Craving "Dangerous" Foods!!

mkd923 · June 2015

Hi All,

I'm 5 wks 5 days today. I haven't had very many symptoms but the last few days, I've been a little nauseated and haven't had much of an appetite at all. The ONLY thing that I really crave that sounds so delicious is a cold sub sandwich from Jersey Mikes. I've read some things that have said, "don't panic if you just found out you're pregnant and realized that you ate a turkey sandwich a few days ago..." but I didn't know if it's absolutely stupid to go and eat a sub even with the risk of listeria. I know that it can be heated up, but I really don't like hot subs (I know I sound ridiculous and picky). Anyone else having this problem?! Help!

mmsawyers · June 2015

I've been craving crab legs in excess. My doc said I can have lunch meat 2xs a week... Said it's rare to get sick from it.

Aussiechicka · June 2015

I just want cold ham, it's all I think about and I don't even like it that much normally?!?

rspalding001 · June 2015

Yeah the risk is pretty low. With the exception of the first tri I ate lunch meat throughout my last pregnancy. I only didn't in the first tri do to a meat aversion.

BBEA2006 · June 2015

I would totally eat the sandwich, but that is just me. I don't put a lot of truth in the lunch meat thing as the chances are getting something are pretty small. In fact, I don't think I've ever altered my eating habits b/c I was pregnant. That said, each person has their own comfort level so do what you think is best. But I would eat the sandwich!

purplepenguin3 · June 2015

Yeah, i would eat it. if you're worried about it you could always heat it up. It's all about moderation.

kris10mac · June 2015

I think you're fine. Jersey mikes cuts their meats fresh, right before they put them on your sandwich. Somewhere like Subway where all the meat has already been cut long before hitting your sandwich, that's where I think you get into trouble.

meansallison · June 2015

You can eat cold cuts from a reputable place. If you didn't get sick from it before you are okay.

I'm 12w5d (yes trolling a bit) and my ob has said it's okay from day 1 and I'm high risk. Eat away mama!

LMMama · June 2015

I would probably eat it if that's what I really wanted. If you really want to avoid the lunch meat you could do tuna or chicken salad too.

kayjay44 · June 2015

Eat the sandwich. If listeria outbreaks were as common as they make them out to be, many more people would get sick and we wouldn't have sandwich shops. Unless you're giving up every food that has had a listeria out break in the last ten years, you're already technically putting yourself at risk (ice cream, melons, tomatoes, some vegetables, hummus). Just eat the sandwich.

BabyHope2013 · June 2015

I say eat that sandwich to your hearts content for lunch today. Enjoy every second of it. Nothing like fulfilling your craving. My OB told me last time that I could eat lunch meat from reputable places and in moderation. I think your probably good at Jersey Mikes.

moomee · June 2015

Eat that sandwich, girl!

krabs · June 2015

Maybe this is an obvious question but... Can the baby get the bacteria without me feeling sick? So, would I know that it's potentially harmed the baby or would it just take a tiny amount?

MrsJG3 · June 2015

I would eat it. Now I am craving Jimmy Johns dammit!

rspalding001 · June 2015

@krabs there is a chance you would not feel sick, but most people have flu like symptoms. Getting Listeria does not mean 100% that you pass it on to your baby however, but I'm not sure on the actual % of babies that do vs dont get listeria when the mother has contracted it. It can be treated with antibiotics if you do get it. If you google around there is a lot of info on it.

txbrideinblue · June 2015

Eat the sandwich.

I almost ate sashimi yesterday. It looked so good. I probably should have actually. It was from an extremely reputable place. I had only cooked items though.

Lunchmeat doesn't faze me though.

Oh, btw, no tasting raw cookie dough or batter. That's an actual concern.

momPDX · June 2015

I buy lunch meat, nuke the crap out of it, throw it in the freezer for a couple min...*poof* cold sandwich meat! With my first pregnancy I craved Jimmy Johns, so I just ordered their veggie. I did ask for new gloves and a sanitized work area.

