Honey during pregnancy

bsweinhart · April 2011

My husband and I keep honey bees and I try to as much as possible, to use honey as an alternative for a sweetner in tea, baking, cooking etc. I know that infants can not have honey up until 1 year of age however I am unsure of any risks that it might cause while being pregnant. If you are aware of anything please let me know-any information is better then not knowing! My intake is very minimal at this time because of not knowing of the risks if there are any....

MommyTwoTimes · April 2011

It's fine. The risk to babies is in their undeveloped immune systems and the possibility of botulism.

FutureMrsWittig · April 2011

I thought babies couldn't have it because it has some laxative qualities? I think you should be fine though.

Kierasmommy09 · April 2011

It's fine during pregnancy, along with eggs, peanut butter strawberries etc. They aren't an issue until you can hold baby in your arms. Smile

Enjoy cause I'm totally jealous of your honey supply!

aesf · April 2011

its actually great for your sinuses during pregnancy if taken everyday you build up a pollen immunity... you have to be taking local honey.

MilMom2B · April 2011

It's because of honey possibly containing the bacteria that causes botulism. Infants under age 1 don't have a developed enough digestive track to kill it off.

However, while pregnant is just fine! Your digestive track should kill off the yucky bacteria if it's there before it gets to baby. Enjoy your honey crop! Is it called a crop?

MommyTwoTimes · April 2011

It's because of babies' "leaky" gut, or rather, their intestinal tract. The botulism spores can get through their intestinal walls and into the bloodstream. And their immune systems aren't equipped to fight it and it can be really dangerous. Older children and adults don't have the same "leaky" intestines and have stronger immune systems, so the risk is diminished.

bsweinhart · April 2011

@ MommyTwoTimes...I was pretty sure that it caused Botulisum in Infants. Thank you for clearing my thoughts up!...Also I just saw your second post-that was an excellant explanation of what Botulisum is and does!

@ Kierrasmommy...Having our own local honey is such a treasure. Bees are so fascinating and I would not want it any other way:) What harm can peanuts and strawberries do after you have the Baby? I do plan to breast feed as well.

@ aesf...My husband and I do have bad allergies and that is why we started keeping our own honey beceuse our bees feed off the Alfalfa, Corn and Buckwheat feilds that we plant and there forr provide us with Immunity boosting honey to eat

@ MiMom2B...Yes you can call it a crop!

Kierasmommy09 · April 2011

bsweinhart:
@ MommyTwoTimes...I was pretty sure that it caused Botulisum in Infants. Thank you for clearing my thoughts up!...Also I just saw your second post-that was an excellant explanation of what Botulisum is and does!
@ Kierrasmommy...Having our own local honey is such a treasure. Bees are so fascinating and I would not want it any other way:) What harm can peanuts and strawberries do after you have the Baby? I do plan to breast feed as well.
@ aesf...My husband and I do have bad allergies and that is why we started keeping our own honey beceuse our bees feed off the Alfalfa, Corn and Buckwheat feilds that we plant and there forr provide us with Immunity boosting honey to eat
@ MiMom2B...Yes you can call it a crop!

They are some of the more prominent allergies and so it is recommended to wait until children are one for them. The eggs, I personally haven't done the research on but it's what my mom always said and so something I went by. (she's ALL ABOUT looking into allergies.) However, in some cases atleast, if you eat something that baby is allergic to then it seems to be a bit milder of a reaction if they get it through nursing. One woman's child was allergic to wheat (i believe) and when she ate some bread and nursed the baby had a reaction so she took it to the doctor only to find out if she had fed the baby the actual cereal he would probably have died. (sorry for that tangent >.<)

Matt_Kat · April 2011

I was also concerned about this so I asked my doctor when I was around 14 wks pregnant and she said it was fine, just not for babies. When I'm in doubt I call my doctor's office! I think having honey bees is a really neat idea! My husband and I have talked about getting some in the future!

MFAinNYC · April 2011

I wish I liked honey. I only like it "in" something. I can eat honey flavored stuff like tea or Honey Nut Cheerios. I'm a weirdo.

bsweinhart · April 2011

@Kierrasmommy...I had never heard of strawberries being an issue...but that all makes sense and it would be best I am sure to eat it while breatfeeding instead of directly to the child to see if there is an allergic reaction. I know that eggs they say, to be careful of salmonella....althought I eat my own eggs and are never treated in the same way that the stores and marketing do. They are much yummier and nutritionally richer as well!!

kateisgreat · April 2011

I was told the unpasteurized honey was not OK, but anything you can buy at the grocery store is fine. My DH got some raw honey that I have been avoiding, but I have been using my store-bought honey.

bsweinhart · April 2011

@ Kateisgreat....The store honey is not all natural dispite the labels readings. Best thing for you is straight from the hive locally. I can not believe the amounts of tainted honey that sells illegally as well. Raw honey is only honey that is processed differently then being spun by an extractor basically there is not such thing a "pasturized honey". Glad to hear that you are using Honey though...:)

kateisgreat · April 2011

bsweinhart:
@ Kateisgreat....The store honey is not all natural dispite the labels readings. Best thing for you is straight from the hive locally. I can not believe the amounts of tainted honey that sells illegally as well. Raw honey is only honey that is processed differently then being spun by an extractor basically there is not such thing a "pasturized honey". Glad to hear that you are using Honey though...:)

Hmm, the last jar of honey I bought said it was pasteurized on the label. I don't think I ever checked before I got pregnant, but I just bought some a few weeks ago. I would much rather be eating my DHs raw honey though...it smells awesome.

MommyTwoTimes · April 2011

I'd look into the peanut and strawberry thing more closely... the AAP recently released new data that suggests that earlier introduction of foods that commonly cause allergies may actually be beneficial. Unless, of course, there is a history of allergies/asthma in the family.

tjmtjm · April 2011

yummmm honey....

drool

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