Raw Oysters: Poll

mominwaiting29

Ok Ladies I need some advice.  I know the "right thing" to do and I am pretty sure I know what my Doc would say but I wanted to take a poll... I am going to Boston for the first time for a work conference, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, raw oysters.  I have not had one drink of wine, not one beer, I haven't had ANYTHING I am not supposed to eat, no lunch meat etc....

 

I am DYING to have 1 or a few raw oysters while I am in Boston... Is it really that Risky?  Who would do it?

 

BCoffin2929

Ewwwww........I can't stand those slippery lil'buggers.....I tried one for my husband once and gagged....personally I wouldn't risk it, especially for a big slimey booger in my mouth...

OrangeGrove

I would indulge! I am going to Hawaii in June and will definitely be eating some poke.

Edit: But use your commons sense, of course. Smell them first, observe the cleanliness of the establishment, etc.

Amjoy25

I would. I love them also! Just have a couple, and be sure the establishment is reputable, and they are shucked and iced on site. Some raw oysters I've had before are questionable at best, but I would still eat them. )

coronitaextra

Personally, they look like boogers to me, and I can't handle that kind of texture in my mouth, but if you feel like you're getting them from a reputable place, then go for it. We can't put ourselves in such a small bubble. We're going to make ourselves miserable if we deprive ourselves of everything we are craving but "can't" have. Also, I'm a huge believer in the premise that millions of women before us ate raw fish, uncured and unrefrigerated meat, unpastureized dairy, etc etc etc. and had perfectly fine babies. Heck, they probably ate dirt and didn't have any problems. Now some on this board are convinced they can't even eat a Subway sandwich without something terrible happening to their baby. 

 

There's always a chance of something going wrong, but it's just like in all of life, there's a chance a plane could crash into your building, or you could walk across the street and get hit by a car, or inhale and choke on a bug! The chances are slim to none anything is going to happen, but if you don't take the chance you're going to end up staying in a cement and iron bunker 30 feet under your house with sterilized canned food, boiling tap water to remove any germs. 

 

/forever alone. 

jennlin

as long as it's from a clean respectable place, it's fine.

 

i had raw oysters when i was pregnant with dd. once about 3 months pregnant (from a respectable location), once about 4 months pregnant (off the beach!). i've had them a few times this time around...at like 6ish weeks pregnant....

 

btw, one of my friends "tasks" was to bring me raw oysters to the delivery room after i had DD. and it was the first thing i ate after she was born

mominwaiting29

carriet2018:

i live in Boston! well suburb...anyways I personally would not (easy for me to say as soon as this baby comes out i am getting a dozen!). But I don't judge you for having a couple at all. I am sure I have done a thing or two that other people wouldn't do while pregnant (i.e. paint). To each their own, if you feel comfortable with it go for it.

Carriet2018, any suggestions on places to go and things to do?  I have a work conference through Tuesday but Wednesday though Friday DH and I are using this as our Babymoon  Any suggestions welcome!  We are definitely going to a Sox game while we are there! 

Also if you have an opinion on the best crab leg or clam bake I would love a good opinion!  All I can think about is food:) 

Mustardseed2007

I work for a company that has seafood restaurants and no. I would highly recommend you do not do that. The vibriosis you can get is one of the most deadly food borne illnesses in the world and there will be absolutely nothing obviously wrong with the food you are eating, just a warning label on the menu telling you not to do that if you're pregnant or have health issues.

Amjoy25

batmandi:

Personally, they look like boogers to me, and I can't handle that kind of texture in my mouth, but if you feel like you're getting them from a reputable place, then go for it. We can't put ourselves in such a small bubble. We're going to make ourselves miserable if we deprive ourselves of everything we are craving but "can't" have. Also, I'm a huge believer in the premise that millions of women before us ate raw fish, uncured and unrefrigerated meat, unpastureized dairy, etc etc etc. and had perfectly fine babies. Heck, they probably ate dirt and didn't have any problems. Now some on this board are convinced they can't even eat a Subway sandwich without something terrible happening to their baby.nbsp;nbsp;There's always a chance of something going wrong, but it's just like in all of life, there's a chance a plane could crash into your building, or you could walk across the street and get hit by a car, or inhale and choke on a bug! The chances are slim to none anything is going to happen, but if you don't take the chance you're going to end up staying in a cement and iron bunker 30 feet under your house with sterilized canned food, boiling tap water to remove any germs.nbsp;nbsp;/forever alone.nbsp;

Here here!!

Nickisiebert

I was reading an article on the consumption of raw seafood in the NY times like a week ago, and they were saying that around 75 of the raw seafood related sickness reported comes from oysters and muscles and as opposed to sushi/sashimi/smoked salmon etc. I can't quote the article exactly, but they were implying for sure that they were the more dangerous option.

sfshorter

You have a chance of getting food-born illness eating just about anything, and usually the bad stuff you hear about springs up in meat and dairy or from uncooked veggies and some funk on a kitchen workers hands (ie food poisioning). 

 Before I officially knew I was pregnant, I was eating raw oysters about three times a week, literally ALL the time.  I love them and was craving them so much.  Probably because I'm anemic and they are pretty much the highest iron content you can get.  Anyways, my baby is developing just fine according to all the scans and tests.  I'll also add, I've eaten them my whole life and have never once gotten sick from them, nor do I know of any of my oyster eating friends and family who have gotten sick.  My local oyster bar sells Gold Band oysters which are flash pasterized in the shell to kill bacteria, but they aren't as good as regular raw!   

 

WhenInRome11

I live in the Boston area and would not eat raw oysters while pregnant, even though there are tons of places that get them super fresh and they are awesome. There are so many other great "Boston" foods that have much lower risk of food born illness. You could get a yummy Lobster roll, briny fried clams, clam chowder, Boston cream pie.... Now I'm hungry.