Advise to allergy-prone and anaemic women who are also pregnant

Allergies and Anaemia during pregnancy

While some allergy-prone women enjoy welcome relief during pregnancy, others may find that they’re worse-off than before. Don’t confuse nasal congestion or a ‘stuffy nose’ with allergies. This common pregnancy phenomena is caused by higher oestrogen levels that affect the lining of the nasal passages, causing them to swell and make more mucus. Pregnant women are also known to struggle with certain food, dust, pollen, animal-fur and tobacco smoke allergies. It’s best to avoid the cause – but this is not always practical.

While most allergies are inconveniently uncomfortable, they don’t affect the baby. However, severe allergies that are associated with breathing problems, asthmatic attacks or anaphylactic shock (e.g. bee, wasp or penicillin allergies) are problematic. Women with these types of allergies should tell her doctor at her first visit. She should also wear an allergy-alert bracelet and keep anti-histamines with her at all times.

It’s not a good idea to take over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines, or any other non-prescribed medicines during pregnancy. Ask your doctor for a script or to speak to your pharmacist. OTC homeopathic remedies are also helpful, but do see a homeopath first. In this way, you will get the correct dosage and mix of tinctures for your needs. 

Can you pass these allergies on to your unborn baby?

While babies can inherit allergies from their parents, they won’t become allergic during pregnancy because allergy immunoglobulins don’t cross the placental barrier. While some literature suggests that pregnant women should avoid eating highly allergenic foods like peanuts and dairy products, this has not been scientifically proven. I asked Roxanne Smith, a dietitian at Wits Academic Training Hospital, Johannesburg, if there is any evidence to support this theory. Here’s what she told me.

“Maternal dietary allergen exclusion during pregnancy has been proposed as a potential strategy for reducing allergy risk in offspring, but the available data does not support any beneficial effects. Similarly, exclusion of allergenic foods by lactating mothers has not been shown to have any beneficial effects on the development of allergenic diseases. Because maternal exclusion diets can lead to inadequate supply of certain nutrients, and they have shown no beneficial effects, they are not recommended.”

I asked Roxanne what is recommended.  

“There is new evidence that eating fish oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding can reduce the risk of allergies in children. While there is no strong evidence for fish oil supplementation, pregnant and lactating mothers are advised to eat at least two portions of oily fish per week. Examples of oily fish include sardines, pilchards, herring, mackerel, salmon, and trout.”

Breastfeeding (for at least six months, a year or even longer) is undeniably the best way to protect your baby from allergies.

I asked Roxanne about allergies and intruding solids.

“Very early introduction of solid foods (before six months) can increase the risk of eczema and food allergies in infants, while no protective effects have been shown when foods are introduced after six months. Introducing allergenic foods (eggs/cow’s milk/fish/wheat/ peanuts/soy) after six months also doesn’t show protective effects. For all babies, regardless of familial allergy risk, complementary foods should not be introduced before the 17^th week of life, or later than the 26^th week of life, with continued breastfeeding.”

Anaemia

Anaemia means not having enough oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow of large bones and live for about 120 days. The body needs iron (mainly from the diet, but also from broken-down red blood cells) to make new red blood cells.

Anaemia can be a problem for pregnant women from about 20 weeks onwards, especially if she is not getting enough iron from her diet, or has insufficient stores to make new red blood cells. Women with chronic mild anaemia caused by heavy periods, will enjoy welcome relief from this problem in early pregnancy. But, from 20 weeks onwards, there’s a surge in blood production to satisfy the needs of the baby and to prepare the woman’s body for the birth, and this when anaemia can occur.

What are the symptoms?

Women look pale, feel weak and tired, experience heart palpitations and feel breathless when walking, exercising or climbing stairs. Women with serious morning sickness, those who are pregnant with twins (or more) or women who are frequently pregnant, are at risk of becoming anaemic.

 

How can you avoid becoming anaemic?

To make new red blood cells, the body needs iron. It’s for this reason that all women are prescribed iron supplements during pregnancy. These however, can make constipation worse, so take them with lots of water.  Molasses contains natural iron and a number of other minerals and doesn’t cause constipation. Drink a teaspoonful in a cup of hot water every morning. Eat more food that’s rich in iron e.g. meat and liver, sardines, dried fruit and green leafy vegetables. Vitamins that help with the absorption of iron are B12, and vitamin C.

Ascorbic acid helps the body to absorb iron from the diet. I asked Roxanne how combining foods can boost iron reserves.

“Take your iron supplements with a glass of orange juice. The vitamin C will help with the absorption of iron. It’s best to take iron on an empty stomach, but if this makes you feel sick, take with a small amount of food.

Iron absorption is inhibited by calcium, caffeine, and tannins. It’s important that you do not take iron and calcium supplements at the same time, and do not take iron supplements with a glass of milk. It’s also not a good idea to drink iron supplements with coffee or black tea, but rooibos tea is fine.”