Peanut butter while Breastfeeding?

[Jenn Lynn]

DS is sensitive to dairy. I have had to cut it out of my diet. Now I am craving peanut butter. I looked up BFing and PB, but it is not clear as to whether or not I should eat it.

Anyone have any information on this? This no dairy thing is starting to frustrate me. I never crave PB, but I am now so I was hoping I could have some.

 

[Briarmom]

You should be fine. I have a friend whose dd is very allergic to nuts, but none of that happened while she was bfing. I never even thought of any of this when I was breasfeeding. I just ate what I wanted, and I eat lots of PB.

Good luck!

 

[mommystieg]

I'm not much help -- kinda went through the same thing. DD#3 would occasionally be very gassy and scream so I cut down on all the kinds of foods that are associated with food allergies. After a few weeks we narrowed it down to Chick-Fil-A -- I thought maybe it was a peanut allergy (since they use peanut oil) but she didn't seem to be bothered by peanut butter. I would say that if you are unsure about an allergy you could try the PB and see what happens. The pediatrician told us she would most likely outgrow this and once she reached three months, it all passed (except I still can't eat Chick-Fil-A). Good luck

 

[disykat]

I wouldn't do it! I'm sure you're going to get a ton of posts saying they ate peanut butter with no problems, so I'll give you the other side. Please, people, I'm asking you not to flame me for this. I'm not saying peanut butter is evil, I'm simply going to tell my own experience and feelings about this issue - an issue for me which is the absolute hardest thing I deal with in my life.

You are fortunate to have the info about peanut butter. Back when I was breastfeeding I was told nothing can pass through breast milk. I had difficulty getting my milk to come in, low milk-fat concentration, and a hard time eating enough calories during recovery from a difficult delivery and a serious infection. Peanut Butter was one of my recommended foods. Recommended by the OB, the Pediatrican, and the lactation specialist - so I took their advice. Looking back now on my screaming child who didn't want to nurse, was failing to thrive until we switched to formula, that now wears a Medic Alert and goes nowhere without his lifesaving epi-pen for his peanut allergies, I have to live with a lot of feelings of guilt. I know many other mothers of peanut allergic children who feel this same guilt.

Your child could be fine if you eat peanut butter, but if he turns out to be peanut allergic - you may find yourself questioning your decisions for many years.

 

[chrissyk]

I thought that the prevailing wisdom was that eating peanut butter while breasfeeding could "sensitize" your child to a peanut allergy Who knows...this information seems to change all the time and seems to contradict itself daily. I'd probably err on the side of caution and skip it, though. Can you have soy-nut butter instead? It tastes the same to me as peanut butter. Trader Joe's sells it very reasonably, if you have TJ's near you.

 

[sweet angel]

Call me ignorant (no, please don't), but what's the connection between dairy and peanutbutter?

 

[Jenn Lynn]

You should be fine. I have a friend whose dd is very allergic to nuts, but none of that happened while she was bfing. I never even thought of any of this when I was breasfeeding. I just ate what I wanted, and I eat lots of PB.

Good luck!

There is some belief now that eating PB while BFing COULD be a cause of PB allergy later especially if allergies run in the family.

You are fortunate to have the info about peanut butter. When I was breastfeeding I was told nothing can pass through breast milk. I had difficulty getting my milk to come in, low milk-fat concentration, and a hard time eating enough calories during a difficult delivery and a serious infection. Peanut Butter was one of my recommended foods. Recommended by the OB, the Pediatrican, and the lactation specialist - so I took their advice. Looking back now on my screaming child who didn't want to nurse, was failing to thrive until we switched to formula, that now wears a Medic Alert and goes nowhere without his lifesaving epi-pen for his peanut allergies, I have to live with a lot of feelings of guilt. I know many other mothers of peanut allergic children who feel this same guilt.

Your child could be fine if you eat peanut butter, but if he turns out to be peanut allergic - you may find yourself questioning your decisions for many years.

This is what I am afraid of. I guess deep down I know I shouldn't eat it. I never did with DD and she just started having PB last year. Thanks for sharing your story.

 

[sweet angel]

Ah, I see. I couldn't figure out how peanut butter and dairy were related. Didn't realize it was an allergy thing.

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

I wouldn't do it! I'm sure you're going to get a ton of posts saying they ate peanut butter with no problems, so I'll give you the other side. Please, people, I'm asking you not to flame me for this. I'm not saying peanut butter is evil, I'm simply going to tell my own experience and feelings about this issue - an issue for me which is the absolute hardest thing I deal with in my life.

You are fortunate to have the info about peanut butter. When I was breastfeeding I was told nothing can pass through breast milk. I had difficulty getting my milk to come in, low milk-fat concentration, and a hard time eating enough calories during a difficult delivery and a serious infection. Peanut Butter was one of my recommended foods. Recommended by the OB, the Pediatrican, and the lactation specialist - so I took their advice. Looking back now on my screaming child who didn't want to nurse, was failing to thrive until we switched to formula, that now wears a Medic Alert and goes nowhere without his lifesaving epi-pen for his peanut allergies, I have to live with a lot of feelings of guilt. I know many other mothers of peanut allergic children who feel this same guilt.

Your child could be fine if you eat peanut butter, but if he turns out to be peanut allergic - you may find yourself questioning your decisions for many years.

So are you suggesting that you caused your child to have an allergy, or that your child had an allergy that you were unknowingly exposing him to?

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Call me ignorant (no, please don't), but what's the connection between dairy and peanutbutter?

For me right now it was more that DS is senitive to dairy and I know PB can cause problems. Also cutting out dairy leaves me limited on foods I can eat. I never realized how much dairy I ate before. I do have to say I feel better since cutting it out.

