Do you eat "forbidden foods" while pregnant? - Page 4

[sjsbates]

Originally Posted by ell

Keep in mind, though, that the pregnant woman has higher risk of having these bacteria take hold in the first place. Pregnant women are 20x more likely to become infected than healthy non-pregnant women. So while you've never gotten sick from lunch meat before, your risk is increased twentyfold that you *will*. Your body was simply able to fight it far better before now.

Why is this? Is it because pregnant women's stomachs are less acidic? Because that's all you need for bacterial infections to take hold... weakened stomach acid.

Yesterday I ate sushi AND brie (not together... but I would... mmmm), and today I shared lunchmeat with DS. I've been drinking (non-alcoholic) ginger beer like it's going out of style, so I think my stomach is sufficiently acidic.

I haven't had much caffeine in a while though, so I'm not concerned about that.

I've never been worried about raw eggs because salmonella lives on the egg shell, so you can either gently wash the shell or just not get any shell fragments into the egg and you'll be fine.

Slightly OT: I saw that Nestle was recalling a bunch of its doughs because of E. Coli contamination. I definitely won't be eating that raw!

[Snapdragon]

What are everyone's views on coffee? Meaning, one cup a day kind of thing? I remember noticing friends giving up everything including coffee when they were PG. When my sister had her 2 pregnancies she drank one cup of coffee throughout (each day). I remember feeling a tiny bit like- oh, is that okay? Of course I think her babies turned out great! Now? so far I still enjoy it. But I am super early on. But on the other side I am happy to note that so far I am craving and eating excellent food- lots of vegetables etcetera.

[HappiLeigh]

Originally Posted by Katie34

What are everyone's views on coffee? Meaning, one cup a day kind of thing? I remember noticing friends giving up everything including coffee when they were PG. When my sister had her 2 pregnancies she drank one cup of coffee throughout (each day). I remember feeling a tiny bit like- oh, is that okay? Of course I think her babies turned out great! Now? so far I still enjoy it. But I am super early on. But on the other side I am happy to note that so far I am craving and eating excellent food- lots of vegetables etcetera.

You just have to decide what you're comfortable with. I loved the book "What's Going On in There" by Lise Eliot to demystify all the crazy pregnancy recommendations and explain in very clear terms about the risks. I drink one cup in the morning, but I'm giving up my afternoon cup. (Right now I've switched to tea in the afternoon, and will work on replacing that with herbal tea in the next few weeks--me having caffeine withdrawal isn't going to help anyone.) Like your sis, I never gave up my morning cup my first time around, and I don't intend to this time either. One often-overlooked "side effect" of keeping the morning joe--I never got constipated. Nothing like a morning cup to keep you regular!

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by Katie34

What are everyone's views on coffee? Meaning, one cup a day kind of thing? I remember noticing friends giving up everything including coffee when they were PG. When my sister had her 2 pregnancies she drank one cup of coffee throughout (each day). I remember feeling a tiny bit like- oh, is that okay? Of course I think her babies turned out great! Now? so far I still enjoy it. But I am super early on. But on the other side I am happy to note that so far I am craving and eating excellent food- lots of vegetables etcetera.

I personally think it is fine. Most doctors are ok with up to 300 mg of caffeine a day, sometimes less if you have a history of losses. I personally can't stand the smell of coffee when preggo, but will still have a coke. I do find that I am more sensitive to caffeine when preggo, so I try not to have it after 12 or I'll be up all night.

[Sri Radha]

All of this is so easy to get obsessive about. I am a strict vegetarian and I am finding myself already worrying about sprouts and raw veggies! : I tried for so long to have this pregnancy and will do anything in my power not to screw it up.

My doctor said a cup of coffee a day is fine but I am not risking it. I have been having a cup of black tea in the morning but I think I am going to give that up, too. But I won't give up chocolate. There isn't enough caffeine in that to worry me.

[jul511riv]

Had a bottle of frambois belgian beer today...and then slept the afternoon away. Probably the best day of the pregnancy so far. Great for my nerves and almost immediately I noticed my breasts getting an increase in supply (I still nurse ds 1x a day).

