Breast milk is the ideal nutritional source for babies. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months, particularly for babies with a family history of allergies, as it helps prevent cow's milk allergies. However, some exclusively breastfed babies may still exhibit symptoms of cow's milk allergy, such as recurrent spitting up, persistent diarrhea, constipation, or bloody stools.Possible causes include: "in utero sensitization" resulting from the mother consuming large amounts of eggs, milk, or shellfish during pregnancy. Alternatively, the mother ingesting significant quantities of milk, eggs, shellfish, or other food proteins during lactation may transfer these allergens to the baby through breast milk, triggering a milk allergy.
For breastfed infants, mothers must modify their diet and strictly avoid dairy products. If this proves ineffective, doctors may recommend switching to a formula completely free of milk proteins, such as Nutramigen, a 100% free amino acid formula. Nutramigen is a truly hypoallergenic formula specifically designed for treating infants with cow's milk allergy.
Dietary precautions for breastfeeding mothers with infant milk allergies:
Avoid allergens
Breastfeeding mothers should maintain detailed food logs, particularly tracking highly allergenic foods—eggs, milk, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, wheat, fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. Approximately 50% of infants with milk allergies also exhibit sensitivities to other foods.
Use Medications with Caution
If medication is necessary due to illness, carefully read the instructions. First, verify if it is safe for breastfeeding mothers. Second, check if it is contraindicated or should be used with caution for individuals with allergies. Even if the instructions do not explicitly state this, monitor the baby for any unusual reactions after breastfeeding, as individual cases cannot be ruled out.
How to Identify Food Allergies in Babies
First, breastfeeding mothers should avoid spicy, irritating, or excessively cold foods. If allergic symptoms appear during breastfeeding, mothers can try eliminating potential allergens like milk, eggs, nuts, legumes, or seafood from their diet.After eliminating certain foods, if the infant's allergic symptoms improve, gradually reintroduce them one by one to identify the specific trigger. Once the allergenic food is confirmed, it is best to avoid it for at least six months.