Breastfeeding and Peanuts

[LME]

If you are breastfeeding are you meant to avoid peanuts?

I'm sure i remember being told that, but I have a real craving for peanutty things and don't want to restrain myself unnecessarily.

Thanks.

[mrsironted]

I *think* the general advice is that if there is a history of allergy in either family then avoid them, if not go for it - in moderation obviously :teehee:

[bluecow]

I ate peanuts throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding as there is no history of nut allergy in our families.

I :lurve: peanut butter!

[Squeaker]

I was more cautious last time but did eat nuts during b/f and this pregnancy I'm eating them more.

It has always seemed a bit odd to me that we're supposed to avoid foods that may cause an allergy rather than eat them to build up a tolerance!

[jamsplat]

The advice here (in Norway) is that you should only avoid potential allergens, such as peanuts, when breastfeeding IF you have a family history of allergy to that particular thing OR an extremely strong history of allergy in general. So as long as no one in the immediate family is allergic to peanuts and no one in the immediate family has severe multiple allergies then you should be fine to eat your peanutty things

[*Betty Mae*]

I saw the title to this and thought eeeeek!!

Arthur was 9 months old when I was eating some peanuts as I sat watching tv feeding him.

He reacted severely from the nut on my hands and was rushed for adrenaline then admitted overnight... everytime I fed over the next 12 hours he had another big flare up.

Apparently now the next reaction will be worse....

I would avoid them until your child is 5 which I believe is the advice in the UK still.

[*Betty Mae*]

Oh, just to add that we have no history of nut allergies in our families. None of my other kids have a problem.... only the one who was breastfed for 2 years - how typical!! :rolleyes: :lol:

If you are unsure I would do a mini test of rubbing a tiny bit of peanut/peanut butter on the inside of your baby's arm to see if you get any red reaction at all.

[Maximillion]

Current advice from the allergy experts is to not avoid eating nuts (when pregnant and breastfeeding). However as my first son has a severe nut allergy (and no other family members do) I avoided all nuts and nut products

As betty mae suggested you would know if your child has a nut allergy just by rubbing a nut product on their skin - however I would be cautious of doing this unless you are close to a hospital or have medication to hand

[*Betty Mae*]

As betty mae suggested you would know if your child has a nut allergy just by rubbing a nut product on their skin - however I would be cautious of doing this unless you are close to a hospital or have medication to hand

:nod: Good point. If your child is old enough to take it have Piriton to hand. You wouldn't believe the reaction Arthur had just from the peanut on my hand. His head swelled to twice it's size and he couldn't even open his eyes. I wish I'd taken a photo just to show for info purposes but I panicked so much it was the last thing on my mind!

[Pippin]

I've just started eating peanuts again and still bfing. I think some studies say you shouldn't if there is a family history and others say being overly cautious and not eating peanuts etc can infact cause more allergies :puzzled: I'd be cautious if you do decide to eat them washing your hands and mouth afterwards.

x

[Bert2e]

I have no idea what the best thing to do is so I've avoided peanuts while pregnant and bf both mine. DS1 is 3 and has still not had peanuts.

I could kill a bowl of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes and a Snickers bar though!

So I'm no help at all really am I. DH's family have a high asthma / excema history.

[LME]

Thank you all. I think then I'll have to resist temptation, as my brother has a nut allergy and there is a history of hayfever and other allergies between me and OH.

I'm also quite scared by the prospect of Daniel having such a bad reaction as Arthur did (lovely name btw, would be my top name choice, but doesn't go with surname).

I think the craving is just because I've not been able to have them for 3 years now.

[twirlygirly]

Gosh, I've not eaten peanuts but have had peanut butter and the peanut butter kitkat whilst breastfeeding. We have no history of allergies though, but that sounds really scary Betty mae. Was that the first time he had been in contact with peanuts?
I remember recently a Damsel saying she gave her baby peanut butter, I think it was Muppetgal, and I meant to ask her about it.

TG

[Lilacgirl]

I completely avoided peanuts when preg as I have mild asthma and also hayfever. After I gave birth I asked the discharge midwife if I should carry on avoiding them when bf and she said no. So I've been eating peanut butter and the like ever since.:rolleyes:

Although I did see that nice tv dr (female one that I think is on Jeremy Kyle) saying a week or so ago that she thinks that the government advice will change as she believes that avoiding them actually makes an allergy more likely.

So much conflicting advice.

[LME]

Oh, now I don't know what to do.

I have tried Katie with peanut butter before but she totally refused it. I did make sure that I had the car and that I could get her to hospital asap if she had a reaction. But she'd had other nutty (not peanut) products before and I was quite sure she was ok with them.

I think my plan will be to wait until Daniel is 6 months, then do the peanut test on his arm (at a sensible time with easy hospital access just in case). If there is no reaction, I may have the odd peanutty thing.

But I don't want to risk a reaction when he is so little.

It is a nightmare when you get conflicting advice - my Dr said that it was ok to carry on eating peanuts in pg, but I never did I thought it was better to be safe than sorry. She pointed out that it would be virtually impossible to do a proper study looking at it, because no one would be willing to eat peanuts if it was thought to be a potential risk. I wasn't convinced I figured the no peanuts advice had to come from somewhere. Although I will admit to eating some satay (without really thinking about its contents) when pg with Katie.

Thank you all for your replies.

[*Betty Mae*]

Yes it was his first time in contact with peanuts. Although I can't remember if I may have eaten some during pregnancy and perhaps that made him more sensitive to them?

They told us to avoid anything from the nut family including baked beans, chickpeas etc but I have to say I've not been that careful and have just watched for a reaction. He also had puffy eyes from eggs but seems to have gradually outgrown that one and can now eat them scrambled although he doesn't really like them anyway.

Thanks for the comment about his name! Not many people like it!