Sick of all the pregnancy eating DON'T'S!!! Please help!

[JFTB1177]

This is my third baby (I am almost 9 weeks) so you would think I would have chilled out by now... no, just the opposite. I think because I have read and learned so much more by now I have that much more to freak me out and keep me worried!

I already can't eat my fav foods like sushi, blue cheese, ready-made pasta and chicken salads, deli meats, etc. But I also worry about getting anything for lunch at work... I got a grilled chicken wrap last week and stressed for hours afterwards because it was not steaming hot but just warm when I opened it up! I ate it though because I was sick and tired of having soup every single day. I stopped eating buffet food (which is sort of the staple in the gov buildings where I work in DC). I know you're not supposed to have soft serve ice cream (b/c of Listeria) so I also stopped getting orange juice out of the machine (like at restaurants, etc).

Tonight we went to my FIL's house for Father's Day. My SIL cooked a lot of food, but the only thing I felt safe eating was the broiled salmon, garlic bread, fried chicken, and salad. But then afterwards I freaked about the salad b/c I know you're supposed to be careful (could be unwashed and could get toxo, etc). Then I freaked about the chicken because when I finally ate it it was luke warm.

I feel like crying because the stress of worrying about what I shouldn't eat is killing me!!! Can someone please help calm me down?

[m0xxie]

No soft serve ice cream! Ack! I just had some yesterday, had no clue about the danger, and oh, my it was heavenly on my queasy stomach. Darn! I consider myself very well informed on this subject, but there always seems to be more to learn.

I sympathize with you about all the restrictions, and I applaud you for being so aware and so careful for your dear baby's sake. I'm also incredibly jealous that you actually have so many foods that are appealing to you... I've been so queasy for weeks that practically NOTHING appeals to me or tastes good, so you can be happy about that, at least.

[~Demeter~]

I think anything in moderation is fine... there have been recent articles that the risk of Listeria is much lower than was thought before. That said, I eat lunch meat because I like it and I'm comfortable with the risks. I do not eat it daily but if I have a hankering for some Subway I'm going to humor it. It is way too easy to go totally overboard with being 'safe'. Just relax and enjoy what you can in moderation.

Sounds like you have some anxiety issues going on (reading through your post again), I had that with my 4th... and it didn't go away or get any better after she was born. You may want to talk to somebody about that.

[JFTB1177]

mOxxie- please don't let me alarm you... they DO say to stay away from soft serve but I know many women who don't listen to that. Still, I worry about everything so I avoid everything that even has a tiny possibility for Listeria or toxo.

Demeter- can you post one of those articles? I'm thinking maybe it'll help chill me out some! And yes, I have a LOT of anxiety right now!!!

[~Demeter~]

I'll have a look around and see if I can find them for you. I unfortunately don't have any of them bookmarked.

[paintedfire]

I've eaten sashimi half a dozen times now and don't plan on stopping. Never even considered giving up blue cheese, often get takeout and then walk home with it while stopping to run other errands on the way, am obsessed with ice cream, love salad, and this is New York - land of the deli - I couldn't give up lunch meat if I tried. I even had half a glass of wine the other night for the first time since finding out I was pregnant and almost certainly will have a glass of champagne at my wedding.

There are many things I'm worried about, but food is not one of them.

Help any?

[Climbergirl]

I have lactose intolerance, so I can easily stay away from soft serve ice cream. Now froyo? That is a different story

After having gotten over (for basically the month of May) of a food borne illness (campylobacter), I am a little more wary. You can stick with the safe stuff and STILL end up puking and pooping your brains out (along with your 2.5 year old toddler). And, I think that made me realize, that sh*t happens and I am going to not let it drive me crazy (because I have the type of personality that would let it).

Come up with some simple rules. Don't eat chicken salad if it has been sitting out. But if you make it at home and keep in in the fridge, why not? Subway I believe will toast your sandwich and I think the temp may be hot enough to be considered ok. I would look at some of those types of alternatives so if you are in a bind, you can still eat.

And carry snacks and food with you. You are pregnant, you can always say that you are only eating strawberries and grapes right now and people will leave it alone.

I would also talk to someone about your anxiety. That alone is not good for you or your little one. With my mental illness history, I know that when I obsess about something like this, there is something deeper I am working on and not really dealing with it. Could that be true for you too?

[~Demeter~]

Here's a blog I found... in regards to what pregnant mothers eat in other countries.

http://www.parentdish.com/2007/07/15...ieve-the-hype/

We are apparently notoriously 'panicky' about the potential risks. Sad that doctors and whatnot put that fear and anxiety into women.