And if we're sharing: a gin martini w/ a twist! (And no, as much as I've tried, I can't find an alternative.)

momPDX · June 2015

txbrideinblue said:
Oh, btw, no tasting raw cookie dough or batter. That's an actual concern.

I love raw batter and dough, there are a couple of store brand (I know, gross compared to homemade) including Papa Murphy's take and bake that DONT CONTAIN RAW EGGS! Eat on!

PumpkinTi · June 2015

From my midwife friend, so take it or leave it- eating deli meats, sushi, soft cheeses, cookie dough, etc is fine in her opinion as long as its fresh and from reputable sources. Almost all dairy/eggs are pasteurized in the US, there are about 2,800 cases of listeria total in the US each year (and how many people). Deli meats have a bad rap because they caused a whopping 5% of cases where cause was known - most of the time cause is unknown. Also the deli turkey or leftovers that've been sitting in your fridge for a week are more dangerous than a sub shop that goes through the who-knows-how-much meat a day.

Also, fwiw, she said the reason obs make such a big deal out if the restrictions is because IF they told you "it" is okay and something happens, in today's culture, they get sued for malpractice. So its far more of a covering their butts than anything else...

Tl:Dr - eat the sandwich and enjoy it

HBirdie · June 2015

Get it, girrrrl. You have F16's permission.

g8trkim · June 2015

Eat that sub! You're just as likely to get listeria from fruits, veggies and soft serve ice cream.

ohgoodness · June 2015

krabs said:
Maybe this is an obvious question but... Can the baby get the bacteria without me feeling sick? So, would I know that it's potentially harmed the baby or would it just take a tiny amount?

You don't necessarily feel the symptoms. In pregnancy we are 20 times more susceptible to become infected.

I personally avoid most of the "bad foods" But my first pregnancy ended in a fullterm stillbirth..so im definitely super careful..

FWIW i do have a friend who is a fullterm loss mom who contracted an infection from eating something contaminated with listeria. So there is a real life risk there, you just gotta weigh whether the benefits outweigh the risk for you.

tooba22 · June 2015

Me!!! All I can think of is having a cold sandwich!!!!

Quazel · June 2015

My OB told me to microwave lunch meat until it was steaming to kill listeria. You can then refrigerate if you want. I don't like lunch meat but I did crave it twice with DS so that is what I did. Sushi, on the other hand, I craved every moment of my last pregnancy. I even dreamed about it.

annunes · June 2015

I had jimmy johns for lunch today, oops

I think it's totally fine! I didn't touch a sandwich with my first pregnancy though, I'm feeling much more relaxed the second time around

mommyaviles · June 2015

I was craving jimmy johns so I got the turkey in the side, microwaved it, and let it cool before adding it to my sub.

Erinka · June 2015

I'm eating cold cuts, sushi, and drinking a half a glass of wine from time to time.

roseandtwill · June 2015

I crave sushi all the time, even before I was pregnant! Have my first dr appt next week, will def ask if there is a real risk.

ACleanLife24 · June 2015

If you source sustainably and know that your quality of food is high then eat what you want. 50% of food poisoning cases come from leafy greens and they aren't telling anyone not to eat that!

I have been eating free range quality eggs for years and often make my own mayo or hollandaise and have never been sick from the raw eggs.. why not would I think it would statistically go up? If you do get sick from common food born bacterial like salmonella then it poses no risk to the baby just a few days of misery for you.

Reading up on it recently and the UK restrictions are much lower than the US (but we also have a much better food system ie Grassfed cows/pigs are the norm not the exception! And the living conditions are much higher).... if you want something you are a bit iffy about they suggest freezing it for 4 days as this will kill off any parasite (read NOT bacteria)... also in terms of prenatal nutrition I went back to an old podcast yesterday to listen to it again as they same guest just did one on gestational diabetes-

Prenatal nutrition: https://teamnutritiongenius.com/2015/02/29-prenatal-nutrition-real-food-rd-lily-nichols/

Gestational diabetes: https://teamnutritiongenius.com/2015/05/44-gestational-diabetes-with-guest-lily-nichols-rdn-cde-clt/