food wwyd?

onyxfoxeyes

Alright so before pregnancy I was huge into sushi and I had a couple beers a week or so. Giving up that stuff has been fine, though I was used to having sushi once a week. My big craving though has been for an Italian sub/hoagie/hero or whatever you call it personally. I havent given in because deli meats are a no no during pregnancy, but I was wondering if anyone has had sandwhiches? How big of a no no is deli meat? I've had a couple people say no period, and a couple moms tell me its fine in moderation. So wwyd?

matthewsdm

Both this time and last time I have eaten deli meat sandwiches with no issue! Obviously not every day, but once or twice a month I'd say I'll have a Subway sandwich or something. If you are really worried, you can always heat up the meat in the micorwave to kill any potential bacteria that could be floating around,

ScarletOflaherty

I've not given up sushi or deli meat, but then again I'm not particularly paranoid either(you literally have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting listeria).

TristansMom01

I would skip the hoagie and grab some sushi. Safer than ordering chicken at a restaurant.

MichelleDis

in moderation, it's fine.  I have had a few turkey sandwiches. Just don't overdo it.

Soleil3

The only meats I avoid are those that sit out at all times, like Subway. I would be comfortable ordering a sandwich from a restaurant or somewhere the meat is stored in the fridge.

Moderation isn't really the issue, you either get listeria or you don't, and that can happen your first time or the hundredth. 

tokenhoser

If you're going to follow the rules, I highly recommend reading a bit so you understand where they come from. This book is great:

https://www.amazon.com/The-Panic-Free-Pregnancy-Separates-Medications/dp/0399529896/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357745326&sr=8-1&keywords=panic+free+pregnancy

There is no reason to avoid sushi from a reputable place that you've eaten from without getting food poisoning or parasites for years.

Deli meat is a theoretical risk. Listeria is very, very rare but if you get it, it can kill or deform your baby. Whether you are comfortable with the low, low odds of contracting it via one sandwich is up to you, and of course, there are outbreaks from other sources like cantelope as well. 

I suspect the real reason you want it so bad is you've made a list of things you can't have, so you want them. 

Soleil3

ScarletOflaherty:

I've not given up sushi or deli meat, but then again I'm not particularly paranoid either(you literally have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting listeria).

17% of pregnant women get listeria each year according to the CDC. I wish my odds at the lottery were that high.

 

 https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/listeria.html

onyxfoxeyes

I'm totally buying this book. It's definately hard to not want something on the list of stuff I've been told by people I dmcant have

SwittyMcGee

Soleil3:

ScarletOflaherty:

I've not given up sushi or deli meat, but then again I'm not particularly paranoid either(you literally have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting listeria).

17% of pregnant women get listeria each year according to the CDC. I wish my odds at the lottery were that high.

 

 https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/listeria.html

You have misinterpreted that statistic. The article indicates that 17% of all listeriosis cases are in pregnant women, NOT that 17% of pregnant women get listeriosis! The total number of serious cases every year is ~1700, so about 290 pregnant women will become ill from listeria every year. 290 pregnant women is a very small number. The chance of becoming ill from listeria is very small, even during pregnancy.

ScarletOflaherty

Soleil3:

ScarletOflaherty:

I've not given up sushi or deli meat, but then again I'm not particularly paranoid either(you literally have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting listeria).

17% of pregnant women get listeria each year according to the CDC. I wish my odds at the lottery were that high.

 

 https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/listeria.html

 

1700 cases a year, 17% *of those* are pregnant women, so 289 cases in pregnant women a year.  6 million pregnancies a year in the US, so even bumping up the number to 300 for sheer simplification, your odds are only 1 in 20,000 at very worst, or 0.01%.

Reading comprehension is your friend. 

Kayla*Marie

My doctor told me that deli meats/processed meats are okay, but only if they are heated up until steaming! It kills the listeria that can cause the food poisoning.  

Soleil3

ScarletOflaherty:

Soleil3:

ScarletOflaherty:

I've not given up sushi or deli meat, but then again I'm not particularly paranoid either(you literally have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting listeria).

17% of pregnant women get listeria each year according to the CDC. I wish my odds at the lottery were that high.

 

 https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/listeria.html

 

1700 cases a year, 17% *of those* are pregnant women, so 289 cases in pregnant women a year.  6 million pregnancies a year in the US, so even bumping up the number to 300 for sheer simplification, your odds are only 1 in 20,000 at very worst, or 0.01%.

Reading comprehension is your friend. 

And yet the odds of winning the lottery are  1 in 175,711,536. So you don't "literally" have better odds of winning the lotto. 

It's a risk, just like driving a car or flying on an airplane or crossing the street. But to say it won't happen just because "you" gorged yourself on deli meats last pregnancy is just ignorance. 

skittles230

I'm not a big deli meat person anyways, and when I do get deli style sandwiches I tend to get them toasted anyways, and they toast them with the lunch meat on so it's hot enough to kill any nasties. So, I don't worry about it. Honestly you're probably more likely to harm the baby stressing over what you can and can't eat than you are to actually get something from one of the "off limits" foods. 

MrsSteSte

I had a turkey sandwich the other night, and it was glorious. I'm craving another one like crazy right now. But I did microwave the meat first.

I'm on the fence about sushi so far. I haven't craved it yet, but if I do I think I'll probably stick to veggie and cooked stuff, because there are so many options and I usually have a few if those types normally anyway.