Eczema & allergies: Hi Everyone, I'm 2... - Pregnancy and Par...

Pregnancy and Parenting Support

58,988 members16,985 posts

Eczema & allergies

10 Replies

Hi Everyone, I'm 20 + 3 and happy to say everything going well.

My husband (and his mother) both have bad eczema and my husband has allergy-related asthma and gets terrible hayfever.

I guess I'd love to get a sense (I know it wouldn't be a very scientific study!) of anyone here who has or hasn't passed their eczema on to their child and what can be done to help it?

I think I read somewhere that drinking milk during pregnancy can have an effect? Probably too late for that now - although I don't eat cheese and drink soy milk I'm not 100% dairy free.

And I'm definitely planning on breast-feeding (if I can) because I gather that helps?

Any insight greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Read more about...
10 Replies
craftingfoxcub profile image
craftingfoxcub

My baby, his father, and his paternal grandfather all have eczema, he is still breastfeeding at 15 months. I have no family history of eczema. So if it is a genetic disposition, it has come down his father's line, but it is hard to say.

(I'm sure, with determination, and armed with some idea of common issues that can mean breastfeeding gets off to a rocky start, and knowing where to seek help, that there is no reason you should be unable to breast feed. The hardest thing may be finding appropriate support. For example, someone trained in recognising and correcting tongue ties. Good luck.)

in reply to craftingfoxcub

Thanks so much - that is very helpful.

On the breastfeeding issue - the reason that I might not be able to is due to breast surgery many years ago. I hope that all will be OK but there's no way of knowing in advance.

craftingfoxcub profile image
craftingfoxcub in reply to

Fingers crossed for you. Xx

Vixstix33 profile image
Vixstix33

Hi! My little monkey is 18 months and I'm 16 weeks with the second. I have asthma and hay fever and as a child eczema, all my mothers family do. My husband is also asthmatic! I have done nothing special in either pregnancy and with my son I panicked that he would have all of the above. He doesn't show any signs of hay fever or eczema, he wheezes slightly if he's been running around but so far we've had no chest infections etc unlike a lot of his friends. Its all a game of chance but I'm not sure u can influence it while pregnant although I understand why you want to. Its very common for babies to have eczema so don't worry Drs will refer u if necessary. I didn't breastfeed, my son just wouldn't so don't worry if u cant Enjoy your pregnancy and try not to worry about it, There's really not much u can do until baby is here xxx

in reply to Vixstix33

Thank you for such a comprehensive and comforting reply. Good luck with your number 2 and I'm happy to hear that number 1 is so well.

LottyB profile image
LottyB

My dad has a very severe allergy which brings him up in huge boils all over, and when its not bad it looks like nasty psoriasis. His daughter from his first marriage had severe eczema. So he was very worried when I was born, and when I was pregnant whether my baby would be ok. I get stress related eczema occasionally, which E45 can help, but other than that I'm fine. My daughter is now five months and has had a couple of little skin complaints during the hot weather, but now its cooling down, and with being careful what products I use on her, its pretty much gone. I use simple baby products rather than Johnsons, I find its a little less perfumed and is much gentler.

What will be will be. Its super common to have childhood eczema and grow out of it. Dairy can aggravate it, but doesn't usually cause it, unless its an actual allergy to dairy.

😊 you're doing great. X

in reply to LottyB

Thank you so much. How great that your daughter doesn't suffer too badly and thanks for the advice about Simple rather than Johnsons that will be very useful!

LottyB profile image
LottyB in reply to

I was reading the bottles whilst bathing Niamh earlier and the simple stuff I perfume and colourant free. Just has the natural smells of the herbs in it. 😊 and burts bees do lovely natural mum to be smellies, so might be worth a look. 😘 x

lulah profile image
lulah

my husband has eczema, and so has my daughter, we used hemp body butter from the body shop and it cleared it up from crusty bleeding patches to completely smooth in 3 weeks :)

in reply to lulah

That sounds good too, thanks Lulah!

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Eczema toddler

Hi my little boy has eczema and over the past couple weeks seems to be very apparent on his skin...

Weeping eczema

My son is 8 weeks old and has eczema , I saw signs about 5/6 weeks and since then his symptoms have...

5 month old eczema prone skin

Hi, My 5 month old has recently developed a bit of eczema in the creases of his skin and has...

Any tips for babies with eczema?

My poor LO has got red itchy eczema all over her chest, belly, back, neck & shoulders. I went to...

Eczema in kids

My LO is 17 months old. He has eczema in several parts of his arms and legs . He was given...