What NOT to eat when pregnant?

[LRL]

Does anyone have a good list of what not to eat when you are pregnant? I have been craving salami, and I can't find any info that says not to eat it... :o

TIA!

[adoredh]

Not supposed to eat lunch meat unless you micro-wave it to the point of steaming. There is something that you can get, starts with an L. At first, I thought "yea right, I'm giving up my turkey sandwhiches..." but then my boss told me about a friend who lost their baby from the same L thing from lunch meat. So I've stayed away from it. (lysterious??? sorry, I can't spell it)
Heatting up your salami to steaming should be just fine.

Tuna sandwhiches, you can have once a week

Stay away from salad dressings that use unpastorized cheese or raw eggs (such as blue cheese dressing)

Don't eat unpastorized cheese

No egg nog - has raw eggs in it

No sushi

Stay away from artifical sweetners (diet coke etc)

Can't think of anything else right now... I would buy a book like "Your Pregnancy Week by Week" that's where I got all my information from.

[bombedier]

Raw Fish
Limit intake of fish containing high mercury content - e.g. Tuna, Swordfish, Mackeral
Deli Meats
Unpasturized Cheese
Caffeine
Drinks sweetened with Asparatime (spenda drinks OK)

That's off the top of my head right now...

[SaphirimalMei]

I dont have a whole list for you, but from what I understand salami would be off the list unless it was heated to a sufficient degree in order to ward off any lurking listeria. Any deli meat is at risk. Having said that I did not always heat my sandwich meat, but I didn't eat it that often.

an incomplete list:
deli meat (unless heated)
soft unpasturized cheeses (like some mozzarella)
freshwater fishes (due to mercury levels)
raw meats (it figures that the only thing I really CRAVED was sushi! LOL!)
caffeine (some docs say none, mine said less that 300 mg)

i know there's more, but that's a starter list :)

[ce_Kathleen]

You really should talk to your Dr. I know mine gave me a list of what I should/should not eat.

The only reason I say to ask your Dr is b/c there could be something particular that you should be avoiding due to your medical history.

For example: my dr told me to NOT drink regular soda (or juices or sugar sweetend drinks), that I should ONLY drink diet soda (or non-sugar sweetened drinks) due to my health history. This is opposite what most people are told to do.

But for the most part you should avoid lunch meats, unpasturized cheese, uncooked eggs/fish, etc (what everyone else said)

I hope this helps and you can satisfy your craving!

[mel7dog]

What Not to Eat
It's important to know which foods are safe to eat and which you need to avoid while pregnant. Eat a safe pregnancy diet, and learn about safe food storage and handling by following these tips from the Clemson University Agricultural Extension.


Don't eat:
Raw meat such as sushi, seafood, or rare/undercooked beef or poultry, because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.

Raw eggs, or foods containing raw egg, such as Caesar dressing, mayonnaise, homemade ice cream or custard, unpasteurized eggnog, or Hollandaise sauce, because raw eggs may be contaminated with salmonella.

Soft cheese such as blue cheese, feta, Brie, Camembert, and Latin-American soft white cheeses such as queso blanco and queso fresco, because they may harbor harmful bacteria.

Fish containing accumulated levels of mercury in their fatty tissues such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. When a pregnant woman consumes large amounts of mercury, her baby may suffer brain damage resulting in developmental delays (for example, delays in learning to walk or talk).

Fish containing high levels of an industrial pollutant called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in their fatty tissues such as bluefish and striped bass, and freshwater fish such as salmon, pike, trout, and walleye from contaminated lakes and rivers. According to the March of Dimes, consumption of large amounts of PCBs by pregnant women is linked to decreased attention, memory, and IQ in their babies. Check with your local Health Department to determine which fish in your area are safe to eat.

Exercise Caution
According to the March of Dimes, deli meats have led to outbreaks of a form of food poisoning called listeriosis, which is particularly harmful to fetuses. While the risk is low, you may want to thoroughly reheat deli meats (including hot dogs) to an internal temperature of 165 degrees, or avoid them altogether.

Minimize the amount of liver you eat. According to the March of Dimes, animal liver contains very high levels of vitamin A. While vitamin A is good for you, women who consume too much may risk a higher incidence of birth defects in their babies (however, studies are not conclusive). Since you're probably already taking prenatal vitamins and eating other vitamin A-containing foods, it's better to be safe and not consume liver on a regular basis. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended has that pregnant woman maintain their vitamin A intake at less than 8,000 IU per day and that vitamin A be taken in the form of beta-carotene, which is not considered toxic.

According to the FDA, consumption of artificial sweeteners is safe for the general public. No studies show conclusively that it's harmful to consume artificial sweeteners during pregnancy. However, this is a personal decision, and for your peace of mind -- and just to be on the safe side -- you might decide to limit your consumption of artificial sweeteners during pregnancy. Instead, substitute fruit juice with sparkling water when you need a light, refreshing drink.

According to a 1999 U.S. Health and Human Services press release, raw sprouts have led to some incidents of salmonella outbreaks. They advise that pregnant women eat sprouts that are cooked, or avoid eating them altogether.

[LRL]

Thank you ladies! That's exactly the info I was looking for. I have the book "What to Eat When You're Expecting", but I am afraid that it is a little outdated. :)

[Sevilla]

When it comes to mercury i'd rather play it super-conservative b/c it is so toxic.

Here's a list of fish that is safe/unsafe to eat:

IV. Most Toxic Fish: Children, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age should avoid completely
1. Orange Roughy
2. Tuna (Albacore, Bluefin, Yellowfin)
3. Bass (Sea, Chilean)
4. Swordfish
5. Arctic Char (Freshwater)
6. Grouper
7. Halibut (Atlantic)

V. Semi-toxic fish: Children, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age should not consume more than once per month
1. Cod (read the label on fish sticks, cod is a very common)
2. Tuna (canned light)
3. Farmed Salmon
4. Snapper (red or imported)
5. Crab (Imitation-Pollock, Dungeness, Blue-Gulf Coast)
6. Lobster (Maine)
7. Mahi Mahi

VI. Least toxic fish: Safe to eat all the time
1. Tilapia
2. Shrimp
3. Scallops
4. Salmon (wild)
5. Rainbow Trout (farmed)
6. Sardines
7. Crab (King, Snow)
8. Squid
9. Lobster (spiny rock)
10. Crawfish
11. Clams
12. Catfish
13. Arctic Char (Saltwater)
14. Anchovies

(taken from www.thegreenguide.com)

[tlew12778]

Here in Italy they don't limit women at all. They just tell you to not really eat too much tunafish or other high mercury fishes and to limit yourself to one espresso a day. Cheeses and salamis/deli meats are fine. Basically everything in moderation.

I'm not saying either country is right. Just offering another perspective.

[LeslieR]

My dr also told me everything in moderation. The only thing I got a 'do not eat' on was the different kinds of fish with high levels of mercury. Otherwise everything in moderation. I don't think I would have survived this pregnancy if I couldn't eat deli meat!

[lml41981]

My doc said to limit my caffeine to 300mg a day and not have alcohol. I specifically asked about mayo and she said it is fine. She did say to make sure to wash fruits and veggies due to toxoplasmosis. That reminds me of the other thing she told me...she said you get toxoplasmosis from ingesting the spores or whatever they're called...so if you have a cat, you can clean the litter box just (and these are her words) "don't eat the poop."

