Scaring myself - Eating in Disney while PG?

[Karenj2]

I'm newly pregnant with my first after 11 years of trying, so I don't want to mess this up! I'll be 9 weeks when I go, and I'm noticing that I'm beginning to have some food aversions (haven't gotten sick except for when I eat too much or not enough)...

So, can I ask you some dumb questions?

1) I've read about the safe foods to eat, and there are "warnings" about soft cheeses (if not pasteurized) and fishes. Do I need to worry about eating cheeses at WDW (we're eating at Chef de France, which has imported cheeses)?

2) When I ate fish (pre-PG) it was usually fishes like tuna/mahi-mahi & swordfish, but I know they're off limits. We're eating at the Coral Reef (made ADRs before I got PG) - what type of seafood is good to eat? (Does the restaurant have a fishy smell?)

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!! I already know that I'll need to drink a LOT, and I hope (think) that my family will understand if we need to ditch certain reservations...

 

[C.Ann]

I'm newly pregnant with my first after 11 years of trying, so I don't want to mess this up! I'll be 9 weeks when I go, and I'm noticing that I'm beginning to have some food aversions (haven't gotten sick except for when I eat too much or not enough)...

So, can I ask you some dumb questions?

1) I've read about the safe foods to eat, and there are "warnings" about soft cheeses (if not pasteurized) and fishes. Do I need to worry about eating cheeses at WDW (we're eating at Chef de France, which has imported cheeses)?

2) When I ate fish (pre-PG) it was usually fishes like tuna/mahi-mahi & swordfish, but I know they're off limits. We're eating at the Coral Reef (made ADRs before I got PG) - what type of seafood is good to eat? (Does the restaurant have a fishy smell?)

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!! I already know that I'll need to drink a LOT, and I hope (think) that my family will understand if we need to ditch certain reservations...

I can't answer your questions - I'll be 60 in the fall - LOL - but I wanted to say congratulations!! I am so happy for you that after 11 years of trying you are going to have a little one.. That's just wonderful!!

 

[daisy112878]

I was at disney last september when I was a little over 4 wks pg. We found out we were pg again (1st ended in a miscarriage in january of last year) the day before we left for WDW. I also went when I was 17wks pregnant for new years. We ate at chefs de france and I had no problems with their cheeses on both trips. Actually I don't think we saw any non-past. cheeses in the WDW where we ate. Your clue would be if it says raw cow's milk or raw goat's milk cheese.

For seafood, Here's coral reef's menu: http://allears.net/menu/menu_cr.htm
Any of the apps look good and the mahi mahi or catfish or salmon are fine when pregnant.

Have fun. Just make sure you drink tons of water. Also you'll probably notice that you'll be tired a lot faster so make sure you take breaks.

Oh and big congrats on being pregnant. I hope you have a healthy and happy nine months. My little one is 7wks old today and it's awesome being someone's mommy.

 

[jenfur]

Daisy answered your questions pretty well. i am not sure about Chef's but you could always ask, they are very careful about that type of thing. I do know that Coral Reef has some exellent choices, even if you don't order the seafood, and it definately does not smell fishy in there.

 

[MHSweb79]

One more voice in congratulating you on your wonderful news.

I remember when I was pregnant certain smells would just revolt me, and they were pretty unpredictable. So as long as everyone is understanding when you get up and say, "We have to go, NOW!" you'll be fine.

Just wanted to plug something I've been reading about on the trip reports. Apprently you can get frozen orange juice slushies around WDW, which would be a great snack for you throughout the day. I didn't care for the Dole Whip (I know, blasphemy!) but I sure plan on trying these frozen orange juices next time we go.

It would be a good idea, if you're staying on-site, to get back to your resort in the afternoon for a nice air-conditioned nap. We do it on every trip and we're not even pregnant!

 

[I Love Thumper]

I'm newly pregnant with my first after 11 years of trying, so I don't want to mess this up! I'll be 9 weeks when I go, and I'm noticing that I'm beginning to have some food aversions (haven't gotten sick except for when I eat too much or not enough)...

So, can I ask you some dumb questions?

1) I've read about the safe foods to eat, and there are "warnings" about soft cheeses (if not pasteurized) and fishes. Do I need to worry about eating cheeses at WDW (we're eating at Chef de France, which has imported cheeses)?

