Honey

Oriana.Ocampo

Might be a dumb question, but is it true we are not supposed to eat honey while pregnant?? If so, why not? I'm actually googling it as we speak, but wanted to know if anyone else heard this from their OB's?

emsrdh03

I have heard you're not supposed to give honey to babies because of the bacteria in it...not sure about pregnancy. 

Unknown

I haven't heard it...

Shayna0182

I haven't heard that either.  Does the packaged honey you can buy at the grocery store count?

rhymeswithpizza

Ive heard not to give honey to a newborn baby becasue they dont have the immune system to defend against the natural bacteria in honey or something like that but I havent heard anything about a pregnant woman noteating honey...

emsrdh03

Curiosity got the best of me...here's what I found.

Marcie Treadwell, ob-gyn

Yes, it is safe to eat honey during pregnancy. Honey poses a risk to infants under 1 year old because it may contain spores of bacteria that cause botulism. Botulism bacteria thrive in areas with low acidity. In infants, these spores can survive and cause disease because the acidity of a baby?s digestive tract is not high enough to destroy the spores. The acidity of an adult digestive tract is high enough to kill the spores, so a pregnant woman who eats honey is not putting her baby at any risk.

andrew's wifey

In everything I've read it says it's fine for pregnancy, but children under 1 should not have it.

pixy_stix

emsrdh03:

I have heard you're not supposed to give honey to babies because of the bacteria in it...not sure about pregnancy. 

Honey is anti-bacterial, so this is false. 

You're not supposed to give it to babies under 2 yo because it introduces too many allergens.

As far as when you're pregnant, you can eat honey.  In fact, if you have allergies you should really take a tablespoon full of local raw honey to help.

jaxmom1

You aren't supposed to give babies honey because of the botulism spores that can be in it.

Adult GI tract can handle the spores without getting sick, so during pregnancy is okay.

Soon_2B_MrsM

emsrdh03:

Curiosity got the best of me...here's what I found.

Marcie Treadwell, ob-gyn

Yes, it is safe to eat honey during pregnancy. Honey poses a risk to infants under 1 year old because it may contain spores of bacteria that cause botulism. Botulism bacteria thrive in areas with low acidity. In infants, these spores can survive and cause disease because the acidity of a baby?s digestive tract is not high enough to destroy the spores. The acidity of an adult digestive tract is high enough to kill the spores, so a pregnant woman who eats honey is not putting her baby at any risk.

 

Pixy??? 

Dobie_Mama

Eat the honey.  It's fine during pregnancy.

The concern with infants <1yr is botulism.  Same deal with corn syrup & home canned foods.  It's very rare, but can happen.

kofmkg

The concern with honey during pregnancy is that it is not pasturized.  My doc has not cautioned me about it-- and I've eaten honey without incident while pregnant.

pixy_stix

Soon_2B_MrsM:

emsrdh03:

Curiosity got the best of me...here's what I found.

Marcie Treadwell, ob-gyn

Yes, it is safe to eat honey during pregnancy. Honey poses a risk to infants under 1 year old because it may contain spores of bacteria that cause botulism. Botulism bacteria thrive in areas with low acidity. In infants, these spores can survive and cause disease because the acidity of a baby?s digestive tract is not high enough to destroy the spores. The acidity of an adult digestive tract is high enough to kill the spores, so a pregnant woman who eats honey is not putting her baby at any risk.

 

Pixy??? 

https://chetday.com/honeybacterial.htm

https://www.webmd.com/news/20080922/humble-honey-kills-bacteria

Although the above link is partially true:

https://www.babycenter.com/408_when-can-my-baby-eat-honey_1368490.bc

It seems to be very rare.  Again, the large concern is not botulism, but the introduction of allergens.

Chickpea2010

pixy_stix:

emsrdh03:

I have heard you're not supposed to give honey to babies because of the bacteria in it...not sure about pregnancy. 

Honey is anti-bacterial, so this is false. 

You're not supposed to give it to babies under 2 yo because it introduces too many allergens.

As far as when you're pregnant, you can eat honey.  In fact, if you have allergies you should really take a tablespoon full of local raw honey to help.

 Seriously?! Could this save my sanity?!

pixy_stix

kofmkg:

The concern with honey during pregnancy is that it is not pasturized.  My doc has not cautioned me about it-- and I've eaten honey without incident while pregnant.

Commercial honey such as Clover honey IS pasteurized.  They're not able to sell it nationally without being pasteurized.  Raw honey, found at health food stores or local beekeepers is not.