After reading Nourishing Traditions, I'm trying to incorperate more fermented foods in my diet (a few times a week if possible) and feeling good about that.

Seeing as I drink alcohol about 5x a year, I think we are good.

[sjsbates]

Originally Posted by jul511riv

Had a bottle of frambois belgian beer today...and then slept the afternoon away. Probably the best day of the pregnancy so far. Great for my nerves and almost immediately I noticed my breasts getting an increase in supply (I still nurse ds 1x a day).

After reading Nourishing Traditions, I'm trying to incorperate more fermented foods in my diet (a few times a week if possible) and feeling good about that.

Seeing as I drink alcohol about 5x a year, I think we are good.

Oh my goodness, I loooove lambics. That's really the only alcohol I find palatable, and since the alcohol % is so low, I may still have some... DH and I drink secretly anyway since he's a preacher, so no mean looks from family or friends !

[jul511riv]

you have to drink in secret cause your husband is a preacher! Oh Lord! lol. Isn't that part of CHURCH? Drinkin'? I mean, it's communion WINE...not JUICE!

I totally agree, it's the first beer that I've ever been able to drink that I actually enjoy. ANd the alcohol is like 2.9%, so it is very low. Out here (in Israel) it's common knowledge that beer is GREAT for preganant women, great for milk, great for labor (that or wine), just all around great. I think I read a bit about pg women drinking wine daily in Italy. It's funny how opinion changes depending on where you are in the world.

[Ninetales]

So far I've been adhering pretty strictly to "the rules." We tried for a year to get pregnant and I don't want to take any chances. Which is funny because normally I'm a rare steak-eating, runny egg-enjoying risk taker. I've always had a very "what, me worry?" attitude to germs. And I've always been healthy. But now that it's not just me anymore, I'm indulging in the paranoia.

I don't drink coffee and I only drink tea sporadically, and right away I switched to caffiene free coke for my 3-4x weekly indulgence. So caffiene is taken care of. I hate fish and the only kind I would even consider is canned tuna and that sounds really gross right now anyway. Red meat will be harder - I'll probably abstain rather than destroy good beef.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Originally Posted by Ninetales

Red meat will be harder - I'll probably abstain rather than destroy good beef.

LOL! I've been making my DH destroy good beef for the last couple of months for me... poor man - goes completely against the grain for him (he prefers his almost blue!). It certainly cuts down on the enjoyment - but then again red meat is the only kind I can stomach right now, ironically, so "well done" it is.

[rajahkat]

Originally Posted by jul511riv

I totally agree, it's the first beer that I've ever been able to drink that I actually enjoy. ANd the alcohol is like 2.9%, so it is very low. Out here (in Israel) it's common knowledge that beer is GREAT for preganant women, great for milk, great for labor (that or wine), just all around great. I think I read a bit about pg women drinking wine daily in Italy. It's funny how opinion changes depending on where you are in the world.

Ain't that the truth! I wonder if the french give up unpasturized cheese & wine when pregnant?

[kennedy444]

Not pregnant now but my vice, after the fourth month, was fountain diet soda. Ahhhh.

[sjsbates]

Originally Posted by rajahkat

Ain't that the truth! I wonder if the french give up unpasturized cheese & wine when pregnant?

They'd probably die of malnutrition!

Well, ok, maybe not. But surely they don't!!

[Snapdragon]

I am considering giving up my morning cup of coffee. hmm... can someone remind me why coffee should go? I can think that it depletes minerals, maybe. But I take those 3 super prenatal vitamins every day and eat really well. I guess the caffeine is bad- but just one cup in the morning and then I am active in the day.

[HappiLeigh]

Originally Posted by Katie34

I am considering giving up my morning cup of coffee. hmm... can someone remind me why coffee should go? I can think that it depletes minerals, maybe. But I take those 3 super prenatal vitamins every day and eat really well. I guess the caffeine is bad- but just one cup in the morning and then I am active in the day.

