Worried - Just eaten Subway!!

[Leikela]

I agree with everyone on here. I think some people get too paranoid about these things. Pregnant women are at a higher risk of contracting listeria (lower immune systems), but it is still rare. CDC stats state that 1700 people in the US contract listeria per year. Out of 1700, 260 die.

I had a friend tell me the other day that I needed to avoid soft serve ice cream. I was like, what?!?! I looked it up and some places don't use pasteurized milk to make their ice cream and listeria can grow in the machines. However, commercial places like Dairy Queen, etc do used pasteurized milk so there is no worry.

I also read egg salad poses a risk. I would drive myself batty worrying about all these different things!! I just make sure I eat these in moderation and that the food wasn't sitting out long or contaminated.

Oh and I have enjoyed many deli sandwiches since being pregnant. Even lots of soft serve ice cream and egg salad sandwiches! LOL So good!

 

[Wildfire81]

my midwife told me because we're in the UK the standard rule's don't apply to us . . . it's something to do with American/ continental deli meat's we shouldn't be having, try not to worry sweet, you're not in the first tri anymore so it doesn't pose the same threat as it originally did

That's strange. Born and raised in America... Fourth pregnancy and never even heard of not eating deli meats until BnB. I would think our doctors would tell us this???

I agree.. my OB said that does not apply in the US, but in European countries....

Yeah. So you can see the humor in it right?

I sure can!

 

[starah]

Meh I never heard of it until BNB either. I eat cold lunch meat sandwiches a few times a week, my doctor never said I can't have it. The only thing they told me was not to change my cat's litter box (a rule which I love!!). Don't worry about it.

 

[parker]

I could be completely wrong here, but what I was told about deli meats was it's not the form of listeria that we would necessarily notice that could be harmful to the baby (because yes that is rare) but some of the bacteria (listeria in very low amounts) that can grow on deli meat over days/a week. Not bad for us but potentially harmful for baby. So if I buy deli meat, I'll eat it cold for a day or two, but after that I heat it up (keeping in fridge sealed up the whole time, obviously). If I eat a sandwich out, I assume they're serving me fresh meat that hasn't been sitting there for days (hopefully I'm right).

 

[Beankeeper]

I could be completely wrong here, but what I was told about deli meats was it's not the form of listeria that we would necessarily notice that could be harmful to the baby (because yes that is rare) but some of the bacteria (listeria in very low amounts) that can grow on deli meat over days/a week. Not bad for us but potentially harmful for baby. So if I buy deli meat, I'll eat it cold for a day or two, but after that I heat it up (keeping in fridge sealed up the whole time, obviously). If I eat a sandwich out, I assume they're serving me fresh meat that hasn't been sitting there for days (hopefully I'm right).

I was about to say the exact same thing, it's not really about whether or not YOU have a stomach of steel & have never had food poisoning in your life, it's about the risk to baby, and even very low amounts of bacteria can cause damage. The chances are low, so some of you might think that it's a risk worth taking, but it's okay to be cautious too. It took me nearly 3 years to get pregnant, so I'm treating it like precious cargo, I don't want to take risks, no matter how slim they are.
Yes, you can call people paranoid, but don't judge & think it's ridiculous, everyone has the right to decide what's best for them.

 

[Leikela]

Yes, you can call people paranoid, but don't judge & think it's ridiculous, everyone has the right to decide what's best for them.

I didn't see anyone judging or thinking it was ridiculous. Everyone is entitled to treat their pregnancies how they want. Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see anyone putting anyone else down for choosing to refrain from eating deli meat. ??

I did say people are paranoid because some truly are. It wasn't a knock on anyone who refrains. It is so easy to get scared when people from all over are telling you what you can and cannot eat. It can become paralyzing. In order NOT to drive myself crazy, I have loosened the reigns on what I eat. My own choice. To each his/her own!