Chinese Hotpot While Pregnant?

babymooney1218

Hey guys! I’m currently at around 6-7 weeks (not sure since I haven’t had my first prenatal appointment yet) and I have my older sister’s bday dinner coming up this weekend. I’m not ready to announce the pregnancy yet, since it’s still so early, I’m not married to the father of the baby (yet), and this pregnancy was unplanned. This is also my family’s first grandchild so I know it will be a bit shock especially for my mom.

If you’re not familiar with Chinese hotpot, it’s a meal that involves sitting around a big pot of boiling broth that you add meat, seafood, veggies, and tofu into. The meat is sliced very thinly so you only need to dip the meat in the boiling broth for a few seconds before it’s done. I’m very worried about cross contamination with the raw meat since everyone throws in the raw meat whenever they want. It’s also considered polite to serve others from the pot and i don’t know how can refuse without seeming very suspicious. it’s my sister’s bday and i don’t want to make a big fuss and change the plans but i’m feeling very nervous about the whole ordeal. i’m tempted to just blurt out the truth but i’m pretty sure their reaction will be a negative one.

If anyone has any tips for getting by this dinner unnoticed and pregnancy undetected i’m all ears!

christmascheesecake

I think you're all good on the meat part as the soup is hot. But if you are unsure share with you're partner. I just say oh I don't like that pieces I really like this and stick to tofu. Or say you had an upset tummy before, my Mum hasn't figured out yet. Good luck! 

lulam13

Can you check with your doctor to see if there are any concerns? At least that way of you get the green light then you can go to the dinner with confidence and eat!

brennybird

Hot pot places offer different broths too, so you can explain getting your own as “we just really wanted to try this broth and we wanted x sauce or x spice that might mess up all the flavors y’all got going on over there.” Good luck and enjoy that hot pot! 😋🍲

narwhal33

I think meat wise, you could just say you've recently decided you like your meat more well done? And as for cross contamination fears, I think you're okay as the broth keeps boiling so you're unlikely to get anything "raw" on your food - most bacteria will be cooked out. (As someone who lives in Asia and loves hot pot, it's very common here, and I see pregnant women eating it all the time!). Of more concern is if the broth is the medicinal kind that you sometimes get, which might not be good for pregnancy, or the spicy kind which might be bad for heartburn? (My doc advised me to stay away from spicy hot pot)

babymooney1218

Thank you for your responses and suggestions! i have my first prenatal appointment the afternoon before the dinner so i’ll double check with her and see what she thinks :)

but i’m glad to hear that i probably don’t have anything to worry about. i forgot to mention before that my mom is making the hotpot at home. her broth is very basic. she just boils a whole chicken in a large pot and adds salt so i think i’m pretty good there. my bf is also working this weekend so it’ll just be me and the family so i’m keeping my fingers crossed i don’t accidentally give away my secret

narwhal33

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

janinegb

How did it go? 

babymooney1218

Update! Dinner was a success! i ate a bit of everything (salmon, beef balls, fish tofu, mushrooms, regular tofu, tiger shrimp, wontons, oysters) but skipped out on the thinly sliced beef (wasn’t feeling it) and liver. this might be an unpopular opinion but i love liver so i was i bit worried they would question why i was passing on it but i don’t think anyone noticed. plus i cooked the hell out of everything as a precaution