Soon_2B_MrsM

pixy_stix:

Soon_2B_MrsM:

emsrdh03:

Curiosity got the best of me...here's what I found.

Marcie Treadwell, ob-gyn

Yes, it is safe to eat honey during pregnancy. Honey poses a risk to infants under 1 year old because it may contain spores of bacteria that cause botulism. Botulism bacteria thrive in areas with low acidity. In infants, these spores can survive and cause disease because the acidity of a baby?s digestive tract is not high enough to destroy the spores. The acidity of an adult digestive tract is high enough to kill the spores, so a pregnant woman who eats honey is not putting her baby at any risk.

 

Pixy??? 

https://chetday.com/honeybacterial.htm

https://www.webmd.com/news/20080922/humble-honey-kills-bacteria

Although the above link is partially true:

https://www.babycenter.com/408_when-can-my-baby-eat-honey_1368490.bc

It seems to be very rare.  Again, the large concern is not botulism, but the introduction of allergens.

 

btw I am loving the bee ticker...I want the theme for baby's room to be all cute bee's and bugs but I could not find much for bee's everything is for lady bugs! I am still looking though. 

Oriana.Ocampo

pixy_stix:

kofmkg:

The concern with honey during pregnancy is that it is not pasturized.  My doc has not cautioned me about it-- and I've eaten honey without incident while pregnant.

Commercial honey such as Clover honey IS pasteurized.  They're not able to sell it nationally without being pasteurized.  Raw honey, found at health food stores or local beekeepers is not.

The honey that I have is NOT pasterurized. My dads friend does this for a living and gave me two bottles.

BelhurstBride

Honey is fine during pregnancy.

Honey is not okay for children under 12 months of age; it can cause infant botulism. (According to the Mayo Clinic.)

If you have seasonal allergies eating local honey can help alleviate or completely relieve them.

pixy_stix

Oriana.Ocampo:

The honey that I have is NOT pasterurized. My dads friend does this for a living and gave me two bottles.

Then you have two bottles of yummy raw honey to consume!  Get to eating it!  :op

https://www.babycenter.in/pregnancy/nutrition/foodsafety/honey-expert/

Specifically:  In fact, you can benefit from the numerous antioxidant, anti-bacterial and antiseptic qualities of honey. Drinking milk with a spoon of honey before going to bed at night is known to neutralise the excess stomach acid and provides relief from heartburn. Honey also helps build up the body?s immunity and is believed to prevent colds and coughs during pregnancy. Sipping warm lemon or ginger tea laced with honey soothes a sore throat. Honey is also a good remedy for insomnia.

Oriana.Ocampo

pixy_stix:

Oriana.Ocampo:

The honey that I have is NOT pasterurized. My dads friend does this for a living and gave me two bottles.

Then you have two bottles of yummy raw honey to consume!  Get to eating it!  :op

https://www.babycenter.in/pregnancy/nutrition/foodsafety/honey-expert/

Specifically:  In fact, you can benefit from the numerous antioxidant, anti-bacterial and antiseptic qualities of honey. Drinking milk with a spoon of honey before going to bed at night is known to neutralise the excess stomach acid and provides relief from heartburn. Honey also helps build up the body?s immunity and is believed to prevent colds and coughs during pregnancy. Sipping warm lemon or ginger tea laced with honey soothes a sore throat. Honey is also a good remedy for insomnia.

Thanks!! I feel alot better!!

Celtic Ember

Only unpasturized honey, for the same reason we're not supposed to have unpasturized cheese. If you avoid everything someone says you might not be allowed to eat, I think we'd all starve to death.

peanut07

Chickpea2010:

pixy_stix:

emsrdh03:

I have heard you're not supposed to give honey to babies because of the bacteria in it...not sure about pregnancy. 

Honey is anti-bacterial, so this is false. 

You're not supposed to give it to babies under 2 yo because it introduces too many allergens.

As far as when you're pregnant, you can eat honey.  In fact, if you have allergies you should really take a tablespoon full of local raw honey to help.

 Seriously?! Could this save my sanity?!

Yes, this is true. In fact, on the bottle of local raw honey I buy, it specifically states this and my General Practitioner recommended it for my stepson's allergies. We've been using honey for almost a year now. It has helped tremendously and I can definitely tell a difference in his allergies when we run out and he goes a few days without taking it.

Dobie_Mama

Celtic Ember:

Only unpasturized honey, for the same reason we're not supposed to have unpasturized cheese. If you avoid everything someone says you might not be allowed to eat, I think we'd all starve to death.

