Can I Eat That?

realgoodthing

I figured I'd start a thread about restricted food. How bad is it REALLY? I'm just always interested in how closely people are following the rules.

I'll start it off: can I eat a hot dog if it's fully cooked? Please say yes.

Manda95816

Hi leilac, great idea for a thread!  I'd say the hot dog is probably under "deli meat", meaning it has an elevated chance of having listeria.  So it's basically like sushi, if it's from a reputable source and you've eaten it before without getting sick, you're probably fine.  Personally, I'd probably try to avoid, but if it's a serious craving and you feel confident about the source, go for it.  I'd be curious what other ladies' OBGYNs have advised them about deli meat (I forgot to ask mine).
PS: Regarding 'following the rules" - I'm only 7 weeks, and so far I've been really good about avoiding sushi, deli meats, etc.  BUT I've only known I'm prego for 3 weeks, so who's to say I won't cave later  Also, this is my first, so everyone's more careful the first time, right?

babypi

I think for deli meat the rule is you have to heat it to steaming for it to be safe, so I always took that to mean if I cooked the hotdog myself and checked it's temp to be sure, then it's fine. I craved them really bad with my DD, so I ate them a lot and we're fine. I'll add that I also buy hot dogs with no nitrates, which are also bad while pregnant. 

LuLiLaEv

@leilac A hot dog is fine! Especially if it's completely cooked. 

GoogleMD

The concern for deli meat is listeria which is a bacteria found in cooler areas. Once deli meat is cooked there is no concern for listeria. That being said in the last 5 years there have been listeria outbreaks in catelope, ice cream and a few other foods so I think the recommendation is rather silly. I had jimmy johns 3 days a week during my 3rd trimester with my son. 
The hotdog concern is nitrates- have the occasional hotdog, don't live off of them for 9 months. Baby will be 100% fine

KissMeImScottish

Yes. You absolutely can. This is one of
my biggest pet peeves in pregnancy. The restrictions that exist do exist for a reason, but I honestly have found that most of these restrictions come with caveats that doctors just are either too tired or too lazy to explain to us or that they think our pregnant female brains are somehow incapable of parsing out. Here's the thing: the concern with things like lunchmeat, undercooked meat, soft cheeses, etc., is out of an abundance of caution regarding food poisoning. The soft cheese thing is an excellent example. They don't want pregnant women eating soft cheese like Brie or blue cheese*. See that asterisk? That asterisk means they don't want you to eat UNPASTEURIZED soft cheese. But seriously, unless you live in certain parts of rural Europe, frequent artisan cheese shops, or work on a dairy farm, I'm not even sure you can FIND unpasteurized dairy in US stores. So, I eat Brie and blue cheese to my hearts content and just make sure it's pasteurized because I'm an adult and can read nutrition labels. And since I don't make a habit of eating food I think might give me food poisoning on a regular basis, pregnant or otherwise, I just make sure to avoid dodgy all-you-can-eat buffets and that my meat is cooked on the warm side of medium rare. Since I've never gotten food poisoning from a turkey sandwich, either, I eat the crap out of that, too, and just make sure I trust the place I'm getting it. Fun fact: the lunch meat restriction came from a case of listeria that a pregnant Canadian woman contracted from eating turkey. That was 25 years ago and there hasn't been a single case of pregnancy related listeria connected to lunch meat specifically since.

Fish is a bit dicier because the logic against it has to do with mercury, but if you read the actual restriction, it names the big 4 to avoid and then says stay under 6-8 ounces a week on all the others. The big 4 are Tile Fish, Tuna, Shark, and Mahi Mahi. So, while I'm not sure I'd advise eating conveyer belt sushi while pregnant, reputable sushi shops are typically fine as long as long as the sushi isn't made of those fish. But seriously, if you like salmon, make a point of eating that, because even doctors will tell you the omega-3s in it are amazing for you and baby.

