"Expecting Better" by Emily Oster

catem07

Has anyone else read this book? The author challenges a lot of the conventional wisdom/research behind all of the "rules" expectant mothers should follow. Curious to hear others' thoughts on it. Here's a column about deli meat and back sleeping--the columns come from the book.

mamabear2015

I haven't read it but I go by a lot of her ideas. I think it's ridiculous to avoid deli meat because of listeria when most of the recent outbreaks have been in/on food that we're not told to avoid, etc. One thing I somewhat disagree on is the alcohol. I totally believe that a moderate amount of alcohol wouldn't be harmful most of the time but I know at some points in development it COULD be and that's a bigger risk than I'm willing to take.  I'll have a sip here and there in my 3rd trimester though.  Anyways. I should read her book but from what I know of her thoughts, I agree with her. 

catem07

She suggests only avoiding turkey, because the lion's share of listeria outbreaks in deli meat have come from that.

I may have a glass of wine or half a beer on a rare occasion in my second or third trimester, but I'm abstaining now.

She found that it's better to gain too much weight than not enough (the effects of high birth weight are mostly related to delivery problems, while low birth weight causes developmental issues.)

She agrees with the recommendation to avoid gardening, which was interesting--I didn't even know that was a recommendation before reading. 

mamabear2015

I had no idea about the gardening one. That won't be an issue for me. My garden is...um...rustic and natural?? Hahah. 

Neikoda

yaeger07mamabear2015 Gardening is not necessarily to be avoided but you are supposed to wear gloves. This is for the same reason you are cautious with changing a cat's litter box. If feral cats may have been in your garden, their feces may carry Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that in early pregnancy can cause birth defects. 

catem07

According to the book, changing your cat's litter box isn't likely that harmful because if you have a cat that goes outside it probably already had toxoplasmosis and you've probably already had it too, meaning you are now immune and your baby is protected. Of course, if you have someone else who can do that chore why not pass it along?

mamabear2015

 ...I've had outdoor cats since I was born buuuut haven't changed the litter since my first pregnancy....

BecauseLove

Very interesting! I will have to check it out. Thanks! 

TheJerilu

Just ordered on amazon, will arrive Monday (I like delayed shipping for those digital credits haha).  Thanks for the suggestion!

cookies754

Very interesting. I had no idea about the gardening either! 

Is it true that if you heat up the turkey/deli meat in the microwave, then it kills the bacteria and is safe to eat?

ladameperdue

Yes, great book.

TheJerilu

cookies754 said:

Is it true that if you heat up the turkey/deli meat in the microwave, then it kills the bacteria and is safe to eat?

@cookies754 Yup, heating up meat "until steaming" kills the listeria that is cause for concern.  If you're worried but also craving those meat slices and don't have access to a microwave, I've heard it suggested that avoiding turkey is an easy way to significantly reduce risk (as the listeria outbreaks more commonly occur with turkey but even then aren't that common).

cookies754

TheJerilu said:

cookies754 said:

Is it true that if you heat up the turkey/deli meat in the microwave, then it kills the bacteria and is safe to eat?

@cookies754 Yup, heating up meat "until steaming" kills the listeria that is cause for concern.  If you're worried but also craving those meat slices and don't have access to a microwave, I've heard it suggested that avoiding turkey is an easy way to significantly reduce risk (as the listeria outbreaks more commonly occur with turkey but even then aren't that common).

Thanks, @TheJerilu! Good to know! We had planned turkey paninis for dinner tonight but then I chickened out and just made mine with cheese. Thanks for the info!

TheJerilu

@cookies754 To reduce your fears even more, the concern is more for deli meat that is sitting at room temp for a while, such as with corporate catering or MTO restaurants like Subway or other sandwich shops!  If you're hankering for a panini, you could always microwave or panfry the meat separately (or just enjoy a cheese sandwich as you did )

clickclackmoo

I'm familiar with her book and was pretty lax with my pregnancy with my son (re: caffeine, lunch meat, cheese, etc.) I even had a few drinks in the second and third trimesters. I actually think I might be MORE careful this go around, but I can't put my finger on why. The one thing about Oster is that I think she's an economist, so I take her info with a little bit of a grain of salt. What's clear is that the recommendations are way over cautious because of the unknown. And that sucks because soft cheese and coffee are so damn good.

cookies754

@clickclackmoo I think I am going to miss all the good cheese and coffee more than wine. (Ok maybe it's a tie. ) I thought we were completely out this month, otherwise I would've had more cheese and wine beforehand. 