This isn't true.  The danger from unpasteurized cheese is listeria.  Raw honey does not pose a listeria risk.  

AleciaMarie

Holy longass siggy oriana, I had to hit page down 4 times to get past it.

Honey is fine to eat, just not for babies once their born.

pixy_stix

Chickpea2010:

pixy_stix:

emsrdh03:

I have heard you're not supposed to give honey to babies because of the bacteria in it...not sure about pregnancy. 

Honey is anti-bacterial, so this is false. 

You're not supposed to give it to babies under 2 yo because it introduces too many allergens.

As far as when you're pregnant, you can eat honey.  In fact, if you have allergies you should really take a tablespoon full of local raw honey to help.

 Seriously?! Could this save my sanity?!

Sorry, I missed this, but YES!  Make sure it is local (i.e. as close to where you live as possible).

Celtic Ember

Soon_2B_MrsM:

btw I am loving the bee ticker...I want the theme for baby's room to be all cute bee's and bugs but I could not find much for bee's everything is for lady bugs! I am still looking though. 

Look at Snug as a Bug from Kidsline. It's adorable and has snails, dragonflies and bees, and it's unisex It's probably the one we're getting.

Celtic Ember

Sorry, double post.

kg_08

I saw that post on 1st tri the other day.... The only reason you wouldn't be able to eat it is if it's unpasteurized, or if you're on a restricted diet due to GD and need to watch your sugar.

kcrouse06

I ate honey from a spoon when I was about 12 weeks to calm a cough. My doctor told me to do that...

bstrangely

Dobie_Mama:

Celtic Ember:

Only unpasturized honey, for the same reason we're not supposed to have unpasturized cheese. If you avoid everything someone says you might not be allowed to eat, I think we'd all starve to death.

This isn't true.  The danger from unpasteurized cheese is listeria.  Raw honey does not pose a listeria risk.  

i think you are correct after googling around for a bit... but do you have a citation for raw honey and listeria? i've seen both claims made, but only on forums. i have seen no article taking a stand either way. thanks!

Dobie_Mama

bstrangely:

Dobie_Mama:

Celtic Ember:

Only unpasturized honey, for the same reason we're not supposed to have unpasturized cheese. If you avoid everything someone says you might not be allowed to eat, I think we'd all starve to death.

This isn't true.  The danger from unpasteurized cheese is listeria.  Raw honey does not pose a listeria risk.  

i think you are correct after googling around for a bit... but do you have a citation for raw honey and listeria? i've seen both claims made, but only on forums. i have seen no article taking a stand either way. thanks!

I don't have anything that specifically says honey =/= Listeria, but if you look at the way Listeria is transmitted, it doesn't make sense.  From the APA:

Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria that is found in water and soil. Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil, and animals can also be carriers. Listeria has been found in uncooked meats, uncooked vegetables, unpasteurized milk, foods made from unpasteurized milk, and processed foods. Listeria is killed by pasteurization and cooking. There is a chance that contamination may occur in ready-to-eat foods such as hot dogs and deli meats because contamination may occur after cooking and before packaging.¹

Dr. Greene also has a little blurb about botulism being the bacteria of concern in honey, and why that isn't a concern for pregnant women:

Normally, swallowing spores is not a problem for healthy adults or older children. The spores usually remain spores. The bacteria do not grow well in mature intestines teeming with beneficial bacteria. Pregnant women, other adults, and older children are routinely exposed to spores without being affected.

 

So my basic breakdown is: 

Listeria - Not found in honey.

Botulism - Maybe found in honey, but not harmful to a healthy adult

Oriana.Ocampo

AleciaMarie:

Holy longass siggy oriana, I had to hit page down 4 times to get past it.

Honey is fine to eat, just not for babies once their born.

heatheruby

Oh great - something else I can't eat!  Actually I haven't heard this from my OB.  I could see why not to though...

A*manda*

pixy_stix:

kofmkg:

The concern with honey during pregnancy is that it is not pasturized.  My doc has not cautioned me about it-- and I've eaten honey without incident while pregnant.

Commercial honey such as Clover honey IS pasteurized.  They're not able to sell it nationally without being pasteurized.  Raw honey, found at health food stores or local beekeepers is not.

Interestingly enough, though, the commercial stuff seems to never SAY it's pasteurized and it drives me nuts. 

I just have honey rarely-- in the occasional hot tea, that's about it so I figure rarely is fine. 

And I've heard the botulism thing as well for years as far as giving it to infants, so I'll be keeping my LO away from it for a while.