First world question! Would you do this if 8 months pregnant?

[CakeandBake]

Posting on here for quick responses mainly.

I'm 8 months pregnant and it's my birthday. I am very lucky and DH has prepared a lovely picnic. Would I be okay to eat a slice or two of iberico ham?? Or is this an absolute no-no? The NHS says charcuterie but not sure if it means processed sausage type meat as opposed to slices of iberico?

Also, would anyone consider drinking a small glass of champagne in my position? I haven't drunk anything so far in my pregnancy. Seems so close to the final hurdle now so wondering if I might...! I know opinions differ so just interested to hear views.

@blardiblabla
"The risk of FASD from one glass of fizz is tiny, but not zero"

It is zero. One drink cannot cause FASD. Growing up in the 60/70's, women drank Guinness and Mackisons Stout during pregnancy, we didn't see a rise or drop in problems unless there was alcoholism going on. There was more damage done by eating liver.

I had DD whilst living in Spain. It was really interesting to see the different foods that were off limits. In Spain it was really nothing! Yes, pregnant woman in spain eat jamon and guess what, nothing happened!

Honestly, the ham and the champagne, I would have both. Enjoy

@Ponoka7 I don't believe that's the case. People drinking and it not causing FASD isn't evidence inherent. It is very unlikely, yes, but one drink can cause damage. I have friends who have an adopted child with FASD and they have done untold amount of research. And if you google it, no experts will state that the risk is zero.

I wouldn't have the champagne. I had half a glass of wine once after we knew that the baby had died and while waiting for a miscarriage, so I was still pregnant. I've never felt more sick in my life! I have read that a lot of women can drink a little during pregnancy but I'll not be riskkng that awful feeling again.

I wouldn't have the ham, as its uncooked, its cured not cooked, the chances of getting something from it are extremely low but could be serious if you did get something from it. One glass of champagne is not going to harm the baby at this stage so I would have had that, drank slowly given you've not had any for a while!

I continued to eat salami throughout pregnancy - I don’t remember it being such a no go. I just checked and cured meat isn’t actually under ‘foods to avoid’, it’s under ‘foods to be careful with’. Not entirely sure how to interpret that but I guess at the time I interpreted that as ‘don’t eat too often.’

Absolutely - ignore the PP suggesting that a glass of alcohol at 8 months could cause FASD - that just absolutely isn’t true.
For the meat, if you want to be super careful then freeze it for a couple of days then defrost as the risk is very very rare listeriosis but could be serious - freezing kills the bugs.

Many people mentioning listeria, but the NHS site actually describes how the risks with meats are actually due to toxoplasmosis, with a link to a charity site which gives you more details on the risks. Not something you want to catch either obviously, but it’s more on par with avoiding the cat litter tray and lambs, not unpasteurised Camembert - and when assessing risk I think details like this do matter. Many people may have already had it and are therefor immune by the time they’re pregnant. If you do contract it during pregnancy the chances are in favour of baby not being affected. It’s most dangerous if baby is infected very early on in pregnancy. So with all that in mind I would say enjoy your ham.

I would have both if you can.

However just to say I was offered a small glass of fizz in very late pregnancy as a Christmas Day treat, took one sip and it tasted AWFUL and I couldn't bear another sip. I was rather pissed off as I usually love champagne. I had to make do with double portions of pudding instead

Nah I'd wait four weeks.

Personally no. You have got this far. Another 4 weeks will fly in. If your asking it means your unsure and you could regret it. I would rather wait until baby is born and enjoy them safely.

Offft, champagne. Heartburn city. But if you don’t suffer, a tiny bit isn’t going to hurt. Congratulations and enjoy.

Happy birthday! I'd maybe skip the ham but if you can drink the fizz without raging acid & heartburn at this point I'd go for it. I'm v jealous. I get horrendous acid from champagne & cava without being pregnant- it's my birthday on Sunday, a -0 one & I've got gaviscon at the ready!

I definitely would! I'd just take care to drink the fizz fairly slowly, and with food as I haven't had any in a while and you want to give your liver chance to process it.

I'd second the recommendation of Expecting Better too... Emily Oster speaks good sense, backed up by actual evidence that challenges that infantilising, moralising nonsense peddled to pregnant women. You have choices and you're smart enough to make them sensibly.

It would probably be fine but why take the risk? A small glass of champers isn't going to make you tipsy so what's the point?

I wouldn't drink the champagne but then again I don't drink so perhaps not the best person to ask.

I would absolutely have the ham though. I am nearly 7 months and unfortunately I cannot have any meat or fish (I have a serious food aversion, I miss ham) but under normal circumstances I would go for it.

Saying that there is no such advice about cured meats where I live.

After suffering miscarriages I could only follow to the letter the guidance, so there could be no doubt in my mind when it happened. I envy PPs who are able to be less risk averse or see it as judgey crap.

So I'd freeze the ham but skip the champagne. Bc CCV

I would drink the champagne. I was 8 months pregnant on my 21st and I drank the champagne.

A small glass of champers isn't going to make you tipsy so what's the point?

I regularly drink a glass of wine, I don’t get tipsy on it - I just like the taste. Same with champagne or Prosecco - it’s celebratory and it tastes good.

I'd have the champers for sure, but would be worried about the risk of toxoplasmosis (which can cause deafness at any stage in pregnancy) from the ham. Lots of women have immunity to it, but I paid for a private test and for some reason I don't - my consultant warns me every appointment about being vigilant about it!

I'd have the drink but not the cured meats. I know someone who's baby was stillborn due to listeria infection, which she contracted from eating soft cheese at her going-on-maternity-leave party at work, very late in pregnancy obviously. I think the advice over no cured meats is due to listeria concerns too, so I'd avoid it.

Penguin How rude! Of course the main reason people drink alcohol is get tipsy, otherwise they'd drink the alcohol free versions (which taste just as nice these days and are also usually cheaper and contain less calories).

I dont get it. I'm 9 months pregnant and haven't touched a drop of alcohol, Indian you probably can but what's the point? Are you that desperate? No

I wondered how long it would take before someone trotted out the desperate line 🤣 Now you sit tight like a good little incubator, OP. Think of the pwecious 😅