Lunch meats...if I can stomach them, I just try to eat them in moderation. If anyone in either family is allergic to nuts, you might want to stay away from nuts while you're pregnant and breastfeeding.

Really, though, this is a comfort issue that you need to discuss with your doctor. Doctors have different opinions, so you'll need to find someone whose thoughts mesh well with your thoughts. If you're super-conservative and cautious, then you may not be comfy with a very liberal doctor (obviously I don't mean politically). If you're pretty liberal with what you're willing to eat and the risks you're willing to take, then find a doctor who is also a bit more liberal.

[amychris03]

*Really dumb question here*

How do you tell if a cheese is pasteurized or not? Does it
say on the label? I have never looked to be honest, but I guess
I should start paying attention to that!

[lml41981]

Any milk or cheese that is labeled "Grade A" is pasteurized. Any cheese made in the US will be pasteurized. You have to watch out for:
Imported soft cheeses are another story. These may include Brie, Camembert, feta, goat, Limburger, Montrachet, Neufchatel, queso fresco, and Pont-Leveque. Listeria can also be found in unpasteurized semi-soft cheeses (slightly more solid cheeses that do not grate easily and are often coated with wax to preserve moisture and extend shelf life). Semi-soft cheeses include Asiago, Belle Paese, bleu, brick, Gorgonzola, Havarti, Muenster, Port-Salut, Roquefort, and Taleggio. Listeria is not found in hard cheeses such as Cheddar, or in processed cheeses such as cottage cheese, or in yogurt.
From BabyCenter (http://www.babycenter.com/expert/pregnancy/pregnancynutrition/3175.html)

BabyCenter also adds that cheeses made from raw milk have to age at least 60 days, which ought to kill harmful bacteria. I didn't know that...maybe I can have a small slice of brie, afterall.

***

On the aspertame thing...I put a packet of sweet n low in my tea or coffee with no qualms. I am comfortable with it, though I realize others may not. Shoot...my Zofran has aspertame in it, so if it were that bad, then pg women couldn't have Zofran. On days I take Zofran, though, I do not use sweet n low.

[EJM]

*Really dumb question here*

How do you tell if a cheese is pasteurized or not? Does it
say on the label? I have never looked to be honest, but I guess
I should start paying attention to that!

You can usually find it on the huge cheese wheel, not the label itself, at least in my experience. I usually just ask the cheese person, and make sure they know what they are talking about. In stores like Whole Foods or a specialty cheese store, they generally will.

I've been able to find almost all cheeses in a pasteurized version with some hunting around, and asking questions. For example, you usually are told to avoid goat cheese. I love goat cheese so this has been really hard, but I recently discovered a pasteurized version at our local wine shop when the cheese buyer realized why I kept asking about pasteurization. It tastes a little different, but for a deprived pregnant woman -- its heaven!

[ShannonGH]

This is all really great information...thanks!
I love bleu and feta....I guess I'll just have to make sure it says "pasteurized" now.

[Kanga]

I think it all depends on your doctor for the most part. My doctor is pretty liberal - never said anytihng about lunch meat, allows up to 2 cans of soda a day, small am'ts of tuna, etc. But then also says to avoid the litterbox.

I think most dr.'s will agree though to avoid alcohol, smoke, and soft (unpasterized) cheeses.

[Camdynlyn]

Giving this a bump. I LOVE canned Tuna sandwiches and after reading that, it makes me want it even more! Ahhh.

Also, I can't have mayonaise or ceaser dressing?

[Sophia]

Also, I can't have mayonaise or ceaser dressing?

They're fine if they're bottled because they won't have raw egg in them. But the fresh, home-made stuff probably does have raw egg and may have salmonella. In restaurants, ask.

[jcharley]

It takes alot of soda to reach the 300mg intake of caffiene. My doctor said a limit coffee to one or 2 cups (I usually get my Starbucks decaf just to be safe), but a can of diet coke only has something like 30mg of caffine in it, so I do have regular diet coke now and then, usually when we are out, because I hate caffiene free diet coke! I have also read that if you eat sushi at a reputable place that you know is fresh and well prepared, the risk of salmonella or anything else isn't any greater than getting sick at a regular restaurant. I asked my doctor, and he told me pretty much the same thing- I shouldn't eat it every day, and I should eat a pound of tuna, but if it was a high quality place, once in a while would be fine. So we are having sushi for New Years!!! Canned tuna is OK in moderation, like once a week, but deli meat should be heated. HTH!

[Camdynlyn]

Back to deli meats.... what about eating at Subway and Jersey Mike's subs? I live for turkey subs!! EEK! PLEASE tell me I can have that still.

[Camdynlyn]

I really need an answer for this becuase I am going to Bear Rock Cafe today and I like the cold turkey sandwich! HELP!

[mel7dog]

Summer -
Here's what I found on about Pregnancy:

Exercise Caution:
According to the March of Dimes, deli meats have led to outbreaks of a form of food poisoning called Listeriosis, that is particularly harmful to fetuses. While the risk is low, you may want to thoroughly reheat deli meats to an internal temperature of 165 degrees (including hot dogs) or avoid them altogether.

I wouldn't worry about the deli meat thing as long as it isn't every day. Since you said you have subs and sandwitches a lot, maybe cut back to 1 day a week, or ask the meat to be steamed first?

[Camdynlyn]

Thanks, Mel. Subs once a week? How will I live?? I LIVE off subs. Bah.

[Izzy]

My Dr(s) have stood by the everything in moderation rule-and that's what I have followed.
I did eat sashimi grade tuna when we were out for dinner one night, had a glass of red wine, eaten all kinds of cheese, and had my fair share of mahi mahi.
I have a healthy and quite active baby kicking around in me.
I think I inhale more toxic things in the city then food I eat!

[Jenyfer9]

My Doc's office is located right next to a Subway. Needless to say I grabbed a sandwich there after every appointment. I asked the doc if there was a problem with this and he said "only if you don't like Subway".

Don't sweat the small stuff, ladies.

[Annette]

My neighbor told me to avoid peanuts while pregnant because the baby can develop a peanut allergy. She only mentioned it to me cause her daughter has a severe peanut allergy and feels that it was her fault. Anyone have any info on this?

[Lil_Mrs_0702]

I have heard that the peanut thing is an old wives tale. I have also heard that if you crave peanuts then you may for some odd reason create an allergy. Again, I think the everything in moderation rule takes place.

Lunch meat- I felt like such a dork because right after I found out I was pg, I went to the grocery store and got a ton of lunch meat and cheese and stuff for sandwiches. It wasn't until a month later that I heard I wasn't suppose to be eating it. I figured that a sandwich has got to the healthiest thing you can eat.

Honestly I would go nuts if I was too strict to the pregnancy diet, here this is the time that you are suppose to be eating strange combos and have the excuse that you are eating for two yet you can't eat 1/2 the stuff that you crave or like.

