New research presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology linked an increased risk of your child developing allergies if they were born via cesarean section.

Studies also presented showing how mom eats while pregnant and what she feeds her child during infancy have an impact on the risk of the child developing allergies.

The first study looked at the medical charts of 158,422 children and identified children with 0,1,2,3, or 4 allergic conditions identified as food allergies, eczema, asthma, and hay fever. Then the method of delivery was compared with the number of allergies recorded. The results showed that vaginal delivery was associated with a reduced rate of allergies as well as exclusive and supplemental breastfeeding.

The second study looked at 1315 women and recorded their diet during pregnancy. The study found mothers with 'poor dietary diversity' along with a maternal history of allergic disease were more likely to develop eczema or food allergy. Thirty-three percent of the children of those same mothers were likely to become diagnosed with food allergies or eczema by age two.

This Is What We Covered

• A review of the studies along with their possible shortcomings and how these can affect expecting moms and young children.
• A discussion as to why we are possibly seeing these trends, and what to do about them as a parent.
• The importance of diet and the role of human development over time and how this affects our general health.