Peanut and Peanut Butter During Pregnancy

There is a lot of research on that topic. I ate peanut butter while pregnant and both of my kids love peanut butter. I think it's logical that what you eat while pregnant helps determine your childs immune system later. Avoiding things like nuts and fish doesnt make sense to me since they are nutritious.
I'd go with common sense. If neither you or your husband are allergic your child probably wont be either... the odds are in your favor. If you dont eat peanut butter WHEN will you decide to give some to your child and WAIT for the big reaction, when is a GOOD time to do THAT particular experiment? Eat the peanuts, build your childs system up. jmo based on my life experiences. And you will hear from the moms who have allergic kids too. You ultimately have to decide this, you are the mom.
My kids were eating pnut butter at a very young age. It wasnt a "scare" 30 years ago like it is now. We live in a "lets scare them to death so they can be controlled" world now. Sad to say.

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I ate alot of peanut butter with my first two pregnancies. Both of my daughters are allergic to peanuts and nuts. My eldest has a life threatening allergy and carries an epi pen.

Because my girls were so allergic, we didn't have peanut butter around the house when they were little so I didn't eat it while pregnant with my 3rd and 4th kids. My boys have no food allergies.

This may be a coincidence but I have food allergies so all of my kids are at risk. My eating so much peanut butter on top of this could have been the deciding factor for their immune systems.

There is some controversy over whether eating peanuts during pregnancy increases the risk of allergies in the child. I've read articles on both sides of the issue. One thing is sure, having a life-threatening food allergy affects your life... big time. It requires constant vigilance, isolates the child, is inconvenient when flying and eating out, and those visits to the emergency room are expensive, not to mention scary.

If I had to do it over, I'd skip the peanut butter and nuts for 9 months while I was pregnant. It's not a big sacrifice and I sure wish I could do it over again to give my girls a chance to be free from their food allergies.

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I have never in my 4 pregnancies ever heard of such a thing. I am pregnant now and I eat globs of peanut butter with Nutella spread over the top...yummy!

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I ate peanut butter when I was pregnant, but I didn't crave or have any overwhelming desire for it.
I seemed to want broccoli more than anything else.
Whenever we went to our favorite Chinese buffet place I'd end up with every dish that had broccoli in it.
From what I've been reading on nut allergies, avoiding exposure to allergens only seems to make it worse. If allergies don't run in your family (or your husbands), I wouldn't worry about it.

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The most recent research suggests that there is no correlation between delaying the introduction of allergenic foods and whether or not the child is allergic. So that means that you should go ahead and eat all the nuts that you want - it doesn't seem to have any impact on your child.

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I lived on Peanut butter sandwiches during pregnancy! I had gestational diabetes and this was something that I loved and was a good option. I had it for snack, breakfast, lunch! I'm surprised my babies didn't come out smelling like peanuts! And yes it's safe (never ever heard about 3rd trimester dangers that Cora mentioned ???) and no, no peanut allergies with my four kids. Enjoy!

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It's fine to eat nuts and nut butters during pregnancy and beyond. I never adhered to the "don't feed nuts/peanut butter to your child" before 2 or whatever they're say now and think no one should unless they have a history of nut allergies in the family. Funny how when I was growing up, I never even heard of or knew of a person with a nut allergy until I was in college, and then it was REALLY rare! Then they started saying not to let small children have any peanut or other nut butters before 2 and now there are at least a few kids in EVERY school with a nut allergy! There was a study or announcement or something a few years ago that supports the fact that maybe waiting isn't such a great thing unless there are nut allergies in your family. Certainly eating them during pregnancy is fine -nuts are very good for you!

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On my 2nd high-risk pregnancy so I've asked just about half a dozen diff. drs this-

In theory, the mother eating large, continuous quantities (we're talking at every meal, every day of the whole pregnancy) could be linked to her child having a higher than average chance of having a peanut allergy. But the studies on child allergies so far don't show this, it is accepted to be safe.

But peanuts during breastfeeding might be more iffy...

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I have two children and ate peanut butter with both and while nursing both. My oldest has no known food allergies. My youngest is allergic to milk, peanuts, and tree nuts (and has been since a VERY early age). I did nothing different between the two prenancies or while nursing so no I do not believe food allergies have anything to do with what you consumed while pregnant.

PS. Our family did not have a prior history of food allergies either.

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I hate a ton of peanut butter! It's fine for the mom to eat it, as long as you aren't allergic! ;) Congrats on your pregnancy!

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There are no studies that say that eating peanut butter while you're pregnant or nursing cause peanut allergies.

There are 2 camps on the cause of allergies. One camp says that they're caused by too early exposure to foods. The other one says allergies are caused by not being exposed early enough! So, pick which camp you like, I guess! LOL!

I hate a TON of peanut butter with my first pregnancy. My daughter doesn't have any allergies. I didn't eat hardly any the second time around. My daughter doesn't have any allergies.