Honestly, to me, it's about understanding the actual restrictions and then making intelligent decisions based on the information available, but I refuse to be treated like a child in bubblewrap
simply because I'm pregnant. My body, my choices, and if I listened to every pregnancy restriction on the books, I'd never be allowed to leave the house and I'd be living on bread and oatmeal. Sorry, not my thing.

I'll get off my soapbox now, but this is a huge pet peeve of mine. We're supposed to enjoy pregnancy as much as we're able. I refuse to feel guilty for eating what I want.

kghusker1003

I follow very few food rules. I still eat my rare steak, my deli meat, soft cheese, WITH the ok from my OB. He said as long as I am not eating a rare steak or soft cheese for every meal, every day, I am more than likely ok. I do give up alcohol completely as I don't think that is ok while pregnant.  I ate Jimmy Johns every day for the last 13 days I was pregnant with DD2, because that was the ONLY thing that would stay down and she is perfectly fine. 

pepper16-2

@ktewart thank you!! 

To add on about deli meat: my understanding is there's absolutely no concern about the prepackaged deli meat in the fridge section, it's more at a counter where it might have been sitting out for a while (and so more likely to have been exposed to bacteria). But again: if you've eaten it from somewhere plenty of times before pregnancy there's very little reason to think you'll suddenly get food poisoning from it during pregnancy! 

oheliza44

How is everyone handling the alcohol restriction? I am a FTM and haven't had a drink since I found out I was pregnant. I've heard so much conflicting information. Some doctors say to avoid it completely through the duration of pregnancy and others say an occasional glass of red wine is ok, especially in the later months. My first appointment is Wednesday, so I plan to discuss this more with my doctor however I would welcome anyone's take on this. Obviously don't think drinking in mass quantity is a good idea, but I would die for a glass of wine every week or so. 

ladipale

I agree with everything @ktewart says and join her on her soapbox. Turkey and avocado sandwiches are my jam these days. Even with a loss under my belt I'm super lax about most of this stuff. 

Dcwtada

Seriously you are more likely to get listeria from bagged vegetables than deli meat. I try to make healthier decisions overall but don't restrict or avoid food. I will even have a glass of bubbly on Christmas and New Years. Every time someone tells me that no safe amount of alcohol has been established, I remind them it's because in order to do so they would have to conduct clinical trials and have pregnant women drink at different amounts to establish a baseline and since that is unethical it will never happen. All they have now is self-reported correlational data that is unreliable and useless as far as any implications or generalizations. Be smart but be sane lol 

KissMeImScottish

I love my wine too, and have managed so far to be pregnant in quite a few situations where alcohol would have been very welcome (my sister's wedding, my birthday, 4th of July). However, while I won't judge anyone for the occasional glass, especially later in pregnancy once the brain is fully formed, this is one rule I do choose to follow to the letter. Unfortunately, those conflicting studies do have enough proof that alcohol CAN cause serious birth defects, and for something that is not at all vital to my diet (my sanity is a different story, but that's another thing all together), I avoid for the 40 weeks. I do drink while breastfeeding, however, and will be the first to say it.

My suggestion would be to experiment with virgin drinks till you find something that works. Cranberry juice with soda water and lime does the trick for
me and allows me to feel like I'm participating in whatever social event I'm at without feeling like I'm restricted to water. The carbonation is my key - I love my Prosecco and Champagne, so soda water is my virgin alternative go-to.

ETA: @Dcwtada has an excellent point, though, and I feel like I'm far more likely to feel
comfortable having the occasional glass this go round. Chasing a toddler while pregnant amps up the call for wine compared to last time, haha.

Dcwtada

Oh yeah, don't misunderstand me I know alcohol can cause serious problems and my last two I abstained except one glass of wine with my first on Valentine's Day and one glass of wine and one glass of bubbly with my second on Christmas and New Years respectively. My comment was more about there being no proven safe amount. 