[craftgenius]

Immediately after I had my first Beta test on Wednesday, I went to the subway located in the hospital and bought a cold cut combo! And the night before I had some fried catfish. Is catfish one of the fishes that is supposed to be high in mercury??? I'm with Camdynlyn...I'm going to have a hard time cutting back on Subway sandwiches...and the one that I typically get most often is the tuna!!! :eek:

[Camdynlyn]

OOh just found this:


If you're pregnant and eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish, even occasionally, it's a good idea to stop. Although almost all fish and shellfish contain small amounts of mercury, you can enjoy some with lower mercury levels (shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish) in moderation (no more than 12 ounces a week, say the FDA and EPA). Because albacore (or white) tuna or tuna steaks are higher in mercury than canned light tuna, it's recommended that you eat no more than 6 ounces a week.


Source: http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/eating_pregnancy.html

I eat canned light tuna from the tiny cans to make a sandwich or put it on crackers. I can continue that! Whoo hoo. I maybe eat that once a week or once every two weeks so I'm cleared! I don't eat many other fish.

[maplekitty]

I just recently bought some feta for a dinner party this weekend. I read the ingredients and it says "pasterized milk" - that's what we're looking for right?

Cause it doesn't say pasterized on the actual front of the container, but it's the pasterized milk that we need to look out for, correct?

[aprilshowers]

Correct. Or rather you'd want to look for "raw milk" or "unpasteurized millk" and avoid those.

[dionysia]

Maplekitty: I recently found out that it's not just raw cheese (i.e., unpasteurized) we have to avoid, but also soft cheeses (e.g., feta, brie).

I fully admit that I will cheat by having feta on my salad occasionally. I'm Greek, dammit, I have to eat feta!! :p

Di

[jesseybell]

I finally started eating feta, though I could have the whole time because they all seem to be made with pasteurized milk. 2 slices of pepperoni pizza and a greek salad is my guilty pleasure for lunch when I am having a bad day at work.

[berry]

With regards to Peanuts during pregnancy, it really depends on your family history. Here is more info:

Food Allergy Prevention
from FAAN and ACAAI Press Release

Dietary Modifications May Delay Food Reactions
Nursing mothers can help prevent or delay food allergic reactions in high-risk infants through dietary modifications, according to a report in the April 25, 2002 issue of New England Journal of Medicine.
"Studies suggest that mothers from families with a history of allergies should refrain from eating peanuts through the duration of breastfeeding to avoid introducing peanut proteins to their offspring," said allergist-immunologist John M. James, M. D., Fort Collins, CO. "A nursing mother should also avoid eating other foods that a baby is allergic to, which most commonly are eggs and cows' milk."

Approximately 6 percent of children may develop a food allergy by the age of two, and studies suggest infants with a family history of allergy may be two to three times more likely to develop an allergy.

Exclusive breastfeeding of infants for the first 6 to 12 months of life is often recommended to prevent the development of milk or soy allergies during infancy.
Anne Muñoz-Furlong, founder and president of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), stresses that all new mothers, as well as mothers-to-be, should be informed about the seriousness of food allergies. "Prenatal education is important, so that by the time a mother begins nursing her newborn, she will be equipped with the strategies to mitigate the chances that her baby will develop a food allergy," she said.

FAAN has created a brochure, "Preventing or Delaying the Onset of Food Allergies in Infants," that lists strategies and precautions for mothers of babies who are at risk for developing an allergy. The brochure also includes food allergy basics, and contact information for additional resources, such as the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI).

"Children with severe food allergies require special precautions," said Barbara E. Magera, M.D., Chair, ACAAI Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee, Charleston, S.C. "Parents and all caregivers must be informed on how to prevent and manage a child's allergy reaction, including the administration of epinephrine (adrenaline).

"Parents should also make sure that epinephrine is immediately accessible in their child's classroom and that multiple school staff members are trained in its administration," Dr. Magera said.

Between 6-7 million Americans are estimated to have a food allergy, and this number is continuing to rise. Food-induced anaphylaxis is believed to cause about 30,000 trips to the emergency room annually. It is also estimated that between 150-200 people die each year, some of them children, because of severe allergic reactions to food.

"Currently, the only reliable therapy for food allergic reactions is restriction or complete elimination of the responsible food allergen, and emergency management of reactions in case food allergen is accidentally ingested," Dr. James said.

Food allergy management tips from the ACAAI and FAAN include:


Carefully check all ingredient labels.

Learn other names of the food responsible for the allergy.

Exercise caution when eating out because restaurant staff is not always aware of specific menu ingredients or how food is prepared.

Be careful when eating food that is packaged in multi-packs with other foods. While one product may be considered "safe," there is a risk of cross-contamination because products may leak or become unwrapped.

Learn to recognize symptoms early and always be prepared to handle an allergic reaction.

Always carry epinephrine if a severe allergic reaction has occurred and wear a medical bracelet or necklace to quickly alert medical personnel or caregivers about food allergies.

Teach family and friends about the warning signs of an allergic reaction and how to manage it.

Obtain assistance from food-allergy cookbooks, patient support groups, such as the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, and registered dieticians.
Reference
Sampson HA. Peanut allergy. N Engl J Med 2002;346:1294-1299

Found this here http://allergies.about.com/cs/food/a/blfaanprevent.htm

[charliezangel]

OK, a question. I am a HUGE sushi fan, but I know that raw fish is a nono and it seems that even the cooked crab in a cali roll is not recommended. But beyond the fish, is the seaweed wrap also a problem? I'm thinking if I get a vegetable roll with like avacado and cucumber i can still have my "sushi" experience.

ETA Why are soft cheeses a problem?

[amychris03]

I always eat california rolls when I crave sushi. In fact we were in a
sushi restaurant, and the very japanese waitress pointed to what was
safe for me to eat and that was one of them, so I wouldn't worry too
much about it if you want a california. The seaweed wrap should also
be no problem!

I don't eat a ton of soft cheeses, but it was always my understanding
to stay away from those because of the pasteurization issue... So if I
see that it's pasturized, I will eat it and it hasn't seemed to cause
any problems as of yet!

[maplekitty]

Maplekitty: I recently found out that it's not just raw cheese (i.e., unpasteurized) we have to avoid, but also soft cheeses (e.g., feta, brie).

I fully admit that I will cheat by having feta on my salad occasionally. I'm Greek, dammit, I have to eat feta!! :p

Di

and you know what I've never noticed before, but now that I'm consious of it, I noticed it? It says pasterized on the front of my cream cheese package. I knew about feta and ricotta and brie, etc....but I surely wasn't thinking cream cheese??? Good thing it's pasterized, because I don't know fi I could live without my bagels and cream cheese!!

[charliezangel]

I am addicted to bre cheese. That sucks that we can't have it.

[Hula1974]

I love this thread! A few more questions though....

1) I thought I read somewhere that soy was a no-no. Is that True? If so, would that mean edamame, soy milk, etc?
2) For lunch meats...would the same go for deli sliced cheeses since they can sometimes be sliced on the same slicer?
3) Lunc meats again...why do they say "in moderation"? I would think that if the meat is contaminated that that's that. Wouldn't matter how many times you eat it right? Wouldn't it just mean your chances are increased? Or am I interpretting it wrong?
4) Ceasar dressing....are all bottled ok? Just need to ask at a restaurant right? I guess I thought ALL ceasar dressings were made with raw egg.

