Giving Up Stuff - Page 3

[jwoodbri]

Originally Posted by learnlovebe

teeheee, my dh (a food safety guy), smiled when I showed him the link. thanks!

So out of curiosity what does your DH think about heating up the lunch meat first. I used to occasionally microwave until steaming ham to make warm and toasty ham and cheese sandwiches or sometimes I would just put it in a frying pan again until steaming. Never was completely sure this resolved the issue or not. But I think I vaguely remember reading it was ok to eat lunch meat and hot dogs if they were properly heated. Anyone else know/remember?

With DS#1 I was constantly reading my pregnancy book but this time #3 I just glanced at them on the shelf thinking I should dust them!

[learnlovebe]

Originally Posted by jwoodbri

So out of curiosity what does your DH think about heating up the lunch meat first. I used to occasionally microwave until steaming ham to make warm and toasty ham and cheese sandwiches or sometimes I would just put it in a frying pan again until steaming. Never was completely sure this resolved the issue or not. But I think I vaguely remember reading it was ok to eat lunch meat and hot dogs if they were properly heated. Anyone else know/remember?

With DS#1 I was constantly reading my pregnancy book but this time #3 I just glanced at them on the shelf thinking I should dust them!

As long as they're heated to steaming (via microwave or stovetop) it's good- the heat kills the bacteria we're worried about. I do the ham in the frying pan thing too- sometimes a nice toasty sandwich is SOOO yummy!

I had no idea that people ate cold/uncooked hot dogs, so when I had read "no hot dogs" during my first pg, I stayed away from all of them..except one moment of weakness at a baseball game. This time, if they're heated they're fine (and the dh ok'd that philosophy).

[Vortexing]

Originally Posted by mamaveggie

I am an everything in moderation kind of person. Nothing is very appealing to me right now, but through both of my other pregnancies I had an occasional glass of wine or cup of coffee if I wanted to.

The only reason I can see someone abstaining from something entirely to a degree that it significantly changes your behavior or is a constant thought, is if it's one of those things where you just can't stop once you start. I know a lot of women especially have those triggers (some can't have a half glass of wine with Thanksgiving w/o drinking the entire bottle, can't have 1 small cup of coffee w/o drinking 3 pots, soda, cheetos, whatever). Otherwise, I tend to try to spend my energy making sure I'm making smart choices overall, even if that includes a spot of wine here, and a dab of soft cheese there, etc.

OH, and yeah, ALWAYS find out WHY someone is giving you a specific recommendation - like the sushi thing or soft cheese thing, or apparently hotdogs??? Always ask why.

[dinahx]

Originally Posted by bajamergrrl

I've decided to completely give up alcohol which isn't as hard now that I'm pregnant than it was when I was TTC. Of course when I finally conceived it was during a weekend when I did imbibe quite a bit thinking that I wasn't going to be pregnant this month, then I had a few sips of beer here and there in the weeks before I found out...Oy. Oh well. Anyway, I'm not a coffee drinker but I haven't been avoiding chocolate. I did buy a big bar of Cadbury's Milk Chocolate yesterday but I'm going to eat it over the course of several days in small pieces.

Dinahx, seeing as I'm not too much of a caffeine consumer (except for chocolate) would you mind sharing with me what you found out about caffeine and pregnancy in your Natural Family Living book?

You want me to READ? :

I will look it up and post back!

[koalove]

according to the 4 midwives i know, 1-2 cups of coffee a day is not a problem. the studies that showed negative effects from caffine were done with women drinking 8 or more cups a day. i think if mamas want to give it up all together its a good thing, but ill keep my 1 cup in the morning. i fully trust the women who have guided me through my other 3 babies!

[pinksprklybarefoot]

I do consume caffeine. I probably have about 2 Diet Cokes a day. It is my vice. While pregnant, I find myself wanting it less than when I'm not pregnant (I could easily do 4 cans/day).

I miss alcohol, but stay away from it nearly totally in early pregnancy (I had a sip of DH's wine on Thanksgiving because it was from an expensive bottle). When in the second and thried trimesters, I'm not as militant. I'll probably have a glass of wine on my birthday (late Feb).

I have been drinking some of the red alcohol-removed wine. It isn't quite the same, but it at least gives me the feeling of having a glass of wine with dinner if everyone else is (like at Thanksgiving).