 

[TxJasmine]

Don't do it! I agree 100% with Disykat. When I was BF my 2nd child (DS), I had a lot of cravings for PB. I ate it all the time. I never did with DD. No one in the family has any kind of allergies, but DS has a peanut allergy. Is it due to BF? I don't know, and I will never know. But deep down I always have these feelings of guilt that I'm responsible for my child's potentially life-threatening allergy. I believe that most doctors now say to wait until the child is several years old before introducing PB.

 

[swilphil]

There is some belief now that eating PB while BFing COULD be a cause of PB allergy later especially if allergies run in the family.....

This is what I am afraid of. I guess deep down I know I shouldn't eat it. I never did with DD and she just started having PB last year. Thanks for sharing your story.

I was told the same thing by a friend who has severe allergies that run in her family. Her oldest son has many allergies, including dairy and peanuts. With her youngest, she was very careful about what she ate, and she breastfeed for a very long time. So far, her youngest doesn't have the allergy concerns.

The big question is: do allergies run in your family? The baby's problem with dairy could point to that, or it could just be something he will outgrow. You should talk to your ped. or a lactation consultant for the right answer. I would probably skip the peanut butter just to be on the safe side since a peanut allergy is usually lifelong and very severe.

I know what you mean about feeling better. I love milk and dairy, but when I skip it, I do feel better. I agree with chrissyk that you should ask about soy products. Soy milk is very good for you and soy butter might satisfy your craving.

 

[disykat]

So are you suggesting that you caused your child to have an allergy, or that your child had an allergy that you were unknowingly exposing him to?

Good question - either, both, neither? I'll never know. However, I do know that they now know that peanut proteins pass through breast milk. In figuring out why peanut allergies are now so prevalent whereas they were rare in the past, they think that the early introduction of a peanut products to this generation (prior to WWII people really didn't eat that much) could very well be the problem.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

So are you suggesting that you caused your child to have an allergy, or that your child had an allergy that you were unknowingly exposing him to?

I did some more searching and found this article on WebMD. I won't be eating peanut butter.

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/31/1728_76325

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I was told the same thing by a friend who has severe allergies that run in her family. Her oldest son has many allergies, including dairy and peanuts. With her youngest, she was very careful about what she ate, and she breastfeed for a very long time. So far, her youngest doesn't have the allergy concerns.

The big question is: do allergies run in your family? The baby's problem with dairy could point to that, or it could just be something he will outgrow. You should talk to your ped. or a lactation consultant for the right answer. I would probably skip the peanut butter just to be on the safe side since a peanut allergy is usually lifelong and very severe.

I know what you mean about feeling better. I love milk and dairy, but when I skip it, I do feel better. I agree with chrissyk that you should ask about soy products. Soy milk is very good for you and soy butter might satisfy your craving.

No allergies in either of our families. How does one know they are allergic to dairy vs. being sensitive (can outgrow it).

I have rice milk here, but I can't bring myself to drink it. I guess I am not desperate enough yet! LOL! I also am using Fleishmen's (sp) that someone recommended to me on another thread. So far so good with that!

Now I just need a substitute for cheese!

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

Good question - either, both, neither? I'll never know. However, I do know that they now know that peanut proteins pass through breast milk. In figuring out why peanut allergies are now so prevalent whereas they were rare in the past, they think that the early introduction of a peanut products to this generation (prior to WWII people really didn't eat that much) could very well be the problem.

Wow! I new that our kids had problems when ever DW eat certain foods. Obvious things like garlic, onions, and tomotoes, but this is the first I heard of the possibility of permanent problems. Fortunately we have turn the page on that chapter of our lives. Best of luck to you Jenn Lynn. DisyKat, well wishes to your child as they learn to cope. Try not to feel guilty. Your child is lucky to have a mom that is "with it" enough to have a plan in place.

 

[malibuconlee]

Don't know what to tell you, but here is what my last doctor told me (we moved, that's why he's my "last"). I developed a cat allergy in my late twenties. Never had any problems before.

He prescribed Zyrtec for me to take for family gatherings when I had to be in a house with a cat for several hours. He looked at me for a minute, then said if I were to get pregnant in the future to stay away from peanuts during pregnancy. I guess this explains why.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

Don't do it! I agree 100% with Disykat. When I was BF my 2nd child (DS), I had a lot of cravings for PB. I ate it all the time. I never did with DD. No one in the family has any kind of allergies, but DS has a peanut allergy. Is it due to BF? I don't know, and I will never know. But deep down I always have these feelings of guilt that I'm responsible for my child's potentially life-threatening allergy. I believe that most doctors now say to wait until the child is several years old before introducing PB.

I could have written this post. When I was pregnant and bf my son, I ate tons of PB&J sandwiches. No food-allergies in the family, and he has a severe peanut allergy.

When I got pregnant with my daughter, his allergist suggested I stay away from peanuts. There was no proof that it would make a difference, but if there was anything I could do to prevent her from developing the same allergy, I was going to try it. I ate not an iota of peanut butter, and she does not have the allergy.

Scientific evidence? Pure dumb luck? Who knows? But, I know that I wouldn't chance it every again...

 

[Kermit]

I've always eaten peanut butter while pregnant and breastfeeding (until recently, as peanut butter seems to give me a tummy ache now). We do have some food allergies in our family, but not a lot. Honestly, it probably would be better if I hadn't eaten it, but sometimes it just sounds so good!

One alternative for you might be almond butter. There are butters made from all kinds of nuts. Almonds are a great "nut" since they aren't actually related to nuts. They're a pitted fruit, like peaches and cherries. While people are allergic to those foods sometimes, they aren't nearly as allergenic as foods like dairy, corn, wheat, egg whites, etc.

 

[mickeyboat]

6 years ago when I was PG with Hannah, they served graham crackers with peanut butter at our pre-natal classes. Oh how times change.

Denae