry incessantly, or have little sleep. The severity of the reaction is highly dependent on the baby's sensitivity, along with the amount of food the mother ate. Symptoms, especially the ones on the skin, generally show up within minutes after exposure. However, some show up within four to 24 hours.
Additionally, the list of possible allergens include ones other members of the family are allergic to, or one the mother does not like.
Once the allergen is identified and removed from the mother's regular diet, the baby's health should improve. If there are additional concerns, it's best to speak with the baby's pediatrician, especially if the symptoms persist.
