According to CNN there is NO CLEAR ANSWER that eating peanuts during pregnancy results in the child being born with peanut allergies. BUT,Kids whose moms consumed food containing peanuts while pregnant were more likely to test positive for having allergies to peanuts. I knew it was some kind of connection!! I luuuuv me some Sneakers Bars, and Reese’s Peanut butter cups. So much that everyone knew of my obsession.
For the baby shower of my first child one of the gifts was a huge plastic baby bottle filled to the top with these tasty delights. In a week they were gone. My nightly ritual during pregnancy included a Snickers Bar and a box of corn starch( don’t ask).
I was soo excited to share this love for nuts with my child that on my daughters 1st birthday I prepared for her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I even made one for myself so that this could be one of our bonding moments….NOT!! This moment of oral ecstasy( with food of course) came to an end when my ebony colored baby had bright red welts on her face that spread to her neck and down to her toes. My poor baby was itching all over in pain!
I followed moms and doctors instructions to give her Benadryl and soak her in a bathtub full of milk and oats. From that day on I felt horrible for my addiction to foods with nuts in them. All the Nutty Butter cookies,Little Debbie Nutty Bars, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, peanut butter and syrup concoctions, Almond Joys, Peanut Chews,and other candy bars full of nuts had caught up with me.
Though, children with nut allergies has risen tremendously over the years I just felt I cursed. I was truly hurt. ( yes my heart hurt me inside people). I was robbed of this moment. I dreamt of us having a picnic in the park with our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches during the pregnancy ..she with chocolate milk and I plain with ice. Sun shining in the sky, wind blowing through our hair….(sigh).
Thank goodness for Soy nut Butter!!! It looks and tastes very much like Peanut butter but it’s …SOY!! My prayers have been answered. I found it about 6 months ago and me, my daughter and our sandwiches have lived happily ever after since….
If your child suffers from peanut allergies here are some places you can get Soy Nut Butter
(it’s not sold everywhere which sucks) so you should request your supermarket to carry it.
CC's Kidz 