What is the current thing about nuts? Can we eat or not?

[Kayzr]

Can we eat nuts? I remember with DS1 they said do not eat nuts, DS2 they said we don't advise it but it's your choice. So what is the current thinking?

I hope so - I eat nuts every day!

Will watch this with interest!

as I understand it, so long as you are not allergic to nuts, it's fine to eat them. see here - peanuts is about half way down! :)

TBH there has never been good evidence for pregnant women to give up nuts, but still this overcautious advice was given out. You are fine to eat nuts unless you personally are allergic (in which case you couldn't have them anyway)

That's all right then. I really wanted some cashew nuts.

Cashews nut aren't nuts they are seeds so you will be fine anyway :) they are not considered to be as much of an allergen as nuts and peanuts,

Goes and hides in embarrassment at knowing this sort of rubbish.

I'm on pregnancy no.4 and think the advice has changed each time! Seem to remember MW saying this time that they're fine as long as I'm not allergic! (though would I be considering eating them anyway if I was?!!) I've had peanuts, cashews and all other kinds of nuts occasionally this time and not worried about it. :)

I asked my midwife and she looked at me like this: and said, "Yes, of course. Why wouldn't it be okay?"

Maybe because the advice changes every 6 flipping months?

Unless you have a family history of nut allergy you can have nuts, I am off to have some peanut butter on toast now - yum

I like the way that NHS page makes it sound as though the advice was "you can avoid nuts if you want to if you have a history of asthma, eczema or allergies" and not the totally unjustified guilt trip it was actually phrased as at the time

My Dad has Asthma so not sure if I should stay clear or not.

There is no evidence at all that eating peanuts in pregnancy is related to children developing asthma, eczema or allergies of any kind.

If you have a family history of one or more of those things your children are at an increased likelihood of getting one of them regardless of anything you do.

Nuts aren't the height of allergies anyway, you can develop anaphylaxis to absolutely anything.

Actually, I say regardless, when it comes to weaning time there is some evidence that early weaning might play a role, so best to wait until after 17weeks at minimum, and if there are any 'known' allergens for your family try and avoid them until your child is older when it will be easier to spot and deal with reactions.

I asked DS's allergy consultant whether to avoid nuts etc when pregnant with DD, she said not to avoid anything. Current thinking is that early exposure leads to fewer allergies.

The evidence is completely variable.

In terms of family history, your children may already be predisposed to certain conditions .
Children with asthma eczema etc can be 'atopic' this means there immune systems can be more prone to acute reaction.
The last time I saw an allergy consultant with ds1 who is hugely atopic he advised against introducing him to nuts till he was seven. The earlier strong allergens are introduced (soya, nuts, latex)the more likely the child will develop an allergy.
That being said, the evidence about exposure during pregnancy has never been greatly conclusive. Some studies have suggested eating nuts is up to 50% more likely incidence of having a child with asthma where as other studies have shown that a diet rich in vitamin e, nuts and oils can reduced the chances of having a child with asthma. In all of the studies done, none of them have been able to isolate nuts as a single causative factor as there are so many variables of environment, diet and genetics to consider.
Therefor that is why the nhs say you can err on the side of caution and avoid.
Or simply carry on as you would normally.
For what it's worth, I avoided them during my first preg. Ds1 has asthma but not allergic to nuts.
Had them during my second preg, ds2 is not asthmatic and partial to a peanut butter sandwich.
As the risks are very much theoretical, it's up to you what u feel comfortable doing

That's almost the exact opposite of what DS's allergy consultant said PIMs!! She said the earlier things are introduced the better to avoid allergies. In fact what she said was that the best way to avoid a nut allergy was to introduce nuts at birth. I was .

Is it any wonder there is so much confusion when the professionals can't agree what is best!!

Considering that they have shown that in Israel, where peanuts are a large part of the diet and no one stops eating them during pregnancy, there is a much lower rate of peanut allergy, I think you'll be fine. I'm not entirely sure I subscribe to the whole "avoid in pg to avoid allergy" theory - it sounds (forgive the pun) a bit nuts to me.

If I eat to many they give me awful trapped wind!

My G.P says yes. 3 years ago it was no, but I did anyway.

I avoided them with DS1 and he had eczema which has almost cleared now after 3 years of covering him in cream.

With DS2 the MW said it had changed to be if you avoided nuts then it could increase chances of nut allergy. I didn't eat them all the time. Just when I fancied them.

So I wasn't sure if it had changed again.