Thanks ladies. This is so insightful!

[Nigellas]

OK, So I know I can’t eat fresh mozzarella, but what if I cook it- is it ok then?

I like to put hunks of fresh Mozz on my bruschetta (Mmmmm) and then broil it– Will the cooking kill any ickies, or is it still bad?

[amurphy]

I just recently bought some feta for a dinner party this weekend. I read the ingredients and it says "pasterized milk" - that's what we're looking for right?

I thought I was in the clear for eating brie that was made with pasterized milk, but when I asked my doc she said that the entire cheese product must say pasterized. She said that although the milk is pasterized, the cheese can get contaminated as it ages. So, that's her two cents. Boo.

[smiles]

I don't cut anything out when I'm pregnant, I eat what I like, just don't eat it all the time. If I'm in the mood for a sub, I eat it, if I want tuna, I eat it.

don't stop enjoying food just because you're pregnant, just take into consideration how often you're eating the foods that they say to watch.

[Scooter]

I love this thread! A few more questions though....
1) I thought I read somewhere that soy was a no-no. Is that True? If so, would that mean edamame, soy milk, etc?

You can eat soy. It's just that it's better to eat it in moderation, because it has properties similar to estrogen. So don't have soy milk on your cereal for breakfast, edamame with lunch, and tofu with dinner everyday. ;) But if you want any of those meals by themselves, go for it. I sure haven't cut out soy from my diet all together, and don't really know how I'd do that anyway.

[Aletheia]

I've been pretty low-key when it comes to the whole "avoid this" list. But two things happened recently, and I will not eat another deli meat sandwich for a while:

I saw a show where a mom lost a 4 month old fetus to listeria, and found out that being PG makes us more susceptible to listeria. We are 20x more susceptible than non-PG adults. Worse, in other adults it's just like getting the flu if they do catch it. For us, it causes a uterine infection that causes a miscarriage (in addition to flu-like symptoms.)
And then I had a bit of brown spotting end of this last week, and I went from being non-chalant to super over protective of my bean in a split second. I don't care how much I crave a turkey sandwich. I crave having a baby more.

In the end, I'm not sure mercury, peanuts, allergies, artificial sweeteners, etc. are that big a deal-- those in moderation seems wise to me because the bad possibilities are due to CUMULATIVE consumption. But listeria is like roulette- it could just be ONE sandwich, and that could be it. I'm not satisfied with those odds.

[maplekitty]

Wait Mozza is out!??! That's the only cheese I usually eat (and I have been eating it like a nut recently!).

Better go check my packaging!!! :(

[Marie]

The fresh mozzarella we buy is pasteurized. The thing to avoid is products labelled with "raw milk" - most cheese produced in the US is pasteurized, be careful and double check imported cheese.

[emmjay]

Any cheese imported to and sold in the US from another country is supposed to be made from pasteurized milk, and there are also aging requirements for specific kinds of cheeses.

The key phrase is "supposed to" - there are loopholes and some cheese shops will sell imported cheese regardless, so it's possible to get cheese made from raw milk. However, most of the time it is pasteurized.

I'm not an expert on cheese or anything - the cheese guy at my shop told me this when I asked whether a particular brie was pasteurized, and then I googled it.

[Marie]

Emmjay, in the nicer cheese selections we find unpasteurized imported ones all the time. So you do have to check.

[emmjay]

I was just pointing out that legally it is *supposed to* be pasteurized even if it's imported. I also mentioned that there are loopholes and some places sell unpasteurized cheese anyway. I don't think I suggested that people don't check if it is a concern to them.

ETA - I just checked at my cheese store and through my brief and totally unscientific survey I noticed that most of the raw/unpasteurized cheeses are aged for a certain amount of time. I have no idea what that means in terms of potential for listeria, so just go w/ your doctor's advice! :)

[Esq.]

There are a lot of conflicting rules in this thread, and I have to say...I am confused.

My main conern" I too LOVE GOAT CHEESE. I CANNOT IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT IT. There isa brand that I am aware of that says it is pastuerized. Am I to understand that is okay, or not okay? It seems that both opinions have been presented here.

[Squee]

Is heated cheese no matter what it is ok??? Would it not kill what ever bad bugs there are? Sorry if its a silly question!

[emmjay]

There are a lot of conflicting rules in this thread, and I have to say...I am confused.

My main conern" I too LOVE GOAT CHEESE. I CANNOT IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT IT. There isa brand that I am aware of that says it is pastuerized. Am I to understand that is okay, or not okay? It seems that both opinions have been presented here.
I think a lot depends on your own comfort level. I haven't restricted anything except for high-mercury fish, but I know a lot of people would rather err on the side of caution and eliminate cold cuts, soft cheese, sushi, etc. It's probably best call your doctor and ask him/her about the goat cheese.

[mel7dog]

The only thing I have gone completely without is alcohol.

I have eaten tuna and other fish a few times, a coffee every other week or so, cheeses every now and then, etc. I just be sure not to have the questionable food more than every few weeks.

[savannahgrl]

Deli and sub sandwiches are the only thing I have been able to keep down. I have been eating them everyday and heating the sandwiches before I eat them, but not to where they are steaming hot. So if I were to put them in the microwave, how long should I heat it for?

[brenda]

I specifically asked my midwife about the soft cheeses. She says, "Anything pasteurized is fine - cheeses, eggs, milk, etc. Not pasteurized is not good. When in doubt, pass on it."

[Ohana]

savannahgrl The no no list from my OB didn't include cold cuts, and I asked about it. They said don't worry about cold cuts, so I've been enjoying them on a regular basis without heating. Just throwing that out there because there is a lot of conflicting information, and I consider my OB to be amongst the most conservative.

[brenda]

Apparently, the restrictions on deli meat are stricter in areas where they have outbreaks of listeria in the semi-recent past. I live on the NJ/PA border, and we've had listeria outbreaks in the past few years, so it's somethine I was explicitly told to avoid, both verbally and in a handout. Other places without a history of the problem may not have to worry about it as much.

[PinkMartini]

I didn't get any 'list' of foods I am supposed to stay away from :confused: but I was wondering about shell fish? A coworker of FH told him when his wife was pregnant, she wasn't supposed to eat shell fish (shrimp; crab; lobster; ect) does anyone know?

[jbenny75]

I've been pretty low-key when it comes to the whole "avoid this" list. But two things happened recently, and I will not eat another deli meat sandwich for a while:
I saw a show where a mom lost a 4 month old fetus to listeria, and found out that being PG makes us more susceptible to listeria. We are 20x more susceptible than non-PG adults. Worse, in other adults it's just like getting the flu if they do catch it. For us, it causes a uterine infection that causes a miscarriage (in addition to flu-like symptoms.)
And then I had a bit of brown spotting end of this last week, and I went from being non-chalant to super over protective of my bean in a split second. I don't care how much I crave a turkey sandwich. I crave having a baby more.
In the end, I'm not sure mercury, peanuts, allergies, artificial sweeteners, etc. are that big a deal-- those in moderation seems wise to me because the bad possibilities are due to CUMULATIVE consumption. But listeria is like roulette- it could just be ONE sandwich, and that could be it. I'm not satisfied with those odds.