I can't find much else... I'm tired, my nose is snuffly and running (allergies). I just want to reiterate that you risk is NOT higher of getting listeria or other food born illnesses while pregnant. In many other countries they partake in many no-no foods here and all is well. My opinion might not be that of the majority but I can assure you I ate lunch meat from time to time with ALL of my pregnancies. (This is my 5th) I drank a little caffeine with each pregnancy as well. I'm fairly certain at one point or another I had soft serve ice cream, though I'm not a big ice cream eater. I've eaten at more than one buffet each pregnancy, and recently I enjoyed a pasta salad from the deli at the supermarket... it was sicilian and it was OMG delicious. Really hit the spot. I also enjoy soft cheese every so often... again, each of these things I do in moderation. I try not to overload all at once. I don't really want to say I did it, it's ok if you do it, too! but really I think the perceived risk is actually quite low.

I'll have to search on MDC to see if I can find the thread it was on.. because my googling isn't bringing up what I want. I think it's because I have a cloudy head though. lol

[MeepyCat]

Oh honey. You have to eat something.

I know that some people worry a lot about listeria, but the risk from deli meats, pasteurized blue cheeses, etc., is really very small. The orange juice machine is much easier to clean than the soft-serve ice cream machine, and is therefore FAR less of a perfect home for listeria bacteria. If the food is heated to steaming hot to start with, it is fine for you to eat it when it is only a little warm. Heck, you could chill it and it would still be fine. Listeria is not going to colonize your sandwich in the time it takes you to walk back to work from the sandwich shop even if you take a detour through the park and stop to smell the flowers.

As long as we live in the world, we cannot avoid all risk. We have to figure out a level of risk that we can tolerate and take a few chances. Pregnancy makes me very nauseous, so I generally have to eat whatever I can stomach. That's meant I have the occasional sushi, or a sandwich from a deli, or the chicken salad I bought at the grocery store.

Pregnancy also makes me very anxious. I know from experience that my hormones can move me to the point where I literally want to cower in my basement and wait for the sky to fall. My midwives and obstetricians have been very compassionate about this anxiety, and have referred me to psychiatrists, therapists and nutritionists who have done a lot to help me.

[RedOakMomma]

This whole DatlineNBC/panicky thing about health and food drives me nuts.

EAT.

We are absolutely bonkers about this stuff in the US...so worried about a 1 in a 1,000,000+ chance of something bad happening, when really we should be spending more time worrying about the things we really CAN control...like exercising more, driving more safely, and eating healthy diets.

I have eaten every "bad for you" food out there during all of my pregnancies (except alcohol...personally I'm not interested in that one) and I do it without any worries. Look at the odds, look at how food really needs to be (mis)treated in order to carry pathogens, and choose healthy, common-sense foods during your pregnancy. You'll be fine.

...And yes, everyone knows *someone* who had something bad to them. Why this matters, I don't know. Personally, I know a lot of people who have had freak diseases and tragic deaths, but I don't walk around every day worrying the same thing is going to happen to me.

[PoppyMama]

I suppose the dietary rules would suck...if I followed them. I am a moderation person.

[ledzepplon]

I've actually never had a doctor/CNM tell me to avoid anything, and although I know there's lots of hype surrounding certain foods, I feel comfortable with my food choices. I eat the same way when pregnant as when I'm not.

I think you should mention your anxiety to your HCP. All the stress hormones really aren't the best thing for you or your baby, and it sucks to feel that way (I know, since I do have some issues with anxiety from time to time as well).

[moxygirl]

Well I could pull what my DH does on me (I struggle with anxiety and OCD) and tell you that your risk of getting anything from all those foods combined is still MUCH less than your chance of [fill in the blank with the dangers of any daily activity].

If you're worried about toxo, ask your obgyn to do two blood tests - one to see if you have it now and one to see if you've ever had it. I did and it was negative. And I grew up with partially-outdoor cats (that ate the small animals they caught), shared my food with them (yes I know it was gross. Obviously I wouldn't do that now!), changed their litterbox regularly, and was STILL negative. The risk is very small.

My obgyn told me to have my deli sandwiches heated - not even to steaming - and it was fine. She probably told me to avoid nonpasteurized soft cheeses which I do. Nothing about salad or ice cream. I think she said caffeine in moderation.

Another story that I hope is comforting: my parents-in-law are not dirty people but their standards of food prep are far less exacting than mine. They don't even wash their salad, fruits, or vegetables before eating them, among many other atrocities . My husband and his siblings all survived with no diseases and the only illness his dad has ever had was the strange fluke of a skin infection he got from cleaning the fish tank of all things! Um, talk about rare.

I guess my point is, there are lots of things that CAN happen, but they hardly ever do.