2) When I ate fish (pre-PG) it was usually fishes like tuna/mahi-mahi & swordfish, but I know they're off limits. We're eating at the Coral Reef (made ADRs before I got PG) - what type of seafood is good to eat? (Does the restaurant have a fishy smell?)

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!! I already know that I'll need to drink a LOT, and I hope (think) that my family will understand if we need to ditch certain reservations...

1. You don't need to worry about eating cheeses at WDW. All cheeses at WDW are USDA approved, so no unpasteurized cheeses allowed -- even when eating in "France" at EPCOT.

2. Coral Reef does not have a fishy smell. They serve a wonderful blackened catfish over cheese grits -- soooo good! They also serve plenty of shellfish dishes -- scallops, lobster and shrimp.

Just an aside...Have you ever eaten at the newer restaurant in the Contemporary called The Wave? Their menu is largely organic. Thought I'd throw that in if you want to give it a try.

Best wishes to you and your growing family!

 

[dreamscometrue101]

Congratulations on the pregnancy, it will go by so quickly and then you'll have a bundle of joy in your arms.

As for your trip, I'm sure you'll have no problems. With the many various conditions and dietary restrictions that people have, Disney has done well in accomodating(sp?) everyone.

You've obviously done your reading up on what you should and shouldn't eat, so you're well prepared. I would suggest looking at the menus on allears to get an idea of what you would typically order. When you get to the restaurant and check in, ask the host/hostess to have the chef come out and talk to you if you have any concerns.

For example, at Chefs would could ask about the pasturization of the cheese.
I spoke with the chef at a couple of restaurants on my trip in February to inquire about the preparation of a few dishes. They are great that way.

Just let your servers know your pregnant and they'll be great.

As for the smell of some places, I haven't found any places to have a negative smell that would likely bother you. You may want to request a table away from the kitchen doors if you may be sensitive.

Enjoy your trip and your pregnancy!

 

[Mich Mouse]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a blessing!!!

This trip will be so memorable for you...I waddled around WDW two times while pregnant with my son....Drink lots of water and maintain a normal level of activity. Don't over do it.

Blessings to you and your little one!

 

[JeffGoldblum]

My advice? Just skip the stuff you wonder about. Why risk it? Better safe than sorry. Just pass on the cheese and the seafood. You'll still have a good time

 

[hkeller27]

Congrats to you! That makes my heart happy

Best bet is to check with your OB for rules on what you should avoid food wise. Mine advised against the usual suspects, but also things like hot dogs and deli meats. Bottom line, if you are questioning it, don't eat it! 9 months is not much to sacrifice for that precious little one!

Have a wonderful trip - baby's "first" Disney!!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Thumper I don't think you're quite right with your USDA comment.

The law is any raw milk cheese for sale in the US legally must be aged for at least 60 days. This ensures any potentially harmful bacteria or microbes will be gone.

As far as Disney goes, I'm sure you can ask them to not include any raw milk cheeses if you're concerned about them.

 

[Karenj2]

Thanks, all! I actually haven't gotten an OBGYN yet, as I've been in the fertility clinic's care for the last 8 weeks, and the OBGYN I have currently I've only seen once or twice in the last 10 years (bad, I know!!) and that practice doesn't deliver at the hospital I'd prefer to go to....


As for my original questions - I appreciate your answers; it certainly eases my mind...

Also, we luckily already had planned to take mid-afternoon breaks, since we're staying at the Beach Club and that pool is cool!! I'll definitely be taking naps and staying cool - between my sister (who is thrilled for me), and my hubby (who has been wonderful), I'm sure if I don't remember to drink lots of water, *they* will remind me!!

Thanks!!

 

[natalielongstaff]

Congratulations on your Pregnancy

 

[shruley]

There are some recommendations to avoid deli meats while you are pregnant...due to the listeria. I believe I ate some deli meats when I was pregnant, but you might want to avoid those as well. Especially if a sandwich is prepacked and sitting in a cooler, just to be on the safe side. Enjoy your trip.

 

[emma'smom]

I think the PP who suggested to just steer clear of the foods you are concerned about is giving good, simple advice. There are plenty of other choices...Coral Reef has great chicken and steak as well. You can always ask--they are everywhere with addressing dietary concerns. But steer clear and then you are sure to have piece of mind!

