Will I give my baby an allergy if I eat peanut butter?

You are pregnant, congratulations! But wait, here is another do or don’t question, right? Will eating peanut butter or shrimps make your unborn baby develop an allergy? Should you eat peanut butter and shrimps while pregnant? Here is what you should know about eating peanut butter and shrimps before having your baby.

When you are pregnant, your body becomes sensitive to the type of food you eat, and it may react differently. It is no surprise that you may be afraid that eating some foods may make your baby have an allergy.

According to the center for disease control and prevention (CDC), about 1 in 13 children develop a food allergy. Peanut butter is one of the most common foods known to cause allergies across all age groups. In fact, in North America, approximately 1.4 of children have peanut and tree nuts allergies.

Can Pregnant Women Eat Peanut Butter?

Before the year 2000, it used to be believed that a pregnant woman who ate peanut butter could potentially cause her unborn baby to have an allergy to peanut butter. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) used to recommend all pregnant women to avoid eating peanut butter, especially if they had allergies in their nuclear family for this reason. 

However, with advancement in science and technology the claim that eating peanut butter causes your baby to have allergy have been overturned. Reliable evidence showed that eating peanut butter positively affected allergy, which compelled the AAP to withdraw their recommendation in 2008.

Should you, therefore, eat peanut butter while pregnant? YES! Provided you, yourself, is not allergic to peanut butter. Findings suggest eating peanut butter while pregnant actually may reduce the chances of your baby having an allergy. This is because they trigger your unborn child's immune system to learn to tolerate peanut butter and protect him from peanut butter allergy.

Eating peanut butter while pregnant can also improve your pregnancy outcome. It is rich in protein that helps with the growth of your baby. Besides, it's a great source of antioxidants and folate that helps develop your baby's central nervous system and prevent birth defects.

Can Pregnant Women Eat Shrimp?

Yes! Shrimp is low mercury-containing seafood thus safe during pregnancy. Other low mercury seafood you can eat during pregnancy are sardines, salmons, and catfish.

While it is safe to eat shrimp during pregnancy, should avoid not exceed 12 ounces per week of shrimp. Also, make sure you don’t take lousy shrimp that can harm your baby.

On the other hand, you should avoid seafood with high mercury, such as King mackerel, bigeye tuna, and marlin.

Can Babies Have Allergies in the Womb?

While allergies are caused by the interplay of genetic factors and environmental factors, they can happen before your baby is born. If you have a child with an allergy or your partner has an allergic condition, there is an increased risk of your baby developing allergies while in the womb.

Common Food Allergies in Babies

Your baby has a food allergy when his body develops an abnormal reaction to a particular food. Here are common food allergies in babies:

• Milk
• Wheat
• Soy
• Fish
• Peanuts
• Eggs
• Shellfish.

You can tell your sensitive baby has a food allergy if he vomits, diarrhea, have difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, swelling, and cramps after taking a particular food.