I agree, and this is exactly what I was thinking as I read along about listeria. I don't see how simply limiting intake of cold cuts could make a difference when all you have to do is ingest one contaminated piece of meat. I have had a pretty terrible case of food poisoning in the past from my fav salami and cheese sub, so I know it's very possible for that to happen. I will not be eating any lunch meat while I'm PG.

My doctor gave me a handout about listeria, and he is very laidback and doesn't seem to be concerned about many of the things I ask him about. So I know that if he's concerned about listeria, it's really something to worry about.

[Hula1974]

Brenda - I'm on the NJ/PA border too and my doc said no deli meats. I didn't realize it was a regional thing though....

My Dr. said no to deli meats but did say it was ok to eat prepackaged meats like Healthy Choice, etc. She said they are sealed as soon as they are cut so the fear is not there. good to know....

[bunnybeth]

Deli and sub sandwiches are the only thing I have been able to keep down. I have been eating them everyday and heating the sandwiches before I eat them, but not to where they are steaming hot. So if I were to put them in the microwave, how long should I heat it for?
My OB told me to heat the meat until it's steaming. For just the meat (not the whole sandwich) it's about 20-30 seconds in the microwave.

[Ohana]

PinkMartini The list I was given said shrimp if fine as often as you wish, and then crab, lobster, etc was limited to a couple of times a week.

[PinkMartini]

PinkMartini The list I was given said shrimp if fine as often as you wish, and then crab, lobster, etc was limited to a couple of times a week.

Awesome, thanks for answering my question ;)

[dionysia]

I've cut out all coldcuts/deli meats.

Shellfish are fine, according to my OB-GYN.

Di

[sake]

I've been eating a lot of it...

[cosmic]

Funny! So much of the stuff on these do-not-eat lists are the foreign/unpasturized/untreated/organic/deli things I used to get all the time at Whole Foods. It seems a lot of things I consider health food aren't exactly healthy for the baby. Glad I stumbled on this thread. :)

[shouldaeloped]

so. . maybe a dumb question here .. but when do all these concerns go away? is Listeria still a threat in the 3rd trimester?

[dionysia]

I've been eating a lot of it...String cheese is good! Lots of calcium and a quick snack.

Di

[brenda]

Listeria is a concern for the entirety of the pregnancy. The infection can kill the baby at any stage of development.

[sake]

How about smoked salmon/lox? Is that out?

[ausi2b]

I apologize if this has been asked earlier ...

I am drinking caffeine free coke (but not the diet kind). I'm trying to avoid caffeine completely, and it doesn't say on the can - is this completely caffeine free? I know that decaf coffee still has a bit of caffeine in it.

I know I'm being paranoid ;)

[jbenny75]

You should be okay. My OB said that you could actually have up to two regular cups of coffee a day, so if there is any tiny amount of caffiene in your soda, it shouldn't be a big deal. I'd worry more about the sugar and high calories if it isn't diet-what are they like in that particular drink?

[brenda]

While soda isn't so great b/c of the sugar, diet soda is worse because of the chemicals. So, if you must drink the stuff - and my hubby is addicted to the diet, so I understand - I think you're better off with regular. And, yes, he is physically addicted to the aspertame. Ick.

[ManteoChik]

Wow....it's good to know about the seafood. While I'm not PG yet, one of my biggest "what ifs" is how I'll survive without seafood (I'm a seafood every day type of girl).

Unfortunatly, my two favorites types are fish are no-no's....tuna and grouper. Does anyone know about Dolphin (mahi-mahi)??

[PinkMartini]

You should be okay. My OB said that you could actually have up to two regular cups of coffee a day, so if there is any tiny amount of caffiene in your soda, it shouldn't be a big deal.

I was told the same thing (Prior to finding out I was pregnant, I was drinking 4-5 soda's/day - I love me some caffiene)....

[janu98]

THis may sound stupid!!! but can i eat a fish filet sandwich from McDonalds??? That is all i have been craving all dayyy

[Ericka_Jarett]

Janu - yes you can have them. They use pollock so it's a safe fish.

[savannahgrl]

Question... my doctor warned me of eating deli meats from the deli, but said that prepackaged deli meats are ok. After reading this thread, I gather that most doctors are warning against all deli meats. Is this correct?

[Ericka_Jarett]

My doctor is ok with lunch meats (deli or prepackaged), just suggested that I get it heated before eating. That's pretty easy if you get a Subway or Quiznos sub, since you can get toasted subs. As for home, I usually hit the meat in the toaster oven

[Janey]

savannahgrl (and whoever else cares) - Here is a website with information on Listeria:

http://www.about-listeria.com/

If you click on the "prevention" link, one of the bullets says that ready-to-eat prepackaged meats should be heated to steaming before eating.

[janu98]

I ate bleu cheese in my salad at TGIF yesturday, I was on my lunch break so i couldnt send it back. Do you think that is okay? Should i be concerned???

[Hula1974]

Question... my doctor warned me of eating deli meats from the deli, but said that prepackaged deli meats are ok. After reading this thread, I gather that most doctors are warning against all deli meats. Is this correct?

My doctor said ok to pre-packaged meats. She never said anything about heating them (deli or pre-packaged). Her theory was that pre-packaged meats are cut and packed immediately. There is none of the sitting around that happens in a deli.

[Janey]

janu98 - Probably not. Especially if you feel fine. Next time, I'd ask the server to make sure the restaurant cheese is pasteurized, and to otherwise leave it off the salad.

[janu98]

What about a hot dog? i also ate that on Sunday at a birthday party? I am beginning to feel sick... naseous (unusual for me) and achy... Maybe i am just getting plain old sick, but should i check with my doc to make sure?

[PrincessCJ81]

You are probably getting sick from nerves of worrying about the hotdog.

I think a hotdog or a little blue cheese is okay...It is the continued exposure to it that is harmful.


Forgive me if there is another thread for this, but what kind of prenatals is everyone taking?

[Janey]

janu98 - If the hotdog was heated to steaming, you should be fine as far as Listeria goes. Call your Dr. if it helps to calm your nerves.

Princess - I take Nature's Made prenatals. They were cheap and at Costco when I was, so I bought 'em. I think there is a thread for it, if you search "prenatal" under the advanced search/titles only, you'll probably come up with something.

[wine_o_girlie]

You are probably getting sick from nerves of worrying about the hotdog.

I think a hotdog or a little blue cheese is okay...It is the continued exposure to it that is harmful.


I agree that worrying about the hot dog is doing you more harm than just making sure the hot dog is cooked all the way through and eating it. Also, I would be willing to bet a lot of money that a restaurant isn't serving cheese made with unpasteurized cheese.

[janu98]

Thanks guys!!

[Ericka_Jarett]

I have had hot dogs at home and never sick. Was probably just cause you thought about it after the fact. No worries

Prenatals- I usually take OneSource (you take 2 cause they are small like an Advil) Presently I have another brand I am using think they are Spring Valley

[Hula1974]

Yeah, big hot dog fan here. This time of year when you can grill them and get the outside almost burnt. It's heaven on a bun. Who'd a thunk it?

My dr. never warned me against hot dogs.

[janu98]

What about the bleu cheese?

