What can I do for allergies while breastfeeding?

Understanding Allergies While Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal method for feeding infants, providing essential nutrients and immune support. However, for breastfeeding mothers, managing allergies—whether their own or their baby’s—can be a complex issue. Here’s a detailed look at what you can do if you’re navigating allergies while breastfeeding.
The Impact of Maternal Diet on Allergies
One of the primary concerns for breastfeeding mothers is whether their diet can affect their baby’s risk of developing allergies. Research indicates that restricting certain foods during breastfeeding does not significantly lower the risk of allergies in children. In fact, recent studies suggest that mothers should not feel pressured to eliminate allergenic foods from their diets unless their baby has already shown signs of a food allergy, such as a milk allergy.
If your baby does have a diagnosed food allergy, it is crucial to avoid that specific allergen in your diet while breastfeeding. This approach allows you to continue breastfeeding without introducing harmful substances into your baby’s system.
Recognizing Signs of Allergies in Infants
Breastfeeding mothers should be vigilant for signs that their baby may be experiencing allergies. Symptoms can include fussiness, digestive issues like diarrhea or bloating, and skin reactions such as rashes. If you notice these symptoms, it may be worth consulting a pediatrician or an allergist to determine if your baby is reacting to something in your breast milk.
The Role of Breastfeeding in Allergy Prevention
Interestingly, breastfeeding itself may play a protective role against the development of allergies. Studies have shown that exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months can help reduce the risk and severity of food allergies, even in infants with a family history of allergic conditions. This suggests that maintaining breastfeeding, even in the face of potential allergies, can be beneficial.
Practical Steps for Managing Allergies
1. Monitor Your Diet: Keep a food diary to track what you eat and any symptoms your baby exhibits. This can help identify potential allergens.

2. Consult Healthcare Professionals: If you suspect your baby has a food allergy, seek guidance from a healthcare provider. They can recommend appropriate testing and dietary adjustments.
3. Stay Informed: Understanding the latest research on breastfeeding and allergies can empower you to make informed decisions. For instance, while some mothers worry about passing allergens through breast milk, human breast milk typically does not cause allergic reactions in infants.
4. Gradual Introduction of Solids: When your baby is ready for solids, introducing allergenic foods early (around six months) may help reduce the risk of developing allergies. This should be done under the guidance of a pediatrician.
Conclusion
Navigating allergies while breastfeeding can be challenging, but it is manageable with the right approach. By staying informed, monitoring your diet, and consulting healthcare professionals, you can continue to provide the benefits of breastfeeding while addressing any allergy concerns. Remember, the goal is to ensure both you and your baby thrive during this important stage of development.

Why avoid strawberries while breastfeeding?

A quart or more of orange juice or a diet heavy in seasonal fruits such as strawberries, melons or cherries have been associated with diarrhea and colicky symptoms in some infants. Foods containing many preservatives, additives or dyes have been associated with signs of discomfort in some babies.

Will Claritin dry up breast milk?

Is It Safe to Take Claritin While Breastfeeding? While regular Claritin is completely fine, taking Claritin-D while breastfeeding may reduce milk supply. Claritin-D contains both loratadine, an antihistamine, and pseudoephedrine sulfate, a nasal decongestant,2 which may reduce milk supply, says Silverman.

Are allergies worse when breastfeeding?

The protective role of breastfeeding has a positive effect on allergy prevention, which is opposed by the early introduction of solid foods, but larger studies are needed to confirm the evidence. There is evidence that breastfeeding is effective in providing partial protection to infants.

What is the safest antihistamine while breastfeeding?

Cold and allergy meds that are safe while breastfeeding include: Cetirizine (Zyrtec) and loratadine (Claritin) are the recommended antihistamines when breastfeeding. Other antihistamines are also considered safe but do not have as much research to support this. These include Allegra and Xyzal.

What nasal sprays are safe while breastfeeding?

Corticosteroid nasal sprays containing beclomethasone and budesonide are considered safe to use during breastfeeding. Decongestant nasal sprays containing oxymetazoline, xylometazoline or tramazoline may be used if corticosteroid and antihistamine nasal sprays have not relieved the symptoms.

Will Zyrtec dry up milk supply?

Remember, there are also many medications that can reduce your milk supply. For example, antihistamines like Benadryl, Zyrtec, Allegra, etc, or decongestants like Sudafed, can decrease your milk supply.

How long does it take for allergies to leave breast milk?

If you are just starting your elimination diet for your food sensitive infant, it will take less than a day to produce hypoallergenic breastmilk. If you accidentally eat an allergen, you could wait to continue breastfeeding for up to 8 hours and then confidently power on.

Is Claritin better than Zyrtec while breastfeeding?

Zyrtec (cetirizine) is the preferred antihistamine when breastfeeding. Other second-generation antihistamines are also considered safe, but do not have as much research to support their use. These include Allegra (fexofenadine), Claritin (loratidine), and Xyzal (levocetirizine).

What can I take for allergies while breastfeeding?

Non-sedating antihistamines are the preferred choice for a breastfeeding mother:

• Loratadine (Clarityn®) (Powell 2007, Hilbert 1997),
• Cetirizine (Zirtek®, BecoAllergy®, Piriteze®, Benadryl®) reaches low levels in breastmilk and is recommended by the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Powell 2007)

What is the best natural antihistamine?

Top 8 natural antihistamines for allergies

• Vitamin C.
• Quercetin.
• Ceylon cinnamon.
• Butterbur.
• Probiotics.
• Black pepper extract.
• Berberine.
• Spirulina.