You have to figure out your own comfort level with that. Again, I really recommend the book "What's Going On In There," which is about brain development and does a terrific job of explaining all the forbiddens. But two moms can look at the same information and make different decisions--we all have different levels of cautiousness. (Says Happileigh, while sipping her morning coffee.)

[judybean]

Katie -- it *is* all about your comfort. For me, I am comfortable drinking coffee. Though I don't ever drink drip coffee, I drink lattes with shots of espresso (which, in theory, has less caffiene than drip coffee because the water is pressed through the grounds so quickly that it doens't absorb as much caffiene). But, then again, I *am* a barista

I don't drink soda (NOTHING of value!), I've never had any soft cheeses really, I've never had sushi... giving up my red wine for a while is going to be tricky, but I'll easily do that for now.

[Ambystoma]

I can get rid of the drinks no easy. Soda-no problem, next! Wine, I like, but can live without easily. Caffeine-whatever, I never drink caffeine anyway.

But, I LOVE rare steak & had one about a week ago, I love sushi and had some yesterday--but, it was cooked imitation crab stuff so technically ok. The soft cheese thing almost made me cry, so I'm probably not making it through the pregnancy without that! I can probably avoid deli meats easily, but if I get a huge craving for it, I'm eating it.

[Miss Chris]

I think its obviously important to be careful when pregnant but I strongly object to what I see as the infantilizing of pregnant women in our culture.

These lists of forbidden foods are exactly the sort of thing that get my blood boiling because in most cases they are presented as commandments without the benefit of explanations that would permit women to make informed decisions. The assumption seems to be that women are incapable of discretion or moderation so better to just forbid everything.

There has been some (contradictory and difficult to determine) evidence that women who drink over 300mg of caffeine a day have an increased risk of miscarriage or small babies. However this could be due in part or full to other factors. Like a stressful lifestyle that depends on high levels of caffeine to function. Or the observed correlation between women with more morning sickness seeming to have fewer miscarriages overall. It could be that those with morning sickness can't stomach coffee and so drink less of it, giving the impression that the lower caffeine is protective when actually its a side effect of the nausea. Because it would be unethical to assign some women to drink 5 cups of coffee a day while others must abstain, there is no way to get a definitive answer. But it does appear reasonable and moderate to suggest that if a single cup of coffee in the morning gives you pleasure there is no good reason to deny yourself.

Soft cheese is only forbidden when unpasteurized and all cheese in US supermarkets is pasteurized or aged over 60 days, so you're cool there. Farmer's markets might sell cheese from unpasteurized milk, technically it would be illegal cheese (beware the dangerous cheese pushers, lurking in every sunny park) so you would need to ask.

I honestly believe that the culture of anxiety that surrounds pregnancy and childbirth in this country is far more damaging to the majority of women than a little brie or a nice cheerful cup of coffee in the morning. Not to mention the constant self policing and deprivation that amounts to a crash course in maternal martyrdom. It's not good for us or our babies.

You want to protect your baby, wear your seatbelt. Its the most important thing you can do every day to keep yourself safe.

I know I get kind of ranty on this one, sorry . My first pregnancy I was overwhelmed by all the RULES and it freaked me out. I finally realized that being freaked out was way worse for my health than coffee, or even, dare I say it, sushi. I felt much better afterward. This time around I'm relaxing and I'm already doing better. No cold sores, no acne, no nosebleeds, no sleepless nights (saving up for those later). Anxiety has dangerous side effects all on its own and shouldn't be ignored when questions of how much we SHOULD be doing are discussed.

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by Miss Chris

(beware the dangerous cheese pushers, lurking in every sunny park)

Oh my gosh! I will be on the lookout! :

[punquin]

I love coffee, but having had a m/c before and bleeding this time, I am waiting till I am further on. plus, I've always been sensitive to caffeine- too much and I get a migraine. As I am already getting migraines a lot already with this pg, I need to be careful. I also seem to get jittery very fast from caffeine while pg.