Peanuts in pregnancy!?

Question

Im panicing because im 22 weeks pregnant and without thinking ate some crunchy nut cornflakes this morning, which contain peanuts, i also go to a thai restaurant a lot and have been eating chicken in peanut satay without even thinking! i have no family members who are allergic to peanuts! im panicing incase ive harmed my baby!

Answer 1

it happened to me also. just stop so eventually you will put your mind at rest. and as long as you wasn't taking high quantities you won't do any harm. Try not to worry. You don't go to the Thai restaurant everyday, so don't worry. In 9 months of pregnancy, its hard that you won't miss something. Yesterday I fall, i was already bending down for something, but i lost balance and fall on my bum. Everyday something happens that when you are pregnant you wish it didn't happen. Try to distract yourself and think about nice things and eventually you will forget about it by tomorrow. That's what i do. Also try not to talk about it. Cancel it from your mind.
Hope this helped to calm you down.

Answer 2

There is a link. My son has a severe peanut allergy (also soy and legumes: it's a nightmare finding food that doesn't have soy in it, trust me!). I ate limited amounts of peanuts during pregnancy (usually in chocolate) and we have no history of allergies in the family. Still, here he is, epipen in hand. As always, it's better to be safe than sorry. However, it's also good to weigh the benefits vs the risks. If you are craving peanut butter, then perhaps your body and the baby need it. If you are not; then you could play it safe and avoid it. However, if you are sick, nauseus, and all you can keep down is peanut butter sandwiches: then definately the benefit is worth the risk. As a parent of a kid with a whole shitpile of allergies, I'd say 'Avoid them if you can!". It is Terrifying leaving your son at a daycare or at school never knowing if the teacher or staff is going to 'forget' to read a label, if another kid is going to decide to 'share' a candy, or if a parent is going to feel indignant and rebel against the school policy and send nut products to school - and your kid is going to die. It is so scary, I can't even tell you. And then there's the cost of the Epipens, the allergy specialists, the emergency trips to the hospital.. A lot of people think it's just a rash, but anaphalaxis is NOT a rash, it is suffocation.

Answer 3

First of all - congratualtions on your pregnancy and 2ndly - don't panic!! The advice is not to eat nuts but this is because a minority of babies are affected and if there is no history of it then there is even less likelyhood that any harm will have been done. I ate mayonaise without thinking about it with my second and just couldn't resist liver with my 3rd - all they're all perfectly healthy. Noone can avoid everything the whole time - but if you can avoid it from now on then it at least puts your mind at rest for the rest of the pregnancy. I think there is more risk with feeding baby certain foods within the 1st year of its own life.
Relax and enjoy the rest of the pregnancy.

Answer 4

My sister is pregnant with no history of nut allergies in the family and was still told to avoid all nuts including peanuts in food. I think this goes for everyone, not just those with allergies in the family.

You can't do anything about the ones you have already eaten of course, but perhaps lay off them from now and keep an eye on what you are eating.

Don't forget to check the labels on food packets, as a lot of things you wouldn't expect nuts in say "may contain traces of nuts" or "packaged in an environment that may provide nut traces" etc.

Don't panic any longer, as you know this can do more harm than good!!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy x

Answer 5

It is perfectly safe to eat peanuts in your pregnancy. My mother-in-law confiscated a gorgeous packet of cashew nuts on me, and when I told my GP, she laughed. Peanuts are a good source of omega 3 which is good for you & your baby. In fact, the banning of such foods has been linked with the increase in such allergies, as if you eat them in pregnancy, the baby gets only mineute amounts and can build up a resistance. If the child has never had nuts etc., often the first time they eat them, their system can be over-stimulated and an allergic reaction can occur.

Answer 6

I ate peanuts all through both my pregnancy's and both my children are fine, so I wouldnt worry. I think they only say it could be a problem if your family has a history of nut allergies. I think there is to much hype about what you can and cant do when you are pregnant nowdays.

Answer 7

I wouldn't worry about harming your baby, peanuts will not do this. I f you have family members with peanut allergies it is best to avoid them. My Mum ate peanuts all through her pregnancies with me and my sister and neither of us have this allergy. I am 31+2 and haven't really eaten any peanuts, but have eaten loads of other types of nuts. I have had the odd one if I fancied it but mostly I don't. I have eaten plenty of prawns though :o)

Answer 8

with my first two kids, 13 and 11 yrs old now, there was never a mention of not eating peanuts while pregnant. it seems to be a new thing, but i haven't been able to get the doc to give me solid research on this, its just theory at this point that eating the peanuts will increase babys allergy risk.
relax, enjoy and congrats

Answer 9

It is perfectly safe and healthy to eat peanuts during your pregnancy.

If you are really worried about harming your baby, think about all the fumes and gases you inhale on a daily basis, all the additives you have in food, colouring, flavouring etc...

Nuts are healthy and safe, and on crunchy nut cornflakes, they are delicious!!

Answer 10

Please throw out that awful "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book, get one with reliable information, and relax and enjoy your pregnancy.

If there are no allergies in your family -- eat all the peanuts you want.

Even if there are, there isn't any proof that not eating them during pregnancy helps. The sensitization-in-womb theory is just that -- a theory. There's no evidence that it makes a difference whether the mother eats them or not; there isn't even any evidence that the allergens cross the placenta. Interesting theory, but not one with outcomes suggesting it should be paid any mind to.