04/10/2020
The answer is yes. One of our leading experts Lucy Upton explains more below...
"Food proteins e.g. cow's milk, soya, egg & wheat, are detectable in breast milk(BM) for hours and up to days after consumption. For most 👶🏼 these are tolerated as the content of these allergens in breast milk is much lower than if consuming the food protein directly.
Cow's milk is the most common allergen, with between 1 in 100-200 babies (0.5-1%) of exclusively breastfed babies estimated to develop IgE-mediated and/or non-IgE mediated allergic symptoms to milk protein (CMPA), which is a much lower incidence than babies who are formula fed. Other allergenic food proteins including egg, soya & wheat can also be trans
transferred through BM, and are traceable in significant amounts to lead to allergic reactions.
It is important to remember that exposure to these proteins via BM is considered important to the process of developing tolerance in infants - meaning if an infant can tolerate maternal inclusion of food proteins e.g. milk/egg/soya/wheat they should not be cut out unnecessarily.
For example, in cases where babies react to a food protein during weaning e.g. Cow’s milk in food, whilst they may need to eliminate it from their diet there is no need for mum to remove milk from her diet if baby has tolerated via BM thus far.
The cornerstone of diagnosis for delayed type (nonIgE mediated) allergy, is maternal exclusion of suspected allergen for 2-4 weeks followed by reintroduction - monitoring for resolution & subsequent relapse of symptoms respectively. This should be guided by a qualified HCP with knowledge of food allergy & how to support mums nutritional needs."