[Ianthe]

OMG.. I have to give up a lot, I guess. I started smoking again after DS was born so that's been a toughy to quit again. Coffee- I have about a 1/2 cup most mornings, and alcohol- I've been having a glass a week of wine, and sometimes I take a sip of DH's beer.

I did it before.. I can do it again! I was sicker in my last pregnancy, so it made it much easier to give up those things.

[springbride]

The big two for me are coffee & alcohol. My DH and I have some dear friends, and up until I found out I was pregnant, they would come over once a week or so and we would pull out some nice (soft ) cheese, a bottle of red and white wine, lots of chocolate, some crackers....and play games. Now they eat all the goodies and I drink green tea. But, when the LO comes healthy and happy in July, it'll all be worth it!

I tried switching to decaf coffee, but just the smell of it makes me run for the bathroom, so I guess I got lucky there!

I do plan on drinking the occasional half glass of wine after the 1st trimester is over.

[geekgolightly]

I've given up alcohol, caffeine, fake sugar, fried foods for the most part, lunch meats, although I'll have to look into nitrates again if you guys say it's ok to eat if heated. I miss lunch meats!

Thankfully I don't eat soft cheese... wait is blue cheese considered a soft cheese? Because that Point Reyes blue is a staple of mine!

My tastes have changed. I am no longer obsessed with sweet stuff. i want protein and veggies, thankfully. I think my body is trying to help me avoid GD, as I am very overweight.

[MovingMomma]

Originally Posted by geekgolightly

I'll have to look into nitrates again if you guys say it's ok to eat if heated. I miss lunch meats!

I don't eat lunch meats or hot dogs with nitrates even when not pregnant! All the lunch meats I'm reheating are nitrate free.

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by MovingMomma

I don't eat lunch meats or hot dogs with nitrates even when not pregnant! All the lunch meats I'm reheating are nitrate free.

I agree. I rarely eat meats with nitrates even when not pregnant (usually just if I'm not eating at home). Try to find the types without, almost everyone carries them now days. Even Hormel has a line!

[shantiani]

I've been having little bits of caffeine now and then. Mostly just green tea or an occasional hot chocolate.
I missed having wine on Thanksgiving though!!!!! I might steal a sip now and then when I'm in the 3rd trimester. Probably not a whole glass though because when I'm out of practice, I'm a total lightweight.

Originally Posted by koalove

according to the 4 midwives i know, 1-2 cups of coffee a day is not a problem. the studies that showed negative effects from caffine were done with women drinking 8 or more cups a day. i think if mamas want to give it up all together its a good thing, but ill keep my 1 cup in the morning. i fully trust the women who have guided me through my other 3 babies!

All of the older studies compared low caffeine intake with greater than 8 cups a day, but there was a newer study that compares a more reasonable consumption (200mg or one 10oz cup or more) vs. none and they found that even that small amount doubled the chance of miscarriage.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/he...1caffeine.html

I offer that in a totally non-judgmental, information only, kind of way
I still drink a bit now and then (I had a green tea latte this morning). Personally, I think moderation is key. We all react differently to caffeine. I'm kind of a caffeine wussy so I'm probably one of the high risk people in the study. If I drank 10 oz of coffee right now my heart rate would be at about 200bpm for the rest of the day and I wouldn't sleep all night! That can't be good. But plenty of people are totally unphased by a cup of coffee and so their body is probably handling it just fine. Anyway, just thought I'd share

And as for chocolate.... I know there's caffeine in it, but my mom read an article in the latest issue of "Dr. Andrew Weil's Guide to Natural Healing for Women" which said that a 2008 study just found that pregnant women who reported eating chocolate five or more times a week, or who had the highest levels of theobromine (a compound in cocoa) in their umbilical-cord blood, had a reduced risk of preeclampsia. They think the flavonoids in chocolate may improve cardiovascular function. So.... indulge a little bit!

P.S. In that same email my mom gave me a recipe for her (relatively) healthy, whole wheat, loaded with cocoa, chocolate brownies, if anyone wants it

[jwoodbri]

Originally Posted by DahliaRW

I agree. I rarely eat meats with nitrates even when not pregnant (usually just if I'm not eating at home). Try to find the types without, almost everyone carries them now days. Even Hormel has a line!