[wine_o_girlie]

Also, I would be willing to bet a lot of money that a restaurant isn't serving cheese made with unpasteurized cheese.

Janu, that's what I said about the bleu cheese on the prior page. Soft cheeses are fine as long as they aren't made with unpasteurized milk. HTH.

[Ade]

Newly pregnant women might want to read through this whole thread before posting questions as a lot of these concerns have already been addressed in pretty thorough detail (i.e blue and other soft cheeses, hot dogs, lunch meat).

[Lisa]

My question is about blue cheese dressing, can we have it? I was a dork and ate some with my wings tonight! I know pasterized blue cheese is okay but I have no idea if this was? and is dressing considered the same? any thought? TIA I'm nervous I are something bad:rolleyes:

[mlfallis]

bumping up for question.

Cheese slice? I through out the packaging before finding out I was pg. TIA

[Rico'sAlice]

Raw milk cheese can be legally sold if it has been aged longer than 60 days.

(I have a package of raw cheddar sitting in my fridge that is from Wisconsin & I'm in Mass. It says it's been aged more than 8 months.)

[KJBean]

I have read through this whole thread, but still have a quick question about the caesar dressing at restaurants... has anyone asked about it specifically at Red Lobster? I had some the other night never even thinking about it b/c I never liked it when I was PG before and never knew it was a no-no. And of course we go to RL often enough that I know I will be back again (eating a safer seafood of course), and I love their caesar salads.

[emschwar]

So is the brie from the grocery store ok? I'd love to have some of that...

What about lox? I've been dying for a bagel with lox cream cheese.

[amew]

KJBean, I think it's pretty unlikely that a national chain like Red Lobster makes fresh caesar dressing with raw egg on site. They probably get it bottled from a supplier or national distributor, in which case it wouldn't contain raw age because of storage and spoilage issues. I have asked about the caesar dressing at Chilis, California Pizza Kitchen, and La Madeleine so far, and none have contained raw egg. I have only encountered caesar with raw egg at small local places and fancier restaurants (I have asked this question a lot so far). Certainly ask your waiter to be sure, but I suspect you're in the clear.

[amew]

Brie from the grocery -- Probably fine. Read the label to see if it says "pasteurized" or includes only "pasteurized milk" on the ingredients. If the word raw appears anywhere on the label or in the ingredients, avoid it.

Lox -- This is generally regarded as food to avoid during pregnancy.

[amew]

Also, I would be willing to bet a lot of money that a restaurant isn't serving cheese made with unpasteurized cheese.

I have encountered unpasteurized cheese being served in a restaurant twice so far in this pregnancy (once the menu indicated that the cheese was raw, the other time I asked the waiter and was told it was). Both times I was in upscale, non-chain restaurants--the kind of places that buy interesting raw milk cheeses from local farms. I would be pretty surprised if a casual or chain restaurant served raw cheese, but at certain types of restaurants it happens pretty frequently, so it is worth asking.

[SQ2]

*bump*

[jimmysgirl424]

The only thing I've completely avoided so far are lunchmeats and my football season favorite; raw oysters.

I'll admit to eating feta cheese steadily throughout my pregnancy so far. :o

[Lisa]

The only thing I've completely avoided so far are lunchmeats and my football season favorite; raw oysters.

I'll admit to eating feta cheese steadily throughout my pregnancy so far. :o

so funny I gave up feta! I miss it ;) but I just splurged on my first turkey sub from publix since I got pregnant. I think this will be one of the first foods I will want when this pregnancy is over!

[jimmysgirl424]

I just realized that in addition to lunchmeat and oysters, I also haven't had tuna fish of any kind or hot dogs.

I've been eating feta cheese only if its made with pasteurzied milk.

[Lisa]

I never really thought about asking the restaurants about there cheese. I've been eating mozz and it seemed fresh I'll have to check again before I eat it. Its so funny I ate tuna, lunchmeat, hotdogs probably feta with my DS and not I'm a freak that my DH is always asking" are you allowed too eat that?;) No canned tuna,fish of any kind, hot dogs, I think unpast. cheese, I'm gonna have to try the pasturized feta!

[isign]

I've had 3 hot dogs, I crave them whenever we fly, always have :D

My Dr (and I haven't thought to ask) has only given me a drug list, not a food list. I'm going to ask when I see him in 3 weeks.

[alliannie]

I haven't stopped eating anything.:o I figure that my mom ate it all and I am fine so....:D . Not the best theory I know! I have ate hot dogs, lunch meat, canned tuna(actually going to have this for lunch in a few mintues), possible cheese but I doubt it was unpat. I would die without being able to eat Quizznos it is one of my cravings!!

[pride&prejudice]

I haven't stopped eating anything.:o I figure that my mom ate it all and I am fine so....:D . Not the best theory I know! I have ate hot dogs, lunch meat, canned tuna(actually going to have this for lunch in a few mintues), possible cheese but I doubt it was unpat. I would die without being able to eat Quizznos it is one of my cravings!!


Hehehe. I was reading through this thread and thinking the same thing. I eat what I crave, I figure there must be a reason I'm craving it. Although if I ever got the so called craving for raw meat I wouldn't be going through with that. ;) :eek:

Honestly the list that my midwife gave me wasn't very long, and the only thing they were particular about were herbal teas. So that's pretty much all I've given up. Like isign said, mine was more of a drug list.

[amew]

The only things I have avoided completely are alcohol, fish with high or questionable mercury content (swordfish, tuna, etc.), unpasteurized cheeses, anything containing raw eggs, and nuts/peanuts (DH has a very severe allergy to all tree nuts and peanuts, so this is spurred by family history and is not something I would otherwise avoid). I have also drastically limited by caffeine intake, though I am somewhat less concerned about it now that I am almost out of the first tri. After drugs and alcohol, my doctor is most concerned about mercury since it is so toxic. She doesn't seem overly concerned about the other "no"s, though she does recommend avoiding raw eggs, unpasteurized dairy products, and unheated lunch meat, especially since its so easy to do so.

I have had all the pasteurized soft cheese I want, the occassional unheated turkey sandwich, caffeine-free Diet Coke and other aspartame-containing products in limited quantities, and tasty nitrate-filled bacon once or twice. I would eat a hot dog if it was something I really wanted it. I've been out for sushi a few times and just stuck with veggie rolls, shrimp and crab rolls, or other cooked stuff.

[Smittenk]

So I have avoided my favourites...Brie and Camembert my whole pregnancy but yesterday I stumbled across pasteurized Camembert cheese and I thought...well if it pasteurized then what is the problem?? I have yet to cut into it and am sitting here trying to find research on it and it is tough. Everywhere just says to avoid it. So if it pastuerized and I have stored it in the fridge then I am thinking it is ok. I am assuming they want you to avoid it is you see it at a friend's place and it has been sitting out for a while etc since you are supposed to serve it at room temperature.

Has anyone else out there gone ahead and had some brie or other soft cheese??

ETA: I found this on a site
soft, unpasteurized cheeses (often advertised as "fresh") such as feta, goat, Brie, Camembert, and blue cheese

So again unpasteurized?? This is so annoying!

[jimmysgirl424]

I am an absolute fiend for feta cheese and couldn't imagine giving it up for nine months, and I haven't. I just buy the kind that says made with pasteurized milk and keep it cold at all times. I think what you bought is fine.

