Physician recommendations to mothers providing breast milk to children with IgE-mediated food allergies are inconsistent, according to a study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Researchers assessed maternal dietary practices and healthcare provider recommendations for providing breast milk to children with IgE-mediated food allergy. The analysis included 133 mothers who completed the Web-based survey. After food allergy diagnosis, 43.4% of mothers reported they were advised by their healthcare provider to continue breastfeeding without dietary restriction, while 17.3% were advised to avoid eating the food(s) to which their child was allergic while breastfeeding; 28.6% reported this concern was not addressed. Only 12% of mothers (16 of 133) reported that their child experienced an allergic reaction to breast milk. An allergist evaluated these reactions and reported that three-quarters likely were not IgE-mediated. “Standardized, evidencebased recommendations would enhance the wellbeing of these mother/infant dyads,” the study authors write.
