Although it is controversial, there is much evidence to suggest
that the sensitizing can occur during pregnancy, as I feel happened with
me.  The problem here is that unless the baby is at high risk, due to a
history of allergy, you can't have every mom avoiding peanuts during
pregnancy and lactation.  It is a good source of protein.  As the study
showed, the allergen passed into the milk of about half the mothers.  This
has been my experience in working with allergic kids. About half react
through their mom's milk and half do not.
         In my case, Alex was the fourth of five kids and the only one with
severe food allergies, although some of the others had a mild dairy allergy
(through my milk) as infants.  He showed symptoms within a couple of day of
birth.  At one point his food allergies numbered about 25 foods, many
life-threatening. (anaphylactic)
We are down (at age 7) to dealing with 5 anaphylactic food allergy groups:
Peanuts, nuts, eggs, shellfish, and dairy,  and an intolerance to corn.  On
my husbands side of the family there were some environmental allergies, but
no known history of food allergies, so I had no reason to avoid peanuts or
anything else. Yet he is so sensitive that he had an anapylactic reaction
to peanut oil.  The smell of peanuts can make him quite sick, and he has
broken out in hives from touching a toy from a fast food place that cooks
with peanut oil.
         I do suggest to moms who ask me that if they have a family history
of food allergies that they avoid peanuts, and whatever else they know has
caused problems while pregnant .
Patty Spanjer, IBCLC
Dalton, GA




>Just watched a VERY short piece on this evening's news (CTV News) which
>briefly described how scientists have discovered a link between peanut
>allergies and breast milk.  It stated that an infant may be exposed to
>peanuts and traces thereof much earlier than once thought as it is excreeted
>into the breast milk approximately 2 hours after the mother consumes peanut
>butter or the like.  It sent a warning specifically about high risk children
>... those whose mother and/or father have nut allergies as well as those
>who are at risk for or have asthma and other respitory illnesses.  Has
>anyone else heard/read such information?  Interesting piece.  Seemed quite
>conclusive in its findings.
>
>Ate gallons of peanut butter during my pregnancy and while b/f.  No
>allergies so far here!
>
>Jodi Barnard ~ [log in to unmask]
>Ladner, BC

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