[Sherb]

My doctor specified unpasteurized cheeses. I would eat it - you got it at a reputable place and it has been stored properly.

[Smittenk]

I found something else that says it is how camembert, blue-veined, brie etc is mold-ripened that makes it a no-no.

Hmmm I wonder if it would be ok if I baked it...

[tunibell]

As far as I understand, anything pasteurized is okay. Honestly, the risk of contracting lysteria is really, really small anyhow, but I was a pretty cautious pregger too. :) I ate tons of pasteurized soft cheeses (feta, goat, etc).

[steelcitymama]

hi, smittenk!

i've been eating pasteurized soft cheeses (except blue)...i avoided them just to be safe in the first tri, but have been eating them since then. in fact, i just picked up both brie and feta at the market today! the OBs who i saw before i switched to my midwives gave me the go-ahead on all pasteurized soft cheeses except blue.

hope that helps you decide!

[boilermaker]

I've eaten pasteurized versions of both blue and feta cheese my whole pg. No problems at all so far.

[Amuse Bouche]

My OB gave me the OK on all pasteurized cheeses.

[albuquerque]

We live in Greece...doctors here tell preggo women to INCREASE their feta intake (calcium, you know). When I told my OB/GYN (who practiced in Cleveland for 8 years) that in the US they tell you not to eat feta, she was surprised and thought it was funny. She said you'd have a hard time finding any feta that wasn't pasteurized. The really weird thing? Here they're very suspicious about eating SALAD when you're preggo. All that raw stuff.

And....I think that you're probably OK to eat basically anything that you've actually baked. But then, I'm not a doctor.

[amew]

I eat pasteurized soft cheese whenever I want it. My doctor said anything pasteurized was fine.

[MLA]

Question about brie:

There's a little french bistro that I love. They serve a dish w/melted brie. Is melted brie okay since it's been heated through? Or should I still avoid it?

[amew]

MLA -- I think you're fine to go ahead with the brie. Soft cheeses are fine if heated until bubbling. Plus it's likely pasteurized anyway.

[JLRenheos]

bump

[kmack]

this just made me think of something - i love eggs over medium (where the yolk is still a little runny)..i assumed i couldnt eat them anymore b/c they arent fully cooked but now i am wondering if i can since they are cooked on the grill and heated pretty thouroughly. does anyone know?

[jenjunum]

I would say the egg is ok, but I'm not a doctor.

[mcgwigan]

kmack I love eggs over medium and have not had any since I've gotten pg...everything I've read has said that they should be cooked hard, So I've been sticking with scrambled or frying hard for a sandwich. I will be having a big breakfast once this baby is born because I miss my eggs! Unfortunately, I'm not due til end of Feb so have a ways to go :( !

[kmack]

ok thanks mcgwigan, i'll just stick with scrambled just to be safe. and i am due right after you (3/3), it seems like a long way to go! but i have already gotten used to not eating them so i guess i will survive!

[Lisa]

I never even thought twice when I ordered my eggs over easy:rolleyes: but I do have a healthy 3 month old little boy! Do what you feel comfortable with and scrambled eggs its a bad idea either;)

[jesseybell]

Last time I never ate blue cheese, even if it said it was pasteurized. Not because my doctor said I couldn't, just my own personal preference. But this time I can't stay away!

Today I was dieing for some pecarino romano cheese so I bought a $7 container at the store. When I got it home I found not only was it imported, but nothing about about being pasteurized so I threw it out :(

[MrsT]

I love my eggs over easy but have avoided them through both pregnancies. You could ask your doc is you want to feel better about doing it....

That first breakfast after birth of coffee and eggs over easy was awesome though!!

[Chelsea524]

My dr told me the risk of uncooked or undercooked eggs is a risk to you getting sick and wouldn't cause much if any affect on the baby. He also said the risk of salmonella is 1 in 20,000 so it is a very low risk, as long as you aren't eating them every day I think having them once in a while is fine.

ETA, BTW you have made me really want eggs and toast and so that is going to have to be my afternoon snack.

[mimieliza]

Today I was dieing for some pecarino romano cheese so I bought a $7 container at the store. When I got it home I found not only was it imported, but nothing about about being pasteurized so I threw it out

I think hard cheeses are fine regardless.

[ThreeYell]

I think hard cheeses are fine regardless.

Lots of really yummy aged cheddars are made from raw milk and NOT pasteurized, sadly.

[Julss05]

Brie should be okay, just checked it and it says it's pasterized.

[emmjay]

Lots of really yummy aged cheddars are made from raw milk and NOT pasteurized, sadly.
I am pretty sure that hard cheeses aged more than 2 months are not at risk of carrying Listeria (the reason you wouldn't want to eat unpasteurized soft cheeses).

[carolc]

Emmjay is right. Hard cheeses made with unpasteurized milk are fine. (If they weren't, you'd need to avoid everything made with real Parmesan.) You don't need to worry about hard cheeses, period. And honestly, you really don't need to worry much about soft ones. I have a friend who is a professional cheesemonger/cheese expert, and we've talked about this at length.

The deal is this: there is a small risk from soft cheeses, period. The risk is probably higher in unpasteurized soft cheeses (aged less than 60 days), although many professionals think pasteurized soft cheeses carry some risk as well. It is NOT LEGAL to sell unpasteurized soft cheese in the US. I am a fancy cheese fiend, and I've never seen soft raw milk cheese anywhere I shop. It's not out of the question, I guess, especially in a big city, but it is pretty unlikely that you will run across anything soft and unpasteurized. If you do, you either travel in some pretty gourmet circles, you are buying cheese from a local cheesemonger on the down-low, or you have run across an importer who doesn't know or flouts the law.

Any good cheesemonger, however, will sell you HARD cheeses made of raw milk. There are lots of these out there. They are legal to sell and no one has ever warned against them, to my knowledge.

[jesseybell]

carolc - Thanks for all the info on hard cheeses. Guess I'll have to go spend another $7 on pecorino romano.

I can't give up blue cheese this time around - they say pasteurized, so I've been enjoying my crumbles on salads.

[ThreeYell]

Oh, yay! Thanks for the info on aged hard cheeses. Now, can you give me an out on cured meats? ;)

[cynder]

carolc is so dead on correct about this!

[catmom]

No matter how hungry I get during my 3rd trimester, I *promise* I will not eat DH. Or DD. No matter how tasty she looks.

[jimmysgirl424]

Oh, yay! Thanks for the info on aged hard cheeses. Now, can you give me an out on cured meats? ;)

Well to me, cured meats include pepperoni, doesn't it? I ate it pretty consistently through my pregnancy

[summerbride2005]

Pepperoni sounds so good to me right now!

[ShelbyMay]

I haven't read through this whole thread, so please forgive me if it's already been covered:

Is it okay to eat beer bread during pregnancy? I just got a mix the other day (before finding out I was pregnant) and really want to eat it. I guess I could make it with soda instead, but I want the original recipe.

[BethIrish]

Shelby- beer bread is fine. THe baking process will bake of the majority (if not all) of the alcohol.

