Breastfeeding + potential allergies?

[Kamarine]

With breastfeeding, do you need to avoid foods the little one could be allergic to?

Eg; DH's family has a heap of people allergic to shellfish, we don't know if Munchkin or DH are allergic though.
Do I need to avoid shellfish whilst breastfeeding little Nao because of this?
It's probably a silly question but I honestly have no idea how it works.

Thanks in advance~

[MrsFabuloso]

I don't think you do and think it actually may help if she is predisposed to having an expert, so don't take this as gospel!! I would have a little and watch her, then have more next time and watch her, etc... You will know if she's upset by something you eat, she will tell you!
My DS is sensitive to dairy and if I ate too much of it,he would be screaming for hours, pulling his legs up and farting like a trooper. For the first 5 mths of his life I just avoided it and had soy milk in my cerial. I can now give him a little yogurt every few days and he's fine (so he's not actually allergic), but he still doesn't have much dairy and has soy milk. Just in case it still causes him pain. He can handle a little but I scared to give him just dairy cause I don't want him in pain!

[Schmickers]

I agree. Try it and see. But I think the chances of it casuing problems are fairly remote - the body is pretty good at only putting the things babies need into breast milk.

[Epacris]

Yes, the latest advice from ASCIA (Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy) based on the latest research is that excluding food from your diet does not prevent allergies.

Breastfeeding
- Exclusion of allergenic foods from the maternal diet has not been shown to prevent allergies.

and

Introduction of solid foods
- There is insufficient evidence to support previous advice to specifically delay or avoid potentially allergenic foods (such as egg, peanuts, nuts, wheat, cow's milk and fish) for the prevention of food allergy or eczema. This also applies to infants with siblings who already have allergies to these foods.

The whole article is here: The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy - ASCIA INFANT FEEDING ADVICE

[Kamarine]

Thanks so much for the info.
Definitely put my mind at ease. Sadly, I don't even remember where I read it.

Epacris - thanks for the article