No honey!? :(

HL1626 · June 2011

So today I ate a couple of honey sticks from the farmers market. I had a few a couple of weeks ago too. As I was eating the second one, I suddenly remembered during my 1st pregnancy I was told not to eat honey. Not sure if things have changed in last 10yrs so I asked. I was told that it is highly recommeded not eat honey while pregnant or nursing. Honey is not pasturized and may contain botulism spores. I was so bummed. I love flavored honey sticks.

Now I am sure this is one of those topics where there is mixed reviews. I know for me, I am one of crazy pregnant women who will not eat or drink something that may harm the baby. I would blame myself forever if something happened. Even if it wasn't related to what I ate or drank. However, I do feel that it up to each pregnant women to make her own choices and I do NOT judge what other pregnant women do.

CamJack mom · June 2011

I think they mean real honey, most honey dips, sauces, or a honey flavored stick probably is a pasturized product. Pure unpasturized honey is expensive.

HL1626 · June 2011

I didn't think about that. I am going to check the bottle I have in my cupboard. I think next week when we go back I will ask the honey people if they pasturize the sticks. I know they have pure honey too. You can even get it with some of the comb in it.

lageorgiapaperie · June 2011

I've not heard that one! I've actually eaten peanut butter and honey toast a few times since BFP .

I know pb is controversial too b/c some say it can increase the likeliness of a peanut allergy.

MesmrEwe · June 2011

This from a beekeeper's kid... Honey that is in honey sticks has gone through a heat process in order to get put in the sticks. Raw Honey that has not been through a heat process is the real thing to watch out for, however, the risk is super minimal at best and the original science behind the recommendation is HORRIBLE at best (summed up, the population sample was 4... that's IT, and at best by anyone who can understand how to read research would otherwise be classified as "junk science"). If it was such a risk for children to get botulism from honey, then children under one shouldn't be given root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, etc.) either because of the botulism risk which theoretically is higher, but alas, carrots are one, if not the, first foods a kiddo is exposed to...

Granted, I won't likely be giving baby honey for the first year, but the risks are so minimal especially with most honey having gone through a heat process (if you can see through it like it's clear, it has been through a heat process to strain out the "stuff")... If it's any idea, the first thing my aunts/uncles (12) on my Dad's side tasted when they were born was in fact honey.

Also, take this for what it's worth, this is the first time I've ever heard that a mother shouldn't eat honey either while PG or BF and I've been around the industry since I was a kid and have heard nothing of the sort.

hanna mae · June 2011

Some honey is actually pasturized - especially the store bought stuff. Read the labels. I don't know about the honey sticks that you got at the farmers market, but I think if you asked the person selling it if it was pasturized, you'd at least have a better idea of whether or not you should purchase it. I've consumed honey with ALL of my pregnancies (I like it with french fries). My oldest dd is 18 and the youngest is 18 mo with 4 others spread out in between those ages. I was never once told by my OB that I wasn't allowed to eat honey.

klafle3 · June 2011

I most definitely eat raw honey from the farmers market and don't plan on giving it up! I won't give it to my baby, though.

ETA: I'd like to add that my mw has never said anything about not eating honey, nor have I read that pregnant women shouldn't eat honey in the tons of pregnancy books I've read. I'm pretty sure honey is fine for pregnant women, just don't give it to your baby.

robynlynn83 · June 2011

lageorgiapaperie:

I've not heard that one! I've actually eaten peanut butter and honey toast a few times since BFP .

I know pb is controversial too b/c some say it can increase the likeliness of a peanut allergy.

The research is so mixed on all this stuff. My kids have MSPI, #3 was dairy, soy, peanut, treenut, and egg intolerant. #1 has Celiac Disease. With each kid, I've read more and more research that is conflicting. Just like the debate of whether or not to eliminate dairy in the last trimester for MSPI kiddos, which I do the last month, yet each kid has worse MSPI (another research question, do subsequent children get it worse).

The honey thing, I have never heard. I ate honey from the Farmer's Market with each kid and they are fine

rubyjem00 · June 2011

I love honey and actually looked this up when I was first pregnant because I knew that babies under a year old can't have honey. All the research said that it was fine for pregnant women. That obviously doesn't trump what your doctor may have told you but at least it shows that there is no conclusive answer.

McSquishy · June 2011

I have never heard of this and this is my third kid! I really wouldn't worry.

lenabug · June 2011

The reason babies cannot have honey is because their tiny tummy's have a different pH for the first 6 months or so, and the acidity is not enough to kill botulism spores. After 6 months, the pH becomes closer to that of an adult; the "1 year" mark is just to be safe.

While honey could contain the spores, the acidity found in a pregnant woman's tummy would kill them off, and they will not pass through the digestive system in order to get to baby.

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