Safe Foods in Pregnancy

[HappyLoveMama]

So this is #2 for me and I do believe I will be a lot more relaxed this time around. I was too careful with DS and avoided everything they tell you to. I think moderation is key and if I wouldn't eat it when I wasn't pg, then don't eat it now, kwim? Even wine sounds good to me once in a while!

In terms of deli meats - I know it's okay to eat most deli meats as the risk is so low but still asking anyway! Turkey meat should be the least worrysome - like roast turkey breast, right? I feel silly even writing this but just wanted to hear it...

[RedOakMomma]

These food threads are driving me !

Eat what you want to eat. Buy your food fresh and prepare it in common-sense ways.

Driving while pregant has a risk of DEATH! So does standing outside (you might get struck by lightning or a falling eagle)! Crossing the street is a big no-no in pregnancy. So is using electrical appliances. And good grief, don't take showers--you might slip and fall!

See what I mean? This is getting ridiculous. The chances of something bad happening to you from a soft serve cone or some fresh-sliced deli meat are SO SMALL. You have better things to worry about, and I'm guessing you do other things daily that are way more likely to kill you.

[HappyLoveMama]

I honestly agree but just wanted to hear how everyone else feels about it. But thank you for your reply!
I'm not sure how many food questions have been posted but didn't mean to come across as annoying...

[MaerynPearl]

Most of us here feel the same.

Some are a bit more adamant about avoiding things that have risks but... well... personally Ive looked up the stats to most things and the only thing I do not feel comfortable is drinking a large amount of alcohol or even a small amount often. And that's just my choice. My total alcohol consumption this pregnancy is 3 glasses of white wine before my BFP (which I feel totally comfortable with it that early, never touches the baby) and a few sips of champagne at my wedding at 26w5d

But... you know... as I said, that's me and my choice. I do not feel comfortable with the risk and unknown about amounts with alcohol... but I do feel comfortable with eating ANY deli meat (well except ham, but I dont eat ham when not pregnant either), soft cheeses (I lived on blue cheese on my strawberry and spinach salad first tri!), etc. etc. etc.

As ROM said... I have more of a risk dying on the way to the grocery store to pick up those things than contracting the possible diseases they may cause.

[~Demeter~]

There have been a few panicky food threads recently and I think most of us are a little tired of saying the same thing. Not meant to snap at you, for sure.

I agree with everything Red Oak Momma posted.

[HappyLoveMama]

If I could delete my post out of embarrassment, I totally would.

[fruitfulmomma]

No need to be embarrassed. It is a common concern and I thought all the food threads I had been seeing were in the DDCs anyway, not the main thread. Anywhoo... I feel comfortable eating most foods on the no-no lists. I don't really drink alcohol or caffeine normally so not a big deal for me there. I do love me some good dark chocolate though, which probably has a fair amount of caffeine but really you can't eat the whole bar in one setting anyway.

Not sure why turkey would be better than other deli meats unless you mean whole breast would be better than highly processed minced turkey meat, which is probably true overall.

Eh, if you are still not sure get a copy of Real Food for Mother and Baby by Nina Planck for some good eating advice.

[MaerynPearl]

Dont feel bad, I get where you are coming from!

This wasnt an OMG CAN I EAT THIS? so much as asking for what our thoughts are on what we can or cannot eat.

Granted, we have indeed voiced that over and over (if you eat it not-pregnant, its probably fine pregnant) and it gets exasperating to repeat... its not quite the same.

[CherryBomb]

Oh, don't be embarassed

I'm like MP, I'm comfortable consuming everything except alcohol. I've had maybe 2 glasses of wine total this pregnancy, but generally I just don't feel there's enough evidence for me to feel comfortable drinking moderately during pregnancy.

Otherwise, I eat everything. Sushi, unpasteurized eggs (from my own chickens), deli meat, raw milk cheeses (and I'd drink raw milk itself if I had the money to buy some right now!) etc. Honestly, I think you're more likely to get sick from fresh produce than a lot of the stuff that you're "not supposed" to eat when pregnant!

[kl5]

Originally Posted by NJMama521

I think moderation is key and if I wouldn't eat it when I wasn't pg, then don't eat it now, kwim? Even wine sounds good to me once in a while!

You said it best yourself. Leave off the rest of your post and enjoy your pregnancy!

