INTERVENTION:
No maternal dietary restriction.
INTERVENTION GOAL:
To decrease risk of food allergies.
EVIDENCE supporting INTERVENTION:
A 2011 study in Finland found that mothers who drank cow’s milk during pregnancy were less likely to have an infant with a cow’s milk allergy.
The current guidelines from the Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology do NOT recommend that the mother avoid allergenic foods (such as milk, egg, wheat, tree nuts, fish or shellfish) during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
A very recent study suggested that regular ingestion of fish (twice per week in the study), decreased the risk of asthma in the children at age 2.5 years.
POTENTIAL RISK:
So far, studies show that maternal dietary avoidance of food allergens does not protect against development of food allergies, but there have been a few small studies that showed peanut exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding was associated with an increased risk of peanut allergy in the infants.
INTERVENTION SPECIFICS:
Do not avoid any foods during pregnancy or breastfeeding in an attempt to prevent allergic disease in the baby.
Ongoing food avoidance or modification due to maternal medical conditions including but not limited to maternal food allergies or food intolerances.