There was a really good article I read with my last BMB about drinking and breastfeeding - they tested the amount of alcohol in the milk based on how much the mother had drank and it was eye opening. I will have to search that one. Suffice it to say as long as you aren't binge drinking the amount in breast milk almost non-existent. I will find it. 

oheliza44

@ktewart my go to 'mock-tail' is Pom juice and lime La Croix with fresh lime garnish. I always put it in a pretty glass- maybe I'm insane but having it in nice glassware makes it feel more indulgent.

KissMeImScottish

@oheliza44, oh, not silly at all! The glass totally
matters! I definitely drink it from a very large wine glass and am a happy camper. I'd love to see others go-to mocktail recipes, especially with the holidays coming up!

@Dcwtada, I agree completely on the breastfeeding thing. With my son, I basically operated on the idea that if, after drinking, I could drive safely, then I could also breastfeed safely. The study would probably be interesting for new moms who haven't gone through this already. I'd love to see it if you happen to come across it!

oheliza44

@ktewart agree! I'd love to know others go-to drinks. Lord knows Pom juice and la croix is going to get boring after a few months! 

SpongeWorthy

I agree with previous posters. I think food fears are probably overblown. I'm reading a book called "Expecting Better" that talks about some of these issues and where the evidence comes from.  Definitely a useful book.  That being said, my BIL's sister did get toxoplasmosis from eating sushi while pregnant, and her daughter has eye issues because of it.  So I think I will play it on the safe side mostly.  I'm vegetarian so the deli meat isn't an issue for me thankfully.  I do plan to abstain from alcohol because it's not worth the risk to me.

hqinmd

Everything @ktewart said. That said, I follow most of the restrictions just because I'm a worrywart. I also adhere to the alcohol restrictions even though I personally think they're overblown. Women in France drink small amounts through pregnancy with no issues. But there just aren't any real, controlled studies to prove there's a safe level of alcohol, so I abstain. Breastfeeding is another story. 

SaphireSweetie88

I am following most of the rules but there are some I am kind of ignoring. I am eating meat and things but I have them heated. Ex: If I am getting a sub from Subway, I have them toast it. If I am in the mood for hotdogs, I cut up 2 of them and cook them in the water while cooking the noodles for my mac and cheese

Dcwtada

This is the excerpt from the study, and I linked what I thought was a good blog with a summary of findings and easy to understand explanations:

Conclusion: The alcohol content in breast milk immediately after drinking is equivalent to a 0.0274 proof beverage. That’s like mixing 1 oz of 80 proof vodka (one shot) with 2919 oz of mixer . By the way, 2919 oz is over 70 liters. Two hours after drinking one (strong) drink the alcohol has disappeared from the sample. Completely harmless to the nursing infant. Drinking about 3 drinks in 1.5 hours resulted in higher numbers, but still negligible amounts of alcohol would be transferred to the child. One hour after imbibing in 3 drinks, the milk was the equivalent of 0.07498 proof beverage. That would be like adding 1 oz of 80 proof vodka (one shot) to 1066 oz of mixer (1066 oz is over 26 liters). Two hours after imbibing in 3 drinks, the milk was 0.01258 proof. That would be like adding 1 oz of 80 proof vodka to 3179 oz of mixer (over almost 80 liters). So, even though an infant has much less body weight, any of these percentage of alcohol in breast milk is unlikely to adversely affect the baby. Bottoms up!” 

https://mybabysheartbeatbear.com/blog/breastfeeding-and-booze-cheers/

satsumasandlemons

@oheliza44 I had an occasional glass of wine or beer in my first pregnancy - towards the end when your whole body is just hurting, it's friday night, and you're just ready to pop, a glass of wine is heaven. 

caribbeanmama-2

Unpasteurized soft cheeses are dispersed throughout the offerings at Whole Foods - so if you shop there check the label.  Yum yum yum - I ate them regardless last pregnancy.  I can't this time around - for shame.

Wine is a big one since I typically have a glass or two most evenings with dinner.  Last pregnancy I had a couple sips in the third trimester. My midwife said half a glass once or twice a week was fine!  My husband is a frowny grump about having more than a taste though, so it is easier to avoid the stare and just give it up.

