MY question was-- does eating these foods WHILE PREGNANT not just
     while nursing, have any effect on the baby's developing system?  Do
     the proteins and any possible immune reaction I am having to them pass
     through the placenta?

There really is no clear evidence in the medical literture.  My own experience
is that my son (6 years) has anaphylaxis to dairy.  I ate dairy during my
pregnancy and during nursing for 10 months (my diet seem to have to effect on
him, it was only when he ingested milk based food directly).  My daughter is 3
years, I went off all dairy, soy, and nuts during the last trimester and for 11
months of nursing.  She has some intolerace to soy as an infant but other than
that no allergies at all.  Proteins can cross the placenta as well as into the
mamary glands.

Kathy

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: infants and allergies
Author:  Susan Martin <[log in to unmask]> at ALZAINET
Date:    8/19/97 10:45 AM


Having one very allergic 2 year old (milk, grains, nuts, soy, etc.) and a
new baby about to be born, I thought I would ask my one brain-teaser that
to date, I can find no medical advice OR writings about.

I myself am quite allergic to milk, beef and soy.  When I was pregnant with
my first, I found myself feeling obligated to 'try' milk (which I had re-
luctantly given up), and I found I THOUGHT it was digesting fine--ie.
no swollen lips/tongue, no diarrhea, little/no gas pains, etc.  I also ate
a lot of peanut butter (which was unusual for me) because I had been given a
high-protein diet to follow after being diagnosed as gestationally diabetic.
Eggs, too, I ate more of than normal.

Anyway, my son's worst allergies (possibly anaphylactic level) turned out to
be dairy, nuts and eggs.

This pregnancy, I am trying to eat zero dairy, very few nuts and eggs, and
happily am not diabetic this time.

Has anyone ever heard of a connection like this?

Susan