Listeria...how do you know if you have it?

[sandandsun]

Okay, I'm really worried. I know we've all had one of these "oops" moments before. I went to a reputable deli with coworkers yesterday and there weren't many options. I ate a salad that had previously cooked COLD bacon on it. I thought it was fine since it was cooked before, but I later realized it should have been reheated to be safe (pregnancy brain!).

I have some weird stomach cramps today (not totally out of the norm for me, considering I have IBS). No fever. Should I call the doctor, or is it probably fine??

 

[Mya209]

I'm sure it's fine! Remember your not any more likely to get sick when pregnant than when not. I'm on my second and I just eat what I like!

 

[sandandsun]

I'm sure it's fine! Remember your not any more likely to get sick when pregnant than when not. I'm on my second and I just eat what I like!

You are probably right! I tend to worry too much. I'm going to monitor my symptoms, but right now I seem okay. I read that you typically always have a fever with listeriosis, but I don't...hopefully that's a good sign!

I mean, if accidentally eating something you're "not" supposed to eat made every pregnant woman sick, there would be many more sick babies!

 

[Mya209]

The risk of listeria is very very small even if you ate cold meats every day. It's very uncommon.

 

[Mya209]

Listeria stats say 20 cases per one million people
Symptoms will appear within hours of infection and include vomiting, convulsions, cramps, diarrhoea, severe headaches, fever.

I think you sound like ure fine.

 

[Monzter79]

I second what everyone else said! Listeria is very uncommon.

If pregnant ladies were having a high rate of complications due to bacon... there would be a LOT of us I think. ;-)

Hope you feel better!

 

[LadyAphrodity]

My dr told me the risk is so tiny and to get down on any sandwich meat I wanted without heating it. Honestly it was more of a problem years ago but packaged meat before it's expiration date is fine. I'm sure it's probably just maybe gas or something else hope you feel better

 

[sandandsun]

Thank you all for the responses. It makes me feel sooo much better. I know something like this is unlikely, but it's my first pregnancy and I tend to worry about every little thing!

 

[Mya209]

I understand the worry. Babies are precious! But try and keep your worry to things that would be a genuine threat (very very few things) and then you'll realise there actually isn't much to worry about at all!

They've relaxed the eating rules since I had my daughter, now there's basically nothing completely off limits. People all over the world have babies and they eat all sorts of things!

 

[Mild Mango]

I think, for the most part, bacon is always served cooked. I mean "raw" bacon would be pretty gross to eat on a salad. Also, like everyone else said, it's pretty rare.

Also, they have a listeria blood test. My doctor said it was a standard test at 20 weeks. However, I got one done at 12 weeks because I was freaking out about a couple ham, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches I ate. lol.

I've been eating bacon pretty regularly through this pregnancy, and so far I'm fine. Talk to your doctor about it, if you're super worried. I did, and she really helped calm me down.

 

[Layka]

I'm sure it's fine! Remember your not any more likely to get sick when pregnant than when not. I'm on my second and I just eat what I like!

Aren't you? I thought our immune system is weaker when pregnant (apparently so the body doesn't reject the baby)

I wouldn't worry about your slip with the cold meat though. My doctor did tell me not to eat that stuff when I first saw her. I was mortified as I had been eating cold meats from sandwich stores practically that whole week! But she said not to worry and just not do it in the future - she said if you get listeria you would know within a couple days and seeing as I was still pregnant she thought everything was still fine.

I still worried and worried. I think it's just part of pregnancy - we are going to worry about every tiny thing until the baby is born .. And then we will worry about even more things!!

 

[Mya209]

Yes I think you're right. I just read 1 in 7 cases are pregant women (but still very few cases overall as its very rare

 

[sandandsun]

I'm sure it's fine! Remember your not any more likely to get sick when pregnant than when not. I'm on my second and I just eat what I like!

Aren't you? I thought our immune system is weaker when pregnant (apparently so the body doesn't reject the baby)

I wouldn't worry about your slip with the cold meat though. My doctor did tell me not to eat that stuff when I first saw her. I was mortified as I had been eating cold meats from sandwich stores practically that whole week! But she said not to worry and just not do it in the future - she said if you get listeria you would know within a couple days and seeing as I was still pregnant she thought everything was still fine.

I still worried and worried. I think it's just part of pregnancy - we are going to worry about every tiny thing until the baby is born .. And then we will worry about even more things!!

I thought pregnancy weakened your immune system, too. I think we are much more likely to get listeriosis, though of course it's still very rare! It's so hard not to worry! I definitely learned my lesson, though - going to make sure meats are very HOT before eating them again! I've been told that if I THINK I have worries now, just wait until the baby is born... ahhh...