Eating Peanut Butter, Honey, Etc... When Breastfeeding

This is a bit technical, but the AAP has changed their tune a bit about the introduction of foods while breastfeeding and while adding solids. Reading the Summary section is helpful.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/12...

Hope that helps,
R.

Hi Emily,

I was told to avoid gas causing foods. But not warned to avoid nuts honey and berries. Nuts are a great source of protein and oh how I miss them. My little one tested highly allergic to nuts. Neither me or my hubby have food allergies. But apparently if you have any history of environmental allergies or if your parents have any allergies = they are now advising against nuts, eggs, and cow's milk while nursing.

Here is what I found after searching the AAP and other sources-web articles at the bottom- for others who might want to know more. All the best to you! So many kids with allergies these days -hope you can keep eating your nuts & other healthy tasty treats!

Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics
regarding formula, breast milk and allergens:

a) Mothers should eliminate peanuts and tree nuts (eg, almonds, walnuts, etc) and should consider eliminating eggs, cow's milk, fish, and perhaps other foods from their diets while nursing infant / toddler at risk (a child who has developed a food allergy symptom or has a family member with a history of an allergy [including but not limited to food allergies, dermatitis, eczema, hay fever or asthma]).

b) Solid foods should not be introduced into the diet of high-risk infants (an infant who has developed a food allergy symptom or has a family member with a history of any type of allergy) until 6 months of age, should consider waiting until
• 1 year to offer dairy products
• 2 years to introduce eggs
• 3 years to expose to peanuts, nuts, and fish

c) Breastfeeding mothers should continue breastfeeding for the first year of life or longer. During this time, for children at risk (a child who has developed a food allergy symptom or has a family member with a history of allergies), hypoallergenic formulas or possibly a partial hydrolysate formula can be used to supplement breastfeeding.

d) Breastfeeding mothers on a restricted diet should consider the use of supplemental minerals (calcium) and vitamins.

e) During pregnancy mothers should consider excluding peanuts.

http://www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/doc/WEEN-6PW34A
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/abstract/168/10/1279
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/ped...
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/285/13/1746

Hi Emily,

Gosh, when I breastfed years ago, I was told not to eat spicy food cause it would upset my baby son's stomache. To this day, I couldn't understand how spices could get into my milk via my blood supply? To me it was obsurd then and now. I loved Mexican food and my baby never showed signs of upset from my consumption. Now my waistline did. Recently I have adopted a low glycemic diet way of life plus a fantastic medical break-through weight loss product that helps my brain to turn off the signal for me to keep eating but instead to not be hungery and burn the fat. Now while you are breastfeeding it's not recommended you can use this product, no double blind studies done with nursing mothers, but the glycemic diet will be good for you and if somehow our diet really does effect our breast milk, it would be good for baby too.

Best Wishes ~ F.
My website is: www.fitandfatfreeforever.com
Steve and I lost 31* pounds in 28 days plus 14* inches off our waists. *Results will vary.

I eat peanut butter, berries, nuts, etc. ALL THE TIME. No problems here with either of my kids (I nursed my daughter until 23 months, and we're on 10 months with my son).

I've never heard that - I was just told to just be aware if certain foods were causing spitting up, etc. and to stay if that was the case. For example, I couldn't eat brownies (or a chocolate bar) while nursing my daughter (although there was no problem with caffeinated sodas when I gave in to the craving!). But she's not allergic to chocolate now, so go figure!

I ate everything! And I ate so much peanut butter for the same reasons as you. My little man, now 1yr, loves it now too!

I say go for it. :)

In support of what you have been doing, I'm a mom of three children who ate whatever I wanted while breastfeeding(which includes the foods you specifically mentioned because I love them) and none of my children have any food allergies. Neither my husband or I have food allergies either. I do; however, have a brother who had food allergies as a child, so I can't say our immediate families are food allergy free.

Hi Emily,
My ped told me I was free to eat what I wanted while breastfeeding, but to just pay close attention to my baby's reactions. He told me that certain foods could cause gassiness and cause my baby to be a little irritable, such as chocolate, garlic, onions, and cabbage, so I just checked for any sort of reaction of this sort, which there were none. I was never told to restrain from nuts, berries, or any other sort of foods, but I was told to hold off on feeding them to him when he started to eat solids.

I would follow your doctor's advice

I love peanut butter and was eating it all the time when my daughter was first born. I learned quickly that it was giving her gas... peanuts = legumes. I am still breastfeeding, 5 months now, and can't wait to eat peanut butter again ;)