P.S. Also, remember that should you eat something that you are concerned about, a small bit of it probably won't impact your baby. Most of the "studies" speak to eating it on a regular basis during pregnancy (like tuna) and some of the "steer clears" are probably fine to eat 95% of the time, but doctors are being rightfully cautious about the 5% chance (like deli meats) that there could be a problem. Many women have eaten all of these things without any issues without knowing they were possible problems--so still good to be careful, but if you should eat something inadvertently--it will probably be ok!

 

[Anonomom]

First off, congratulations! I dealt with infertility for 18 months; I can't imagine doing it for 11 years. I hope your pregnancy is nothing but smooth sailing.

As to food, I was 18 weeks pg (with an IVF baby) when we went last year. At the time, I still pretty much never wanted to eat, and had a complete aversion to chicken. Despite that, eating was easier and more pleasant than I'd feared it would be.

At Coral Reef, I had the NY strip steak, which was the best meal I had all trip. I know it sounds funny to go to a seafood restaurant and eat beef, but I'd forgotten the rules on which fish were ok. The restaurant had no fishy smell at all.

As for other food restrictions, I did avoid deli meat for my entire pregnancy because of listeria. I never ran into the cheese problem.

The one piece of advice that my OB gave me that I chose to disregard was the opinion that I should avoid all buffet restaurants. She thought the risk of food poisoning from food sitting out was high enough that I should just skip them. DH and I agreed that we'd be ok taking that risk, and we at at CP and at Hollywood & Vine.

Finally, if I could give you one piece of unsolicited advice, it would be to carry around small snacks while you're in the parks, and make sure that they have some protein in them. I brought a box of Belly Bars with me, and that worked well.

 

[LaniesMom]

Congratulations to you on your pregnancy!
I like the advice of a pp that said if you are uncomfortable with something, just don't do it. That goes for foods and activities. I followed that same advice from my best friend and now I have a happy, healthy almost 11 month old!
Here's a little tidbit:I had a horrible time with different types of smells/scents. What I found very helpful was to carry a sachet of lavender with me in my purse. If I encountered a scent that was awful, I'd leave the area and then take a good whiff of the sachet! You might get some funny looks, but it's better than getting sick. It helped me so much through my first trimester!
Good luck and have fun!

 

[Karenj2]

Finally, if I could give you one piece of unsolicited advice, it would be to carry around small snacks while you're in the parks, and make sure that they have some protein in them. I brought a box of Belly Bars with me, and that worked well.

Hmmm... I'll have to find the Belly Bars. I was already planning on bringing pretzel rods, string cheese (if I can figure out a way to keep it cool), and lemon drops, which is my current snacks of choice.

Here's a little tidbit:I had a horrible time with different types of smells/scents. What I found very helpful was to carry a sachet of lavender with me in my purse. If I encountered a scent that was awful, I'd leave the area and then take a good whiff of the sachet! You might get some funny looks, but it's better than getting sick. It helped me so much through my first trimester!
Good luck and have fun!

Oh, that's a GREAT idea!! I currently have a lavendar candle in a tin sitting on my desk (unlit, of course) because a coworker down the hall likes to eat coliflower and cabbage for lunch, and another coworker burns popcorn every time he makes it. BLECH!! I have a sachet though, and could probably get some oil to refresh it if it needs it...

 

[djp0630]

First off, congratulations, your baby is truly a blessing. I wish you a happy & healthy pregnancy. There is nothing like a baby.

At Chefs - I would just ask your server about the cheeses. If you are nervous, don't eat them.

As for seafood, you can pretty much eat everything (well, not shark or mackerel). My Dr. told me I could have tuna 1/week during pregnancy. Just remember everything in moderation during pregnancy.

Here is website that I found online.
http://www.babycenter.com/406_is-it-safe-to-eat-fish-and-other-seafood-when-im-pregnant_1380503.bc

And get yourself to an OB. Congrats again.

 

[Neko]

Congratulations, enjoy your PG! I understand and sympathize with your situation, so here's my advice.....I agree with do what you feel is right regarding what to eat. Remember to drink plenty of water. Small meals all the time worked for me. I would inevitably 'lose' the first breakfast, so around 9-10 I would be ravenous again and we'd have to have full breakfast #2. DH got used to planning to eat breakfast #1 and #2 everyday on vacay.

Don't forget to have snacks in the hotel room for late night snacks! Good Luck!