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by NJMama521

I think moderation is key and if I wouldn't eat it when I wasn't pg, then don't eat it now, kwim? Even wine sounds good to me once in a while!

Listen to your inner thoughts with this one. My MW told me that caffeine is okay in small amounts (like, a cup of coffee a day) and that later in pregnancy they actually RECOMMEND small glasses of wine for prodomal labor and anxiety.

In other cultures they eat sushi while pregnant and never think about it...but in America people panic about it. *shrugs* The anxiety of "OMG! I ATE WHAT?!?" can be worse for you and your baby IMHO.

[spatulagirl]

I lived in Japan while pregnant with my first and ate sushi every day. My Japanese friends said they ate it, so I didn't worry about it. However, they were really concerned that I didn't cover up my belly with giant underwear so the baby wouldn't get cold (?!?!?!)

I lived in Europe while pregnant with my 2nd and ate whatever cheese I could get my grubby little paws on, including a trip to greece where I ate my weight in feta.

I don't eat meat, so I can't comment on that, but in Europe they even drink. I didn't, but they do.

[AFWife]

Just another note: I've been drinking raw milk and plan to continue. That's another "no no."

The ONLY reason I avoided deli meat with my previous pregnancy was it looked and tasted gross at the time.

[m0xxie]

I am fairly certain that Japanese standards for handling and preparing raw fish are the highest and best in the world; if I were in Japan I would not hesitate to eat sushi while pregnant. Other places, I am not convinced that standards are so strictly adhered to, so I'm more cautious. We all have to decide for ourselves what level of risk is acceptable.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by m0xxie

I am fairly certain that Japanese standards for handling and preparing raw fish are the highest and best in the world; if I were in Japan I would not hesitate to eat sushi while pregnant. Other places, I am not convinced that standards are so strictly adhered to, so I'm more cautious. We all have to decide for ourselves what level of risk is acceptable.

I think that, again, this falls under "If you wouldn't eat there while not pregnant..." There are plenty of places that I refuse to eat cooked food!

[MammaB21]

In my first pregnancy I didn't eat anything 'they' tell you not to. This time around I wasn't so concerned with it all. I researched it a little more on my own and realized that the recommendations were written to the extreme.

The only things I do take into consideration are mercury levels, alcohol, and chemicals. We eat TONS of sushi because, well, I absolutely love it. I'm not concerned with raw fish, I just keep it to once a week or less to avoid getting too much mercury. I have consumed small amounts of alcohol in this pregnancy. A sip of DP's beer, or a glass of wine on our anniversary, but honestly I wouldn't even be too concerned with a glass every night (it's just not something I crave because it makes me super tired). I try to stay away from things like BPA, antibiotics in meat and dairy, and preservatives but honestly we can't afford to eat all organic, so we make do with what we have.

[nia82]

Hm I don't eat most of the no-foods anyways. I don't like deli meats cause all we have in town are regular supermarkets and Walmart and I don't want to eat that kind of meat... Does Wholefoods even have deli meats? Never was a big fan!
The only thing I really like, and it's not available here, but back home in Germany is Schinken. It is cured, salted pork, like Prosciutto, and we have it in very many kinds. It is very yummy, but raw meat after all. I am toxo negative and worried I might catch toxo... Would you eat it? (It's like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Forest_ham, but you can have it unsmoked too, which I prefer)

[MaerynPearl]

I wouldnt eat it, but as I already stated... I do not eat ham even when Im not pregnant lol

but if it were beef, sure. but only if its something I have eaten a lot of in the past and never once had a problem with (which is why I am so fine with eating what I do)

(it being ham has nothing to do with diseases I may catch from it rather than the fact that I grew up on a pig farm and grew an emotional attachment to the pigs, I cant bear to eat them now)

[RedOakMomma]

Originally Posted by NJMama521

If I could delete my post out of embarrassment, I totally would.

Oh goodness, no need to be embarrassed. After someone posted the licorice avoidance thread the other week, I even found myself hesitating before eating a few licorice drops. We're all in a state to be worry warts.

[Ammaarah]

Well, I don't think it's insane to avoid certain foods in pregnancy. The CDC says pregnant women have 20x the risk of listeriosis than the non-pregnant. Even if someone hasn't gotten listeria before, that doesn't mean she is somehow listeria-proof for life. Just heating deli meat and letting it cool is easy and not hysterical IMO.