Deli meats not allowed during pregnancy?

[helenabear]

Unfortunately, the cooking doesn't get rid of the nitrites in hot dogs. Grrrr. My doc still says no due to the nitrite risk and I suppose it is a small sacrifice to make. Of course, it's probably also that since she said I can't have it I want it more!!! I would be in BIG TROUBLE if we had a Weinerschnitzel here. Thank goodness we moved!


Tracy

If you look up the levels they are so low that it isn't an issue, especially if you get all beef (kosher seem to be better too) per the study I read. They aren't on my list of things not to eat unless cold.

 

[vettechick99]

BTW, Russ says you have a pretty baby - and he never dishes out compliments on signatures unless Mickey is in them.

Thanks! She appreciates it. She's heard it so often from us it had begun to lose its value.

Yours is a doll, too! I can't imagine when she's his age and can run around.

 

[Minniemouse07]

A bunch of mom's I knew at the time thought I was a freak back in 2001 when I was pregnant w/ dd. I had read about the listeria issues so I omitted lunchmeat and hot dogs from my diet.

A few years later (I'm guessing 2003/2004ish?) a local meat processing plant here in PA had a HUGE listeria issue.... and people died (mostly the elderly). According to the reports at the time they listed a number of pregnant women who miscarried but they said they will never know the exact amount since it may not be attributed to eating the lunch meat.

Ya know what... that ham sandwich just isn't THAT important for me to have...and to risk the life of my child. I can do w/o it for 9mo.

As for peanut butter... I avoid it during pregnancy AND nursing. I have severe seasonal allergies and that makes my children more likely to have any kind of allergy (seasonal, food, etc.). I know how miserable my allergies make me, so if passing on peanut butter helps lower the chances my children have in suffering the same or a similar fate...I can do that.

I will, however, be a DQ the day after ds stops nursing and ordering the largest Reeses Pieces Blizzard they have!

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

People do better and make better choices because they know better. Medical progress and the information it provides is is a wonderful thing.

The next generation of women will do things a bit differently than we are doing it now. That's how it works - as we learn - we change and adapt to try and take advantage of what we know. There's nothing wrong with that.

Actually I work in health care and some of the medical "progress" can do more harm than good. Of course they reserve the right to change their mind and/or manipulate the data whenever they see fit.

 

[pearlieq]

Smoking crack while drinking a highball of liquor and sniffing ant poison straight from the can... probably not a good idea.

Well dang, there goes the weekend!

 

[Chloe'sMom]

Not to put words in her mouth, but I think she's asking because it sounds crazy. The first time I heard it I was also confused. And let's not forget some doctors are very conservative and others (like mine) just ask you to use common sense - don't eat meat that's been sitting out, looks sketchy, and when you can, use precaution.

But like the other poster said, I was not into lunchmeat either the first few months. So it might be a non-issue!

My Doc was a common sense Doc as well. She told me that I should limit my caffine but since she can't do without a coke while she was pregnant - she didn't expect me to. She also advised me on what sushi I could eat, how much caffine, how much tuna. She told me to use common sense with lunch meat - if it didn't smell fresh, don't eat it. As long as hot dogs were cooked I could have it.

I tended to freak myself out reading those pregnancy boards - then would come here and get some real life advice.

~Amanda

 

[ilovepcot]

"Fresh" lunch meat or lunch meat having "no bad smell" *will not* protect you from LISTERIA. It's usually contaminated during the processing and packaging. It looks, smells and tastes great...no outward sign at all.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I've had four children, and I've never heard of the lunchmeat rule. In fact one of things I craved during a couple of my pregnancies was avocado/turkey subs from a local sandwich shop.

My doctor also told me that a glass of wine in the second/third trimester was ok too, but most people freak if you even think about doing it.

 

[helenabear]

I will admit that several of my friends have eaten deli style sandwiches cold while pregnant. I think it isn't near as universal as one may think, but I follow docs orders. Fortunately for me, I don't like any deli sandwiches cold to begin with so I always get them grilled or nuke them anyway. It's really a non-issue for me, but I didn't bat an eye when I saw a friend have her turkey clubs next to me.

There are some things I will stay away from because I normally don't have them anyway, so I try to avoid. I personally see nothing wrong with a drink of wine once in a while during pregnancy and recently found out that if you are a smoker, it is safer to gradually cut back than to go cold turkey off cigs. So if you see a pregnant lady smoking, she may be following doc orders.

Some say almost all artificial sweeteners are safe during pregnancy, but when talking candidly with my office, I found out they say avoid all together if possible. The rule with the office, however, isn't near as strict.

Personally I find it best to listen to my doc, and look up items myself to find out what I feel is best.