I don't normally eat deli meat.  This pregnancy had be craving some though, which I ate, but now I have an aversion to it so I guess it's off the list.

The fish industry is pretty corrupt and finding responsibly sourced fish is hard.  I'm very careful about where I buy fish in general.  Mercury is a concern, pregnant or not.

LoveLee85

I couldn't enjoy wine if I wanted to, because the smell of beer or wine makes me want to vomit! Also, I guess I don't have fun pregnancies because I never have cravings or things I have to have/love. I have about 10,392,207 different weird food aversions though. Fun, right?! 

hqinmd

@caribbeanmama my DH harped on me if I poured myself so much as half a cup of coffee with my first pregnancy. He mellowed for the second, thankfully. 

KissMeImScottish

@caribbeanmama, admittedly, I'm a little spoiled when it comes to fish. I am from New England originally (and am headed back there in a week) and we usually buy our fish right off the boat down at the docks. I, as a general rule, don't eat fish that's been frozen or shipped, but like I said, I have very, very easy access to ultra fresh seafood. Newport, RI is great for it, since the fish markets are right on the docks and you can watch the boats come in and offload their catch. Another rule we were taught from the time we were little was "if it smells like fish, it isn't good anymore". Fresh seafood shouldn't smell like anything, so I have a pretty high standard for seafood, which I suppose is a good thing since, as a New Englander and the daughter of a ship's captain, it's a staple of my diet.

tsarina-2

@ktewart And fish is so good for you! And good for developing babies. It's a shame that there is so much anxiety about fish in pregnancy generally, because as my OB says the clear benefits of those Omegas dwarf the small likelihood of damage from mercury (it's easy to avoid those high-on-the-food-chain fish anyway) and/or other contamination. Like you though, I'm in a coastal area with access to fresh fish (San Francisco). 

I don't worry about food restrictions and ate sushi and whatever else I wanted throughout my last 2 pregnancies, and plan to again if I want. I almost never have alcohol usually (migraines), so avoiding it during pregnancy is easy for me. My personal feeling is that the riskiest thing we do while pregnant is getting in a car and driving and/or being driven, and no one is telling us to avoid that. The hysteria around pregnancy is really out of control.

That said, following dietary rules can be really comforting for women because pregnancy is a time where we have so little control over anything. So if being strict with food helps you, go for it! You do you.

abmommy15

Everything in moderation from a reputable source is my rule.  My dr is pretty relaxed about stuff like this and thinks that all the dietary restrictions are pretty ridiculous.  Her advice to me was to use my common sense.  Don't go to a new sushi restaurant that you have never eaten at, don't buy the discounted deli meat that is discounted because it's close to expiry, keep an eye on food recalls that kind of thing.  During my last pregnancy there was a recall on spinach, one on almond butter and one on frozen fruit.  None of these things would be considered restricted during pregnancy.  The reason for restrictions are food borne illnesses such as Listeria and Salmonella but these can occur in just about any food so I personally don't see the point in torturing myself by avoiding foods.  

flipflopped

Other than alcohol and raw meat/fish, my aversions dictiated my diet during my first pregnancy more than a list could.read the recommendations, talk to your ob and make a decision about what is realistic for you. 

morgarita

I'm super lax on foods and pretty much everything during pregnancy. But as soon as I got pregnant with my first and now this one I just want to eat healthier. I no longer wanted caffeine or sweets just veggies and fruits. I would mentally want a drink with vodka or tequila at the end of the day but dont really have an interest in actually drinking it. I use to do strawberry vodka with lemonade all summer so easy switch to just strawberry lemonades. 

