Peanuts and Pregnancy

Ask any parent who has a child who is allegeric to peanuts how difficult their live
has become. Food shopping can take hours because every food label must be read it
and studied to make sure it contains no traces of peanuts. Arrangements for peanut
free foods must be made with the child's school ahead of time and other children's
birthdays parties can be a parent's worse nightmare. Peanut allergies although
common can be one of the most fatal allergies a child could suffer from. Some
children are so sensitive to their peanut allergy that if they come into contact
with peanuts just from someone else's skin, their life can be at risk. Peanut
allergies can lead to anaphylactic shock which is a sever allergic reaction that
can be fatal.

Peanut allergies are usually not diagnosed until a child reaches the age of 2 or
even three years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that parents who
have a peanut allergy in the family should wait until their child is at least three
years old before giving them peanuts or anything containing peanuts. There are
even some conservative obgyns who advise their pregnant patients not to eat peanuts
especially if when they are in their third trimester regardless of if there is a
history of peanut allergy in the family or not.

The reason for this is because in order for a peanut allergy to develop, the child
has to come into contact with small traces of a peanut. This contact sensitizes
the child so that they later have a severe allergic reaction. Some experts believe
that this first sensitization can occur during pregnancy. It is believed that a
tiny amount of peanut protein can cross the placenta. In fact a recent study
showed that if a women ate peanuts or peanut butter while pregnant their baby could
be four times more likely to develop a peanut allergy than a child whose mother
didn't eat any peanuts during her pregnancy.

This isn't to say though that if you have a no history of nut allergies you should
avoid peanuts at all costs. In fact, peanuts and peanut butter are very
beneficial to you and your baby. Peanuts are a useful source of folic acid and
protein, both which are very important to your and your growing baby. Peanuts and
peanut butter has been said to help some women get through the first trimester
morning sickness. Keep in mind however that there have been some instances when
women who had no history of peanut allegeries in their family and ate a over
whelming amount of peanuts or even peanut butter through out their pregnancies
wound up with children who had a peanut allergy.

Before you decide to throw out all your peanuts and say good bye to peanut butter
and jelly sandwiches, talk to your doctor. Give your doctor a detailed family
history and let him know if there are any peanut allergies in your family. With
your doctors help you will be able to create a healthy peanut eating plan for your
pregnancy. If you do not feel comfortable at all eating peanuts due to the risk
do not let anyone change your mind. It is your body and your child and you have
the right to make that decision.