Peanut butter and being pregnant

[EmmaTMG]

I'm 8 weeks pregnant with my 3rd baby and I'm experiencing my first ever craving...and it's peanut butter!
Now I know we should avoid it if there's a history of nut allergies in the family and I know my DH's brother has an allergy so should I avoid it. There's nothing on my side of the family and it's only BIL who has it so is it safe or not?
I'm desparate for a peanut butter fix and would love some mumsnet advice urgently, especially as I haven't had any lunch yet!!!
Thanks Girls...and the few men out there

Forgot to add that as far as I'm aware it's only BIL who has an allergy and no-one else on DH's side of the family.

Emma, have you tried tahini or cashew nuts or hazlenut spread instead to see if it settles the craving? I think RobinW's the expert on this though.

It is best avoided whether anyone has a known allergy in the family or not. My sister loves nuts and ate a lot of them throughout pregnancy. She has 4 children. The first 3 are allergy free but dd no4. has a severe nut allergy. Not worth the risk IMO. Her dd is really allergic to almonds by the way. Found that out when she tried one when she was making a cake. They don't know if she is allergic to peanuts ( which are not technically nuts by the way), too dangerous to try it out. So avoid nuts as well as peanuts.

Thanks ladies, although that was not the advise I wanted to hear! I was desparate for a 'yes that will be ok' I will avoid them, and start thinking off something that will surpress my urges...oooooh eeerrrrr.
I had to this problem when I found out I was PG with DS1 as I had a real liking for pate and onion sandwiches at the time so had to stop eating those because of the vitamin A in the pate.
Thanks again.

I ate peanut butter throughout both pgs - now worried that dd2 will have a terrible allergy. Ignorance is bliss sometimes...the dark side of mumsnet I fear...

In the US we have the government WIC program and one of the items they give out on everyones vouchers is peanut butter. I never really thought it could be a problem. Well I personally havent had any past problems with my 3 children. Who knows one day the government may end up taking the peanut butter out of the program. Things change so much and you never know when something is considered unsafe.

I must admit I deliberately ate things with peanuts in when pregnant in the, presumably mistaken, belief that I would be exposing the baby to them which might build up a tolerance. She doesn't appear to have any nut allergy.

Are nut allegies increasing and, if so, why?

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Wow, that really does put it into context. I have to admit I thought that a little wouldn't hurt once in a while but after reading your posts, I will definately avoid peanut butter...I don't like to eat normal nuts anyway so it won't be difficult to avoid them.
Thank you all for your advise.

Have you seen this week's reports about a new test for peanut traces in food? I wonder if they'll be able to develop one for home use, as well?

It would be interesting to know why this allergy is spreading so rapidly. Here in Indonesia peanuts and peanut oil are used on a daily basis and sate (satay) is a national dish yet I have never once seen any reference to peanut allergy in the media. I guess the reason is probably more complicated than merely being exposed to peanut products at a young age.

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