A study of 500 women who are currently pregnant, or who gave birth within the last five years, found 25 per cent avoided eating nuts while pregnant in case they gave their unborn child an allergy.
Gluten (20 per cent) and pollen (16 per cent) are also among the list of potential allergens avoided by mums-to-be.
While 57 per cent were worried about passing on an existing sensitivity of their own.
Of those who have already had their baby, 41 per cent suffered from hay fever, yet 29 per cent took medication for it during their pregnancy because they didn’t realise they were allowed or felt there was a lack of advice.
Following the findings, Dr. Shireen Emadossadaty, a GP and family health expert, is working with Fusion Allergy Nasal Spray, which commissioned the research, to debunk myths around allergies in pregnancy as part of Allergy Awareness week (24th-30th April).
She said: “It’s understandable that lots of mums-to-be have concerns around allergies and worry about passing on their own sensitivities to their child.
“We might think that by avoiding certain foods or environmental triggers like pollen will reduce the chances of this happening.
“However, there is some research to show that having exposure to common allergens like pollen, nuts and eggs during your pregnancy can actually be beneficial.”
Hay fever came out on top as the allergy expecting mums worry about passing onto their children.
And 36 per cent of those currently worry about passing on an intolerance to eggs, while 28 per cent fret about nuts.
However, while 22 per cent of pregnant women feel there is not enough information about allergens and unborn babies, this rises to 40 per cent of those who have given birth in the past.
Turning to midwives or Google in need of an advice
It also emerged 42 per cent are most likely to turn
