Peanuts and breastfeeding- accident

[AOMum]

Hello,

I am a nervous and anxious first time mum. I am on holiday and was breastfeeding my 3 month old baby. My partner brought some peanuts with some flavoured dusting around them (Sahara nuts) from the place we were eating. I wasn't even thinking, I just grabbed a handful of them and started munching. Then some dropped onto my baby. I had the dust on my boob and some was in her hair. I immediately took her off the boob, wet wiped all around it and her and put her on opposite side. I now feel like an idiot - I'm scared to go to bed (this happened around an hour and a half ago). There are no allergies in our family except I've cut out dairy as Dr thinks the dairy in my milk is affecting her bowels and I am asthmatic.

I know that on mumsnet, 99% of comments are so lovely but I often see 1% where someone will type something like "you need parenting classes" or "you are endangering your baby, I would never do that" which is why I'm scared to post on mumsnet. Please only supportive and constructive comments - us mum's are already too hard on ourselves!

I think they have changed the advice about peanut exposure for babies now anyway so I wouldn't worry.

Don't stress I'm sure it will be fine, I definitely ate nuts when I was bf all mine and no issues.

She is fine, you are fine, it's going to be ok 💐

My son is allergic to peanuts, and he's been told that his wife should eat peanuts when she's pregnant and when breastfeeding.

It's really fine, peanuts are a food, not poison (for the vast majority of the population). You're not endangering your baby at all.

It's fine.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.bmj.com/content/bmj/380/bmj.p645.full.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiBg8-iyKiBAxWXXUEAHXkyAhUQFnoECAwQBg&usg=AOvVaw1iTBNDNtpoUE1lR5Qu_EiM
Article from the BMJ about how we should be introducing peanuts between 4 and 6 months to reduce incidence of peanut allergy!

Please don't worry, baby will be fine. ❤️

I totally get you - many years ago I demanded that my PIL didn’t eat peanuts while babysitting my DD. My DDs midwife and health visitor have both been very relaxed about peanut consumption during her recent pregnancy and breastfeeding. But as a PP said, it really is totally fine.

It's been shown now that introducing peanuts early reduces the risk of allergy. https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2023/03/peanut-allergy.page
You did nothing wrong OP and I'm sure soon you will be lovingly introducing ground nuts and other allergens of all types into foods when weaning to ensure your baby doesn't get an allergy, as I did!

There’s research that suggests early exposure to allergens actually prevents allergies. You’re just a tiny bit ahead of the game. As longs you’re not giving them whole peanuts you’re doing great. Enjoy your snack and your baby

It's fine, don't worry

I understand your reaction, perfectly natural. Please refer to current N HS guidelines as I am sure rules have changed.
I hope you have a lovely break.

When I was pregnant and breastfeeding my first child the advice was to avoid peanuts - she has a peanut allergy.

When I was pregnant and breastfeeding my 2nd, the advice had changed and they advised eating them. He doesn't have a peanut allergy.

No idea if they're related but I'm sure it'll be fine! Try not to worry

My DGC was part of the Oxford study on allergies / breastfed babies and she had peanut butter introduced at 4 mths. Your baby will be fine

Absolutely fine! I ate a ton of peanut butter when breastfeeding both DC (and while pregnant) and it was one of their first foods as it's so handy to give them on toast. We are all peanut butter mad in our house I hope they were tasty!

If you're worried about your child developing peanut allergies introduce peanuts from 4 months as diluted peanut butter. (Obviously whole nuts are dangerous and undiluted peanut butter is too thick for babies, also a choking hazard.) This is especially important if you feel your child is in a high risk group eg if atopic disease or allergies run in the family. If your child has eczema it's especially important to introduce peanuts early as above.
I wouldtry to avoid getting peanut dust on the baby if they have eczema, but if they get peanut in their diet early the chances of developing an allergy are much lower even for high risk babies.

Another vote for no worries here! We introduced peanuts very early in our weaning, maybe 5 or 6 months. And I ate plenty whilst pregnant and breastfeeding. Two kids who can eat anything now :)

I ate plenty of different nuts and seeds while pregnant. Been eating a variety of nuts and seeds throughout breastfeeding.

They are highly nutritious!

That's interesting. 30+ years ago i not only ate peanuts while pregnant and breastfeeding, but would rinse a handful and puree them up with vegetables for his dinners. At that time it was all about feeding them whatever we ate. I have sometimes gasped in horror at what we did too. We lay new babies on their side swaddled, and my sister's babies - a little older, slept on their tummies. Luckily everyone survived! Good that we all follow best practice really that is based on current research.

Hope all is well this morning @AOMum

I had to read it twice to find out what you were so worried about.

In amy event, I introduced peanut butter at 4m to reduce the risk of allergies.

I don't think you can dictate the types of replies you'll get on here btw. People will say what they want regardless, but also only getting positive replies wont give you any reassurance as you will worry that you are getting skewed results.

Thank you @Mysleepisbroken, it was quite a random event now I'm awake and thinking more clearly! I think I'm going to do the same as you in terms of weaning.

I agree completley that dictating only helpful replies, is in fact, not helpful - I think that's why I used the word 'constructive' but maybe I should have reworded it to 'please only respond with kindness'. I can see how I hadn't written that part very clearly.

I am more than happy for someone to highlight a mistake and give advice on how to improve. However, I have come across replies that have shocked me. One example was a lady was worried about whether you could eat Pizza in pregnancy (due to the cheese) and the replies were: 'This is a joke right!?', 'it's going to be a long 9 months' 'it's going to be a long 18 years if this behaviour continues' 'for goodness sake, use your common sense'. Essentially message after message of just shaming the mum. It really upset me knowing that this clearly anxious mum was reading these replies.

I find the Internet a scary place sometimes!

Thank you everyone! Baby is fine this morning!

I want to say both: don’t worry.
And also, don’t feel silly for worrying either. Having a small baby is really stressful, they are so tiny and vulnerable.

My DS had a random allergic reaction (still don’t know what caused it) and it was very scary.

My practical advice is to buy some liquid piriton and have it in the house/ in the changing bag because you never know if it will be needed.

I actually would disagree that you can't dictate the type the replies, to an extent. For me knowing that the OP defines herself as nervous and anxious means I responded a little more kindly than I might otherwise, without thinking. The actual content of my answer is the same, but it's about how you say it.
I could have said 'just Google it' but telling OP to look at literally everything helpful and unhelpful from a search is less useful and potentially more scary, than me having a quick look and choosing 1 reputable academic source for OP to look at if she wants to.