sally ann van den brink

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I have been told that because I have Asthma and my husband has hayfever, I
should avoid Peanuts and nut products during pregnancy and breastfeeding to
help minimise the risk of my son developing a nut allergy. Which I have
done. My son is now 6 weeks old.

How accurate is this? And how do I find out if he has an allergy or not?

kevles

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Hi -

Yes, do continue to avoid nuts while nursing, as you don't want to
sensitize your son. Nut allergy is a bear to deal with.

My web site (which deals with milk allergy) includes a link to a very
good suggested sequence for the introduction of solids to the
allergy-at-risk child. You may also want to visit
misc.kids.breastfeeding for further advice.

I hope this helps,
--Beth Kevles
bethkevles@aol.com
http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the AOL one if you would
like me to reply.

thomas mueller

from "Sally Ann Van Den Brink" <sally.vandenbrink@ntlworld.com>:


I've heard about the risk of a baby developing a food allergy through breast
milk, but don't believe in avoiding good foods just because of high allergy
risk in other people. People with asthma or hayfever and food allergies need
what nutrition they can get, and compromising nutrition by avoiding foods they
tolerate OK is likely to make their problems worse. Being restricted by your
own food allergies is bad enough without being restricted by other people's
food allergies.

I eat raw peanuts, almonds and filberts on a steady basis, raw unhulled sesame
seeds too. I feel resistance to swallowing with starchy foods and can't eat
more than a small amount at one time. Nuts are rich in fat generally believed
to be heart-healthy, and I need the fat calories to compensate for what I can't
get from starchy foods. Otherwise I suffer calorie deficit and lose strength.
So nuts are an essential part of my diet. I stay quite skinny, so there is no
danger of gaining too much weight.

Tom

mike edwards

That advice seems to be very common. In fact they recommend that you
don't feed children less than three years old strong foods such as nuts
where there is a risk of developing allergies such as those you describe.


I've been following this thread with interest as I have a severe
reaction to nuts. I am so sensitive that even the smell of nuts is
enough to make me go to hospital.

I find it amazing that some people are not prepared to give up nuts for
a year or so in order to try to protect their child from having a
similar reaction nuts as myself.

It shouldn't matter how small the risk is, as a parent it is such a
small thing to do to help protect the future of your child!

How would you feel if you had a child with major allergies knowing you
could have increased the chance of those problems developing through
being too selfish?