Going nuts trying to work out the current advice on peanuts - does anyone know?

[Mirry71]

What's the latest advice on eating peanuts/peanut butter....I don't have any allergies and neither does DH, and have kept away mainly so far but really craving some peanut butter on toast......I am really confused as to what the latest thinking is

Current advice remains the same in the UK, avoid in pregnancy. However, the evidence seems to be suggesting that this is at best unnecessary and at worst actively bad - UK allergy incidence has gone up, but Spain (where mothers are not told to avoid nuts, and sometimes are actually advised to eat them) it hasn't.

So IMVHO I would say eat them.

It's not surprising that you're confused about the recommendations - the evidence is really muddy and the professionals are still trying to work out what the best advice is.
As you don't have an allergies on either side, I would go ahead and eat the peanut butter on toast.

Read in a pregnancy booklet at the GP's surgery last week that it's fine unless there's a history of allergies in the family.

It seems to change every 2 minutes.

The BMJ say not to if there is a history of nut intollerance in the family (either side) www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/335/7621/633-a

The FSA on the other hand say 'No'.

Sorry!

I was told to avoid them as my cousins children have allergies to them. She ate them in one pregnancy and not in the next yet both of her sons have allergies!

I have eaten them, just not lots.

Nobody knows.

There is research to suggest that there is no significant difference in allergy rates between children of mothers who ate peanuts and those who didn't.

I avoided all nuts during pregnancy and have 1 peanut allergic child and one non allergic child. My allergic child definitely is not allergic because I ate nuts during pregnancy as I was very careful to avoid.

There is some evidence that allergies may be related to gut bacteria and pregnant women should take probiotics during the last couple of months.

It may be that western people have a higher rate of peanut allergy compared to the rest of the world due to our diet containing lower amounts of fermented food so our gut bacteria are different.

If I didn't have allergies in my family I would eat peanuts during pregnancy.

thank you everyone...maybe moderation is the answer - i will just have to restrain myself. IT really is so confusing

it does seem weird to me that as everyone is told to avoid them, allergies go up.

I didn't eat them when expecting dd in 05/06. Checked with m/w this time around and she confirmed that they are ok to have if no history of nut allergy in family, so this time I've had lots.

I do know that the incidence of nut allergy has increased since the advice to avoid them came into effect.

I've NEVER liked peanuts so was not going to start eating them in pregnancy and i still don't.
My DDs have NEVER had peanut butter and to be honest i'm a bit scared that they may have a reaction.
They have had cakes with traces of peanut but i don't want to take the changed with it.
They are 3yrs and 6yrs old.

Just to add, my DH's best friend's wife used to eat LOADS of peanuts in pregnancy and her son has bad skin conditions, but she thinks that peanuts would only cause asthma, which he does not have.
But then she did stop eating peanuts for her daughter and she has no problems.
Makes you think

My midwife said if you don't have allergies/ history of eczema/asthma that kind of thing, then go ahead and eat peanuts in pregnancy.

Unfortunately I have the full batch of eczema, asthma, rhinitis plus allergy to walnuts and pecans. Though I can normally eat peanuts and other nuts fine. But I am dutifully avoiding them in pregnancy.

I think the evidence on this is very, very hard to come by / non-existent.

I certainly wouldn't bother to avoid them without my history. Meanwhile I satisfy any cravings with cashew nut butter or almond butter.

I am wondering the same thing.

With DS I avoided it totally as even though there is no peanut allergy in our family, there is excema and asthma.

DS doesn't have a severe alergy to peanuts but he does have a mild one - if he has any food with bit of peanuts - peanut butter or Crunchy nut cereal, he is sick everywhere within about 20 minutes.

So, I am confused....I grew up in South East Asia and nut allergy is unheard of! They eat peanuts in pregnancy.

So, makes me think whether the new studies bear some truth.

I think I may have some this time round, just if i feel like it, in moderation.

No consistent evidence. They are researching that some peanuts during pregnancy may actually help to reduce the incidence of peanut allergy.

My cousins son that she did not eat nuts with has everything, asthma, excema and the nut allergy. He also has a lot of other problems they think are to do with allergies. The son she did eat the nuts with only has the nut allergy.

The relevant advice is on the food standards agency website

www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/pregnancy

I have typed it in here so many times I know it off by heart...

There is nothing set in stone about peanuts in pregnancy. Depending on which consultant you speak to will depend on the advice you get. I am avoiding peanuts as I have ds2 who has complex multiple food alergies including several kinds of nuts. I called ds'2 dietician when I found out I was pregnant to get her most up to date advice. Considering ds2 is allergic to 5 kinds of nuts, it is only peanuts I need to avoid.

I ate peanuts with both of my children (loved snickers and had a few a week!), one is absolutely fine, no asthma, eczema, hayfever or allergies of any kind, which ds2 had severe eczema, has hayfever and is allergic to dairy, eggs, nuts, wheat & intolerant to soya.

if you have allergies to peanuts or asthma in the family it is recommended avoiding peanuts altogether but if not then in moderation is ok
i ate peanuts in the form of peanut butter and snickers bars during my first preg and so far ds has no allergies.