Ate contaminated cheese

aklessig

Today I was cutting raw chicken up to prep dinner.  I got sidetracked and completely forgot to wash the cutting board (ewwww!!!).  About two hours later, I cut a slice of cheese to eat on the same board (the board had dried or else I would have notice before cutting) while I waited for my husband to come home.  Later on, I realized I had eaten cross contaminated cheese!  Now I am worried about Salmonella poisoning and hurting my baby.  What do any of you ladies think on here?  I am trying to drink lots of water.  I plan to call the Dr. in the morning right away.  

AnonnAni

Pretty low likelihood (IMO) considering at 13 weeks the placentas not providing nutrients based on your calorie intake from food etc., the fetus is still supported by the corps lutem cyst till after 14 weeks.

Personally, I'd view it like cat liter, changing a cat liter box prior to a functioning placenta (after 14 weeks) isn't a worry since you can't pass anything (toxoplasmos *sp*) if the placenta isn't functioning. As a cat owner that's how it was explained to me, that there isn't any function to the growing placenta in early stages, and after 14 weeks don't change the liter b/c then things are passing through so I would assume the same would hold true.

But you, yourself could get sick from it possibly (hope u don't though).

aklessig

Thank you for the good point about the placenta!  I wouldn't like to get sick, but if I would rather be sick myself than have baby affected.  Glad this happened now rather than later....  You made me feel so much better!

MelleTX

Technically you did not eat contaminated cheese. You ate cheese that was possibly exposed to raw chicken. Not all chicken contains salmonella.

I think your chances of any sort of infection are extremely low. I would just be more aware of how you are feeling for the next 24 hours or so, but try not to stress yourself out.   

choppinbroccoli22

AnonnAni:

Pretty low likelihood (IMO) considering at 13 weeks the placentas not providing nutrients based on your calorie intake from food etc., the fetus is still supported by the corps lutem cyst till after 14 weeks.

Personally, I'd view it like cat liter, changing a cat liter box prior to a functioning placenta (after 14 weeks) isn't a worry since you can't pass anything (toxoplasmos *sp*) if the placenta isn't functioning. As a cat owner that's how it was explained to me, that there isn't any function to the growing placenta in early stages, and after 14 weeks don't change the liter b/c then things are passing through so I would assume the same would hold true.

But you, yourself could get sick from it possibly (hope u don't though).

While I wouldn't be too concerned about one cutting board of raw chicken residue, I just would like to point out that the quoted information is probably incorrect.

While the placenta may not be providing calories to the baby, it CERTAINLY transmits other things in your blood to the baby. That's what a teratogen IS: something that crosses the placenta and can negatively affect that fetus; and the first trimester is usually the time when the fetus is MOST susceptible to teratogens.

But again, if you don't get sick, I wouldn't worry.

LorMor

MelleTX:

Technically you did not eat contaminated cheese. You ate cheese that was possibly exposed to raw chicken. Not all chicken contains salmonella.

This. 

The worry with these things in pregnancy is related to food poisoning. You could eat a whole herd of raw chicken (ugh!) and do absolutely no harm.

If you get violently ill, then you have food poisoning and it MAY affect your baby. But if you don't get food poisoning, you and your baby are both fine. In my experience, food poisoning happens pretty quickly. So I'm pretty sure that by now you are fine.  

honeybee72

LorMor:

MelleTX:

Technically you did not eat contaminated cheese. You ate cheese that was possibly exposed to raw chicken. Not all chicken contains salmonella.

This. 

The worry with these things in pregnancy is related to food poisoning. You could eat a whole herd of raw chicken (ugh!) and do absolutely no harm.

If you get violently ill, then you have food poisoning and it MAY affect your baby. But if you don't get food poisoning, you and your baby are both fine. In my experience, food poisoning happens pretty quickly. So I'm pretty sure that by now you are fine.  

The main worry with salmonella is the effects of food poisoning (like dehydration), but in rare cases salmonella can enter the bloodstream and endanger the fetus.

There are, however, other pathogens that may not be terribly harmful to adult humans (listeria & toxoplasma are examples), but can cross the placenta and be very dangerous for the fetus.

I'm not trying to be alarmist, but there's enough misinformation out there as it is.

bklynbmp

Only about 5% of chicken has salmonella to begin with so the chances that your chicken did, contaminated the board and then was absorbed into the cheese and you will get sick from it (not everyone will get sick even if they are exposed) is very low.  Don't worry about it.

Mrs.DeliaMarieP

Most chicken will not be contaminated with Salmonella, so most likely, you are okay. 

blueeyedgirl27

choppinbroccoli22:

AnonnAni:

Pretty low likelihood (IMO) considering at 13 weeks the placentas not providing nutrients based on your calorie intake from food etc., the fetus is still supported by the corps lutem cyst till after 14 weeks.

Personally, I'd view it like cat liter, changing a cat liter box prior to a functioning placenta (after 14 weeks) isn't a worry since you can't pass anything (toxoplasmos *sp*) if the placenta isn't functioning. As a cat owner that's how it was explained to me, that there isn't any function to the growing placenta in early stages, and after 14 weeks don't change the liter b/c then things are passing through so I would assume the same would hold true.

But you, yourself could get sick from it possibly (hope u don't though).

While I wouldn't be too concerned about one cutting board of raw chicken residue, I just would like to point out that the quoted information is probably incorrect.

While the placenta may not be providing calories to the baby, it CERTAINLY transmits other things in your blood to the baby. That's what a teratogen IS: something that crosses the placenta and can negatively affect that fetus; and the first trimester is usually the time when the fetus is MOST susceptible to teratogens.

But again, if you don't get sick, I wouldn't worry.

This. Teratogenic substances are most damaging to the developing fetus in the first trimester when development is most crucial. Same goes for toxoplasmosis. According to webmd (a reputable souce), "Infection early in the pregnancy is less likely to be transmitted to the baby than infection later in the pregnancy. [However], early infection results in more severe symptoms in the baby than a later one." To have the mindset that your baby is "immune" to any toxic substance before the placenta develops is dangerous, and if your doctor told you otherwise then I'd seek out a new one.

OP, you should be okay. Although in the future, it is recommended that you use a separate cutting board for cutting raw meat (especially if you use wooden ones).