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I ate it both while pregnant and nursing with no problems. My 12 year old was in NICU for 53 days and that's literally about all I ate! A peanut butter&jelly sandwich for lunch and supper with a piece of fruit. It was fast, easy and I could do it on the run! She hasn't had any allergies and eats it by the spoonful! LOL My 18 month old I haven't given it to her yet just in case.

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It will not effect you while you are pregnant as long as you are not allergic. Peanut butter is good and has a lot of protein. I would not give peanut butter or honey to your child until they are a year old. I gave my son some peanut butter at one and he was fine. Protein is good and while pregnant you should only increase your caloric intake by 300 calories. Good luck

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It depends on who you ask. I understand that peanuts and nuts are common allergens but I do not have a history in my family. I did not feel compelled to avoid them and I do not have any issues with my kids. I have heard arguments from either side and they both seem to hold water. If you have a history in your family I would be cautious. But without history I woudl not be worried.

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I basically SURVIVED on peanut butter toast with honey during my pregnancy. My son also LOVES peanut butter. Such a huge relief he didn't have any allergies.

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Hey there!
I moved to Germany while pregnant and had my baby here. I know the US obsesses about allergies, but I never once heard about restrictions like that here. It's best to avoid artificial ingredients, coloring etc. As for healthy foods like nuts: go for it! I ate them through my pregnancy and they give me energy now that I am nursing. The hospitals and midwives here mentions nuts in their guidelines for healthy pregnancy and nursing times! Your child won't have allergies if you feed it good organic stuff, don't use antibacterial products (so it can build an immune system), and let it play in the dirt as it gets older.
Good Luck!

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I ate peanut products throughout my pregnancy and we have no allergies here!
As for children--no peanuts til one year, I believe...

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I don't know about the allergies because luckily, this is not something I am allergic to but I did eat peanut butter during both pregnancies. No problems and neither child is allergic.

Obviously, if you are allergic you would eat it but I don't think you have to worry about the baby being allergic until after he or she is born. Ask your doctor to be sure.

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I say go for it, but limit intake in the third tri. I have read of some increased issues but it links from the third trimester only and even further linked it when food allergies run in the family already.
Obviously the key to good health is a varied diet, so you don't want too much of any one thing.

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I would have died if I wouldn't have been able to have my peanut butter, cashews and almonds while I was pregnant. I LIVED for those!

ETA: WIC provides peanut butter for pregnant and nursing mothers. If there was cause for concern, it would not be provided.

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It is totally safe

I asked my on as well

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I'm on the fence with this one since my 3rd child was diagnosed with her peanut allergy. She was diagnosed at 13 months. She was very colicky and had terribly hive-like breakouts for the first 3-4 months of her life. I nursed her exclusively until around 11 months and never restricted my diet other than the obvious limited alcohol. When she was diagnosed, I asked the pediatrician if all of the problems she had as a newborn could have been related to the passing of the peanut protien through the breastmilk. He really couldn't give me a solid answer. His "technical" answer was no because the AMA says no, but his personal and professional opinion is that it is very well possible.

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Hi M. I ate tons of peanut butter with all 3 of my pregnancy's right out of the jar, had no problems no issues. J.

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I ate nuts and peanut butter the whole time I was pregnant and nursing and my daughter doesn't have an allergy to them. When my doctor told me the things I should avoid, they were not on the list.

In fact, the only food allergy she has ever had was an allergy to berries, which she outgrew.

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Eat all the peanut butter you want! There is no evidence that there is any problem with eating peanut products during pregnancy or nursing. Also, it's true that the latest research seems to show that early exposure to peanuts may actually have a protective effect. One recent study showed that the prevalence of peanut allergies in Israel is much lower than that of the U.S. and one of the most popular first finger foods for babies there is called Bissli- a peanut butter flavored puff (similar to veggie booty in texture.) It's pretty tasty for grown-ups too :)

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I had a high risk pregnancy so I asked my regular doctor and my high risk OB about the same thing when I was pregnant and they said it was fine. I ate peanut butter and apples every day for a snack when I was pregnant because it's such a good source of protein and my son is not allergic.

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Yes, eat the peanut butter and whatever other nuts you want.
The most recent research indicates that delaying the introduction of allergenic foods until the child is older may actually do more harm than good. I started my son on peanut butter at around 8 or 9 months at the advice of our pediatrician.

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I'm pregnant right now and have looked into this for myself. Here's what I found. If you have instances of nut allergies in your family (or the dad's family) its usually a good idea to limit peanut butter intake. If there aren't any then eat away.
Me personally, I don't have anyone that I know of in our family with it- and my son doesn't have it. So, I do eat peanut butter here and there. I try not to over do it just in case, but other nuts- like raw almonds or what not- I eat often. Its a really good source of protein and healthy fats.