Re mothers with symptomatic reactions to any major hormone shifts.
Can I suggest a full allergy investigation of the mother and her diet? Obviously there's histamine release happening suffiicient to trigger symptoms of hives, and they tend to occur in warmest spots so lactating breasts and creases etc. In my experience such mothers are barely getting by, with their current tolerance level easily swamped by their total body load of antigens, so that any shift in hormonal function can cause manifestations that vary from headaches to nausea, but which all go away when the allergen load is lowered. Any meds (other than anti-histamines) can aggravate things by increasing antigen uptake from the stomach or gut generally. Cases on record of anaphylaxis only when taking alcohol or asprin or anything that alters gastric absorption. And I'd think it critical such mothers don't give up breastfeeding as they are almost certain to have infants with a tendency to hyper-reactivity and can find them hard to feed on anything but breastmilk for longer than 6 months. Check out not only meds but supplements, herbs, tea/coffee/aspartame, all sorts of things can be part of the body burden issue.
Let us know what happens. Happy to talk privately.
Maureen Minchin

PS. ALL of the mentioned symptoms can be hypersensitivity reactions in people of all ages, not just lactating females. Changes of hormones are trigger, not causes, unless you happen to be allergic to the hormone which is very rare as you've lived with it forever. But with allergy nothing can be ruled out!
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