[jesseybell]

hard meats - A friend went to Italy at 5 months and her doctor told her she was free to eat all the hard meats she wanted to, just to avoid all the soft cheeses she had been given the okay to eat in the US because of pasteurization, but it Europe she obviously couldn't count on it being pasteurized.

[bug]

Is Sprite Zero okay to drink? 1 per day?

Thanks.

[Heidi9771]

Is Sprite Zero okay to drink? 1 per day?

Thanks.

Sprite Zero has no calories and no caffeine, and I believe is made with Splenda, which is a safe sugar substitute. IMO, this seems like a good bet.

Some women may feel differently because they may not feel comfortable using any sugar subs, however, you are not sucking down empty sugar calories, which can be 140-300 per bottle for regular sprite, depending on the drink size!

[bug]

Heidi9771--thanks for the reply. I figured as much, but was just looking for some reassurance!

[steelcitymama]

can someone remind me - what's the deal with honey? is that off limits? i know it's a no-go for kiddies < 1 yo b/c of botulism, but can't remember what the deal is with being preggers. ??

[Lochlann]

I've never heard that it's bad to eat while pregnant. I hope it isn't because I know I've had it (though just once or twice in my entire pregnancy). I'll have to look it up now.
I've heard you're not supposed to have it when you're breast feeding or give it to any young children in case they are allergic to bees.

[ambula704]

I have a question, so Im glad this thread was brought up!
I have hyperemesis and cannot eat much at all. But the ONLY thing that I really love to eat is a cold ham and cheese sandwich from my schools cafeteria (Im a teacher.) I only eat one slice of ham, but I feel guilty each time (I have done this twice now...haha.)

I know since I have hyperemesis my case is a little different, but I need to know that eating a cold sandwich every once in a while is not going to kill me or the baby! Especially since its the only thing I can really eat right now!

[amyintn]

honey I've heard it's off limits because it is unpasteurized. But, I've never really pursued this since I don't like honey anyway so it hasn't been an issue while pregnant.

deli meat Well, I stayed away from deli meat or heated it up until I was put into the hospital at 19 weeks. While in the hospital for 2 weeks on the Labor/Delivery and High Risk Pregnancy floor, the nurses and doctors gave me regular turkey sandwiches for snacks late at night when I got hungry. At that point I formed the opinion that if the nurses and doctors on this floor thought it was okay, than deli meat had to be fine. Heck, the gestational diabetes diet I got from my doctor suggests deli meats as protein snacks. However, I stick to ham and turkey.

[mcgwigan]

I had deli meats on a pretty regular basis the whole time I was PG- I did however, warm them to steaming in the microwave before eating them. It doesn't really ruin the sandwich-just take them off, pop em in the micro and put them back on.

[ihearttx]

I have a question, so Im glad this thread was brought up!
I have hyperemesis and cannot eat much at all. But the ONLY thing that I really love to eat is a cold ham and cheese sandwich from my schools cafeteria (Im a teacher.) I only eat one slice of ham, but I feel guilty each time (I have done this twice now...haha.)

I know since I have hyperemesis my case is a little different, but I need to know that eating a cold sandwich every once in a while is not going to kill me or the baby! Especially since its the only thing I can really eat right now!

Eat what you can keep down. That was my OB's advice. You will be fine. :)

[PookiePrincess]

I ate sandwiches with lunch meat for most of my pregnancy. When I was at home on summer break, I did try to heat the meat. But when I went back to work (~13 weeks) I didn't heat it at all. That's one of those things that depends on your own personal comfort level.

[Wrighty26]

ambula - I swear I am the queen of eating deli meat -- it's one of the things I CRAVE while pregnant -- and the thought of heating up the meat grosses me out. I think you need to do whatever you are comfortable with. If it makes you belly happy -- then go for it!

Honey - Perfectly safe to eat while pregnant. Adults are not affected by the spores in honey the same way infants are (we have a lot of "good bacteria" in our intestines that prevent the spores from doing anything) -- the chances of being exposed to botulism are actually much higher if you eat a lot of canned goods or processed foods.

[steelcitymama]

thanks, Wrighty! i couldn't remember if i was making up my concerns about honey or what!? :)

[aprilshowers]

honey - yeah, what Wrighty said. And as far as I know, it is safe to eat while breastfeeding as well. Only babies < 1 year should avoid it.

[Marisa]

Yep, honey is safe while pregnant and while breastfeeding.

I ate turkey sandwiches from the deli *all* the time while I was pregnant with DS1 -- it was my favorite lunch while I was still working and it was one of the few things that sounded pretty good even when I wasn't feeling so hot.

[snoopy30]

I avoided deli meats (unless heated) with pg #1 but this time I haven't. The risk is low and honestly last time it stressed me out too much worrying if it was heated enough, etc. So this time I just decided I'd eat cold deli meat if I wanted to! That said it sometimes grosses me out so I don't eat it alot anyway.

What is the deal w/ canned tuna? (the light kind). I mean I know to eat it in moderation but I get conflicting advice. I've been on a tuna salad kick lately but have limited it to a few times a week. I wonder if that's even too much??

Lunch for the pregnant ladies can be tough!!

[mcgwigan]

I think I remember reading to limit tuna to 2 times/week, but avoid the albacore tuna if I remember rightm, because it is higher in mercury.

[ahavnes]

So, just to clarify on the cheese thing...Is it safe to assume that pretty much any cheese I buy at my local grocery store is pasturized? Man, I love cheese. Especially blue!

[aprilshowers]

Depends on the quality of your grocery store ;) Most of them (at least around here, though not in the boonies where my parents live) are carrying more and more unpasteurized cheeses. But if you look at the list of ingredients, it will include pasteurized milk (or something along those lines). Any cheese by a mainstream brand produced in the U.S. will be pasteurized. Anything you buy at the deli counter will be as well.

I hear you on the blue cheese - my 2yo loves it too (my DH says it makes him want to puke so she definitely didn't get that love from him!).

[steelcitymama]

soooo...steak. i know i can't eat it the way i WANT to, but can it be a bit light pink inside? or does it have to be grey/brown throughout?

[PookiePrincess]

I don't know what the official word is on steak, but I ate mine medium the entire time I was pregnant.

[betsyboop]

Steak- I never heard anything about this with my first pregnancy and ate steak my normal way (med rare). I've been doing the same this time since it worked out with baby #1:) I figure, as long as you're cooking the outside and killing the germs that may be there, it's ok.

[maplekitty]

From a few posts way up, re: eggs over easy.

I had never heard of not eating eggs over easy, nor would I have even thought of that??
I always eat my eggs over easy, ugh, just the though of eating hard yolks willingly makes me not want to eat eggs altogether! LOL
Same with my steak. I'm a medium rare girl and though I don't eat steak all that often, maybe once a month, I'd still eat it just the way I like it.

If you are worried about e-coli, it doesn't live *inside* a steak, and anything on the outside would be killed off when it's cooked anyways. Ground beef is a whole other story, because it' all mixed up together...and you should *always* cook your grn. beef all the way through.

(I was visiting California a few years ago, and we stopped at a burger joint. The waitress asked us how we'd like our burgers done. I was like....cooked. I had never in my life heard of undercooking grnd beef as it is regulation in Canada, but i'm guessing its not in some states in the US???)