Saturday night I ate 3 different kinds of unpasteurized cheese, not really realizing the possibility of listeria. I just forgot!
Of course I think I have it, my unborn child will die, even though I have no symptoms. Dr office is closed today- marathon Monday in Boston- and I'm terrified. No appointment until Wednesday where I will likely demand the blood test.
Anyone with experience or advice here?
What stupid things have you done and regretted in your pregnancy?
Re: Unpasteurized Cheese- my most recent failure
How do you know it was unpasteurized? Generally, if you are in the US, even cheeses which are typically unpasteurized in other countries (brie, feta, etc) are actually pasteurized here. Unless you are at a super fancy restaurant or boutique cheese shop that specifically imports cheese directly from overseas. it's actually reasonably difficult to find unpasteurized cheese in the US.
Additionally, if listeria is the concern, and any of that cheese was melted, that would be hot enough to kill the bacteria anyway. i eat the occassional turkey sandwich (heated up). I figure that the most recent listeria outbreaks have been in apples, canteloupes, and spinach, and no one has told me to avoid those foods, so how serious of a threat can it really be? I heat the meat as a simple precaution.
I also scoop the cat litter box because the chances of getting toxoplasmosis for the first time from the indoors-only cats i've had for the past 9 years is just about zero. and i don't like to smell poop if my husband isn't home.
i don't think i've regretted anything just yet. Except for agreeing to renovate a house from months 2-6 and then moving into that house at 7 months pregnant. i would probably never do that ever again. it was the worst.
I wouldn't be as worried as you are. You'll
Be ok
Ugh how on earth do the Duggars do it? One pregnancy is scaring the shit out of me! Let alone 19!
I have accidentally eaten undercooked meat, dirty lettuce, and goodness knows what else! I was so panicked about listeria for a long time, but it could really be in ANYTHING and if you had it, you would get fever and flu-like symptoms. So barring those symptoms, try not to worry!
You don't know you have listeria (you probably don't), so you're likely not hurting your baby with that. But you do have stress and that does affect the baby. you're doing everything you can to protect the baby, and part of that should also be NOT STRESSING. Try to take solice in the fact that you will have symptoms of you're sick, and only 1/8,000 pregnant women get listeria. Those chances are tiny. Get fresh air and try to let go of the stress.
You will be fine and your sweet pea will be fine as well! (I've given myself this pep talk about a million times.)
https://m.chron.com/business/article/Reports-Randalls-Kroger-pull-all-Blue-Bell-6212637.php
It wasn't Public House in Brookline, by chance?
Was excited to move to cheese head land for the cheese. And got here and realized a great truth - CA cows are not happy. They are stuck in barns all day every day, because if they aren't they will roast under the sun. And all they do all day in those barns is eat corn feed. Cows don't eat corn. They eat pasture. Cows here are chilling in a field, cruising, munching pasture. WI cows are happier, methinks. They do make better cheese, anyway
It was Armsby Abbey in Worcester MA. They were very clear when they told me about it being unpasteurized so it was totally my fault. Delicious, and stupid!