Can a PA mother pass her allergy antibodies to her baby through breastfeeding? I've seen conflicting reports as to whether it is safe for me to breastfeed and I don't want to give my baby a peanut allergy!

I have no food allergies and I breast fed my son who now has a severe PA. My daughter breastfed too and has NO allergies what so ever. I personally feel that breast feeding benefits out weigh any risk. I feel this will have to be a personal choice for you to make. They really have no idea why PA happens. (Even though there are those with their opinions.) Good luck with this decision. I hope what ever you choice, that it's your decision.

It's crazy we have to think about this. I don't have any allergies. I breastfed my son for 14 months and he now has severe anaphylactic reaction to peanuts. I'm currently breastfeeding my daughter, and I wonder if b/c we are all off peanuts totally if I am giving her more of a chance of becoming allergic to them. Some reports say complete avoidance to peanuts may cause it and some say introduction of peanut in the womb and breastmilk and early introduction can cause it. Totally conflicting and NOBODY knows! I have asked 2 allergists, and they just don't know. Very frustrating. I just can not imagine that breastfeeding has any influence on this, but I just don't know. I mean the baby is growing in your tummy, so isn't it already introduced to everything already? I think genetics would have more of an influence than BF. Man, that is tough to have to think about, I'm so sorry you have to! Good luck with your choice!

I'm a PA adult...have had serious nut and peanut allergies since about 3 years old. Also many food sensitivities, medication allergies, seasonal allergies, and animal allergies. My husband has seasonal allergies, animal allergies, mild ezcema, and asthma.

I'm a mom of three...all children breastfed.
Child #1: breastfed 4 months, no allergies, no asthma, no ezcema.
Child #2: breastfed for 14 months, no allergies, activity-induced asthma, outgrew ezcema.
Child #3: breastfed for 12 months, severe dairy allergy, no asthma, mild ezcema. Just underwent testing to determine tree nut/peanut allergic response...waiting on results.

So...children are all different...I'm not convinced you can pass on any particular sort of allergy...though do believe that predisposition to allergies (or the triangle of "allergy and/or asthma and/or ezcema") can be passed genetically.

Jen

My wife and I have no food allergies. We had 3 sons born in 1990, 1992, 1995. The first son did not get breast milk as my wife had an infection during delivery and was on antibotics so he went to Isomil formula since he was very colic with regular milk formula. He ended up with severe peanut allergies and died on July 1, 2008 from an anaphylactic shock when we went to Cabos Mexico to celebrate his 18th birthday and his graduation from High School and he unknowingly ate some mousse that had peanuts in it. He never had anaphylactic in his 18 years of life only hives and itchy throat which Benadryl was the treatment. The 2nd son had breast milk for 6 months and shows positive for the peanut allergy with the blood test but can eat peanuts orally. The 3rd son had breast milk for 3 months but has severe peanut allergies and broke out in hives in Mexico and was treated with antihistamines and did not die. So here are 3 different cases where breast milk was involved and not involved and all 3 children ended up with peanut allergies when parents had no food allergies in their family. You will be able to hear my son's story on the Cable Televison Show "The Balancing Act" which will air on Lifetime network. I will be with a representative from Food Allergy and Anaphylactic Network as well as the Child Ambassador from FAAN. It will be taped on July 23rd, 2010. I will let everyone know when it airs. The Story of my son Brian J. Hom II or nickname BJ. If you Google peanut allergies and Brian J. Hom II you can read multiple stories.