We know that unborn babies start to produce the allergy regulating IgE antibody from 20 weeks of pregnancy. We used to measure Total Cord Blood IgE levels at birth as an indicator of possible allergy development, but this test is not very accurate, so is no longer recommended.
Smoking in early pregnancy is potent trigger for the development of allergies in the unborn baby and if the baby is born into a smoking household this risk increases. The month of birth is extremely important. If a baby is born to allergic parents and the birth month coincides with the beginning of the pollen season, then there is an increased risk of nasal allergies and asthma.
Reducing the risk of allergies in childhood
Plan Breast-feeding carefully! The best scenario is exclusive breast feeding with no top-up formula feeds in a mother who pays special attention to her own diet. No half measures! Although Breast-feeding is the recommended form of infant feeding as it provides the best nutrients and immune protection, we must warn breastfeeding mothers to strictly avoid all allergy provoking foods in their own diet. Traces of these allergy provoking foods can be found in the mother’s breast milk shortly after eating them and this could possibly lead to allergic sensitisation in the baby. Also be careful not to use nipple creams that contain peanut (Arachis) or nut oil extracts, as these may also lead to nut sensitisation in the baby.Paradoxically, a home environment that is meticulously sterile and contains no animals at all might actually promote allergy development in the newborn. This is the basis of the “Hygiene Hypothesis”. The “dirtier” the infants initial environment, the less likely that allergies will develop! We find that babies born into large families, with early exposure to usual childhood viruses and those born on livestock farms are less likely to develop allergies. Those born into families with only a few siblings and no exposure to dirt or animals or exposed to antibiotics early in life are more prone to develop allergies. Early exposure to day care environments at a few weeks of age, may also reduce allergies. There is no evidence that childhood immunisations promote allergy development. Natural bowel germs called Lactobacilli (found in Natural Yoghurt) may have a protective effect.
Special attention should be given to protecting the newborn from allergens, we recommend using liberal emollients such as Aqueous cream on the skin, avoiding perfumed soaps and all biological detergents. Cotton clothing and mittens are preferable to synthetic and woollen clothes. Bath additives and bubble baths should be avoided only use products such as Oilatum in the bath. Carefully read labels and avoid Vitamin and medications with colours added. Even herbal or Homeopathic medications should be viewed with suspicion, as these are possible sensitising agents.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.allergy-clinic.co.uk)