Good point! I usually try to get organic or at least nitrate free lunch meat and hot dogs. (She says after having guiltily eaten not one but two regular yet kosher hot dogs for lunch today. Have to go shopping again...)

[geekgolightly]

Originally Posted by jwoodbri

Good point! I usually try to get organic or at least nitrate free lunch meat and hot dogs. (She says after having guiltily eaten not one but two regular yet kosher hot dogs for lunch today. Have to go shopping again...)

Unfortunately, when you're broke, that's a bit of an extravagance. I'll see how much more expensive that is, but I tend to get things that are inexpensive/on sale. organic? HA! In my dreams!

[dinahx]

I just want to share that you CAN get deals on OG food. You might be surprised. I have seen OG food on sale even at places like Big Lots. Also, my per pound prices on things like rice are lower than the per pound conventional prices at the store. (I order through http://www.somethingbetternaturalfoods.com with a group). Also there are often Organic foods at the food pantry. Just want to share that there are a lot of ways to get OG food for less if that is something you want.

I see Hormel natural meat on sale a lot and that is not OG but it is nitrate free.

[geekgolightly]

Originally Posted by dinahx

I just want to share that you CAN get deals on OG food. You might be surprised. I have seen OG food on sale even at places like Big Lots. Also, my per pound prices on things like rice are lower than the per pound conventional prices at the store. (I order through http://www.somethingbetternaturalfoods.com with a group). Also there are often Organic foods at the food pantry. Just want to share that there are a lot of ways to get OG food for less if that is something you want.

I see Hormel natural meat on sale a lot and that is not OG but it is nitrate free.

Oh, if it's organic and less than or just a few cents more expensive, I definitely go for it, but every penny counts these days. We are living in the red with no extra expenses to cut. Fancy food has to go. I still try and get my Point Reyes Blue though, because I want to spoil myself. But it's really the only thing.

http://www.pointreyescheese.com/

its so good!

[kriket]

crashing your DDC
I haven't given up anything well thats a lie, I was a pack a day smoker and I quit. I sill have about 1 diet coke a day, I can't afford lunch meat, so.. I haven't had any sushi, but thats because I can't find any! I think that moderation is the key. Except alcohol. I will stay away from that. I'm not much of a drinker anyways. Plus I have found tonic, with a splash of sprite and a lime is quite good!

[geekgolightly]

no more blue cheese for me. ahh, well, at least i'll save some money!

Cheeses which are SAFE to eat in pregnancy

Hard cheeses:
Austrian smoked, Babybel, Caerphilly, Cheddar, Cheshire, Derby, Double Gloucester, Edam, Emmental, English goat's cheddar, feta, Gouda, Gruyere, Halloumi, Havarti, Jarlsberg, Lancashire, Manchego, Orkney, paneer, Parmesan, Pecorino (hard), Provolone, Red Leicester.

Soft and processed cheeses:
Boursin, cottage cheese, cream cheese, feta, goat's cheese without a white rind, mascarpone, mozzarella, Philadelphia, processed cheese (such as cheese spread), Quark, ricotta.

Yoghurts (all varieties), probiotic drinks, fromage frais, soured cream and crème fraîche - any variety, including natural, flavoured and biologically active - are all safe to eat.

Cheeses to AVOID in pregnancy

Mould-ripened soft cheeses:
Brie, Blue Brie, Cambozola, Camembert, Chaumes, chèvre (goats cheese with a white rind), Pont L'Eveque, Taleggio, Vacherin-Fribourgeois

Blue-veined cheeses:
Bergader, Bleu d'Auvergne, Blue Wensleydale, Shropshire Blue, Danish Blue, Dolcelatte, Gorgonzola, Roncal, Roquefort, Stilton, tomme, Wensleydale (blue).

Soft, unpasteurised cheese, including goat and sheep's cheeses:
Chabichou, Pyramide, Torta del Cesar.

[Pavlovs]

P.S. In that same email my mom gave me a recipe for her (relatively) healthy, whole wheat, loaded with cocoa, chocolate brownies, if anyone wants it

I want it, please! Sounds yummy!

[Quindin]

I eat most of the no-no cheeses on that list when pregnant: always have.
And guess what, so do most women here.
I frankly find it sad that doctors and medical websites in the US put so many restrictions and scary lists on pregnant women.
Getting rid of Brie and Danish blue from our lives? Sacrilege! I told my Danish and French friends about this and they were baffled.