Oh but my first pregnancy I went to a picnic in August and had to say no to a party sub that had been sitting out for idk how long. Yeah the warm meat, cheese, and mayo on it, no thanks. 

mj8215

Any thoughts on caviar ? My Russian Jewish mom is visiting and brought a ton of it with her, for the thanksgiving table (I know... lol) I found differing opinions on the web. It doesn't specifically say that it's pasteurized on the container. I guess it's a no?  

stokesm21

My friend gave up feta for this reason.  I eat it on salad once or twice a week.  I might be at higher risk but I've never caught listeria period.  What are the chances of it happening while pregnant?  I don't take the food stuff too seriously TBH and I've stopped telling DH things that we're not supposed to eat because then he side-eyes me as I'm stuffing my face.  Otherwise, my prime craving at the moment is salad oddly enough.  Lately I've just been eating it plain with dressing.  Sometimes 2 bowls in a row.  Ain't nothing wrong with that LOL!      

My Dr told me to give up coffee altogether. *eye*roll* I've only ever drank 1 cup a day since I can remember.  I still drink it.

My sis said she followed all the rules with her first but threw them out the window for the second.  Pregnancy is hard enough without having to give up all your favourite things.    

SaphireSweetie88

@mj8215 - I personally would NOT eat it. To me it's in the same boat as raw fish

supermom83

Every time I'm pregnant, all I ever want to eat are those damn tuna sandwiches from Subway. I never eat those usually, but the moment sperm meets egg, I start to crave it. Of course I try to limit it, so I'll have one of those sandwiches once every few weeks. But of course while pregnant all I ever crave is tuna, lunch meat, blue cheese, bri, and sushi...it's like I want everything I know I *shouldn't* have lol

I agree with every single word @ktewart said!

hqinmd

@stokesm21 pregnancy means your immunocompromised (which I didn't realize until I was pregnant with my first). If exposed to listeria normally you might not get sick but you have a higher likelihood of getting sick if exposed when pregnant. I can't remember the number, but it's definitely an increased risk (which I didn't learn until I was pregnant with my second).

Soft cheeses are fine if they're made with pasteurized milk. I'm making Brie for Thanksgiving. 

oramirez1106

As a general rule, I just try to be smart about what I am eating and drinking.  There are very few things that I consider absolutely off limits, as previous posters have said, just read the labels, know where it came from and do the best you can!  My OB is of the opinion that if you are making smart, informed decisions, than he is ok with it for the most part.  But goodness, YES, why do Subway tuna sandwiches suddenly seem SO amazing?  I dont think I have had one since being pregnant with my second... over 3 years ago!  haha oh fun times!

oramirez1106

mmm pickles

kinge16

First pregnancy everything worried me. I make it a rule not to eat food from gas stations and other shady spots (prepared sandwiches etc.). And from what I have read, buying pre-cut, pre-handled food increases likelihood of exposure to food borne illness, so I just do it at home and wash stuff.

Drinking wise, I had a glass or two late in third tri last time. The studies worry me, but I didn't really have an appetite for it last time either, so I guess I will see. It loses the fun when you are worried the whole time. I didn't really enjoy it. I will say though when I would drink while BF, my tolerance was shot. It was hysterical. 

caribbeanmama-2

@ktewart @tsarina way to make a pregnant lady jealous that you live on the coast and have access to fresh seafood!  I grew up in the Caribbean and prefer (really miss) warm water fish, which we would buy from the local fishermen who came to our house - fish still flapping. They would scale and gut the fish right there!  (My house was on the seaside).  Sigh.. I'll go cry in a corner now...

KissMeImScottish

@caribbeanmama, for what it's worth, I've been missing it like crazy, too. Strange as it sounds, I've been living in Hawaii the last two and a half years and they're surprisingly not all that great about fresh fish. Plus, those big 4 that I mentioned that you're not supposed to have? Those are the staples out here - those big pelagic fish. I can't wait to get home. I move on Monday and can't wait for my dad's Boston Baked Cod with Ritz cracker and lemon butter topping!

tsarina-2

@caribbeanmama I love that story from your childhood! So evocative. Sorry for making you jealous - I assumed you were still in the Caribbean! Are you inland now?

kinge16

@ktewart that sounds incredible!