Ps. Love your username. I'm a primary teacher! 

MrsBakes

I haven't read this book but would be interested in checking it out. I have read up on the soft cheese and it seems a bit misunderstood. The only soft cheeses to be avoided are the ones not pesturized  and are processed differently which is commonly seen in France for example. However, due to US regulations even the soft French imported cheeses are most of the time pesturized and safe to eat during pregnancy. I spoke to my OB about this as well to make sure I wasn't completely off base. So just because it's soft cheese doesn't mean it's not safe to eat. My OB told me to simply read the label.

Have any of you found info on this as well?

Breesy14

It's nice to see a post like this.  I have spoken with so many pregnant women over the years that have all those fears, just because they "heard they weren't supposed to."  My doctor was able to point me in the right directions last pregnancy and I sort of did my own research and found much of the same information as in this book.  I sometimes joke with people that spinach and cantaloupe are more likely to have listeria than deli meat, but you never hear any doctors telling pregnant women to avoid those!  For the record, I haven't read the book, but have read about it.  Maybe I will check it out as soon as I'm finished with the other ones I'm currently reading (unrelated to pregnancy) which are somewhat relevant to our situations.  If anyone's curious - Toddler Discipline Without Shame by Janet Lansbury and The Whole Brain Child, can't remember the authors.  Just started What If Everyone Understood Child Development by Rae Pica.  My passion and career is in child development, so I nerd out on it every summer!

catem07

@MrsBakes Yes, that's my understanding as well. Nearly all cheese in the US is pasteurized. Panera is not going to put unpasteurized feta in anyone's salad.

BecauseLove

Breesy14  You should start a April's Book Club. Might be interesting to read and "talk" with other April ladies.  

mrsstuessy

yeah, I don't really do any of the things pregnant people are supposed to do. The only thing I really do differently is the no alcohol. I am fine giving up that, but wouldn't judge someone for a small glass of wine in the 3rd trimester. I eat all the deli meat and all the cheese and even had some delicious sushi when I was pregnant with DD. I also eat runny eggs. *gasp* I cut down on my coffee a little bit, but only because I could easily have 4 cups of coffee a day. I try and stick with one or maybe two cups when pregnant. I don't know about that lady, but I think I would like her. 

holzie-2

@breesy14, I second @becauselove 's suggestion!  I would be down for a book club as well!

WkoutMomtoBe

I've been hearing about this book and it's one on my list. I had no clue what it was about. 

I did know about no to soft cheeses but only because they're unpasteurized SO this weekend I noticed that some feta and goat cheese were pasteurized...DH's aunt made something with feta but it was cooked so that was even more reassuring.

RE: deli meat I feel it's a bunch of fooey but for now I listen to it. I do not recall the people I knew pregnant when I was in h.s. (lots of pregancies in h.s.) avoiding deli meat but that was also 15-20 years ago. My friend and her sister were both pregnant last summer and her sister ate sub sandwich and ended up violently ill puking. Wasn't there listeria in apple juice at one point?

Regarding the sleeping on back, my friend put his kids to sleep on their stomach...ages 1, 5, and 7 and they're all fine. He also gives them peanut puffs when they start teething. He's from U.S. but has been living in Israel 9 years and I guess that's the way they do it (I noticed this when he was here visiting and put baby on back and gave the kid peanut puffs).

Breesy14

@Holzie and @BecauseLove I'd like to, but I read sporadically during the school year and life can randomly get in the way of my reading for weeks!  I'm not sure I could be consistent with it.  It would be fun though.  Maybe if someone could co-book club with me? 

BecauseLove

Breesy14 I might be cohelper of a bookclub...but honestly my life is insane (and we won't know if this pregnancy is viable until another 2-3 weeks)...so maybe a Late Sept Book Club after you get settled back into school and I am for sure getting to enjoy 9 months of reading with you all.