[Beltane]

Originally Posted by paintedfire

I've eaten sashimi half a dozen times now and don't plan on stopping. Never even considered giving up blue cheese, often get takeout and then walk home with it while stopping to run other errands on the way, am obsessed with ice cream, love salad, and this is New York - land of the deli - I couldn't give up lunch meat if I tried. I even had half a glass of wine the other night for the first time since finding out I was pregnant and almost certainly will have a glass of champagne at my wedding.

There are many things I'm worried about, but food is not one of them.

What she said - only I add raw milk from the farm next door to my menu.

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by paintedfire

I've eaten sashimi half a dozen times now and don't plan on stopping. Never even considered giving up blue cheese, often get takeout and then walk home with it while stopping to run other errands on the way, am obsessed with ice cream, love salad, and this is New York - land of the deli - I couldn't give up lunch meat if I tried. I even had half a glass of wine the other night for the first time since finding out I was pregnant and almost certainly will have a glass of champagne at my wedding.

There are many things I'm worried about, but food is not one of them.

Help any?

I hear ya... I think WHERE you get the food, and the quality / safety standards of it, matters most.

[JFTB1177]

Omg THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU so much ladies!!!!!! All of your comments have helped so so much!!! It really calms me down to know many of you eat these "forbidden" foods and your babies were just fine!

I made my doc screen me for toxo last pg and was shocked to find out I had never been exposed, having grown up in the country with indoor/outdoor cats that also killed lots of little animals! I thougth for sure I'd be immune. I will prob asked to be screened again next time I go to the doc, just for my sanity. My doc's office is used to my craziness and usually just do whatever I ask lol.

I'm bookmarking this thread and will re-read it all the time to keep myself calm!

[Joyster]

My first pregnancy I wouldn't even eat a steak done medium, let alone sushi, caffeine, sandwich meat, soft cheeses etc.

My second pregnancy I couldn't get enough corned beef on rye, I NEEDED coffee with a toddler, probably had some brie. I know I didn't have sushi because I was sick on that the day before I found out I was pregnant.

This pregnancy, I've only had one corned beef on rye, I won't touch it unless it's the good stuff...now that I've had the good stuff. I am eating a lot of red meat and I will have it medium rare, the way I like it. I've had sushi, brie, caffeine. I think the only thing I've really abstained from consistently is alcohol. Well I did taste a sip of wine this pregnancy because I wanted to make sure it was still okay for a dish I was cooking. Best sip I've had EVER!

I'm probably not as worried as I should be. I just hate having to monitor every little single thing I eat.

[JFTB1177]

[QUOTE=Joyster;15541057]I am eating a lot of red meat and I will have it medium rare, the way I like it. I've had sushi, brie, caffeine. I think the only thing I've really abstained from consistently is alcohol. Well I did taste a sip of wine this pregnancy because I wanted to make sure it was still okay for a dish I was cooking. Best sip I've had EVER!

[QUOTE]

Oh Joyster what I would do for some sushi and brie!!!! I LOVE Vie De France's turkey, brie, and roasted pepper sandwich omg what I would do to have it! I think once I'm out of the 1st trimester I'll relax enough to partake in some "naughtiness" lol.

[mistymama]

Well I'm personally more worried about the nasty additives and chemicals in a subway sub than I am worried about listeria.

I've stayed away from sushi/raw fish this pregnancy and that's pretty much it. I've researched the risks and there is just no way I'm going to be worried about eating pasturized blue cheese. I deli meat and eat it a few times a week - I do buy high quality meat from a local deli and run it under the broiler with some cheese.

I've had a few glasses of wine here and there as well once I was out of the 2nd trimester.

Can you pack and bring your own lunch to work so you don't have to deal with the cafeteria?

I totally understand your paranoia - when I was pregnant this time after a loss I was worried nearly everyday I was going to loose the baby. But in all honesty, your risks of listeria are very, very low and you can take a few precautions like heating deli meat to avoid it all together.

You sound VERY stressed and anxious which isn't healthy for your LO either - so I would work on solutions and do your research - you will find it's really not all that scary after all to eat while pregnant.

[paintedfire]

Originally Posted by Beltane

What she said - only I add raw milk from the farm next door to my menu.

Oh, honey if I could get my hands on raw milk on a regular basis . . . *swoon*.

Originally Posted by Kelly1101

I hear ya... I think WHERE you get the food, and the quality / safety standards of it, matters most.

Yes. I try my best to eat as organically as possible and am lucky enough to be able to afford to do so pretty much all of the time. I cook a lot now that we've moved, but still eat out a fair bit - nowhere iffy, though. I like knowing where my food came from, pregnant or not.

Originally Posted by JFTB1177

I'm bookmarking this thread and will re-read it all the time to keep myself calm!

Good idea.


Also, whoever mentioned brie? Guess what I'm picking up to eat for lunch later now? All. Your. Fault.