the cheese thing...

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

Am 9 weeks pregnant, on holiday in France and surrounded by everything I can't have. Are you supposed to stay completely away from unpasteurised cheese (like chevre - I'm surprisingly ok without the wine but the chevre is killing me!), or is it one of those things you can have a tiny smidgen of without it being harmful?

Fearing the former but thought I'd double check!

I live in France and dr's/midwives, everyone really has said no unpateurised cheeses, unless it's cooked (for example on pizza).

If ever you really really can't resist, I was told to buy it in the supermarket - not in the deli part but the branded, industrial, packaged stuff as it's more safe. Definately not from a little cheese shop.

Sorry!

Chevre is definitely on the 'no' list, I'm afraid. It's not dependent on portion size either - even a small amount harbours the risk of listeria.

Sorry...I feel your pain. Can't wait until I am once again able to tuck into a huge portion of stinking blue cheese washed down with a large glass of full-bodied red wine!

Feeling the pain - 17 weeks and all I can think about atm is goats' cheese, pate and red wine! Don't know if you'd be able to get anything like it in France, but at the weekend I found an organic goats' cheese (Biona) that's made with pasteurised milk. Wasn't quite what I was craving, but it hit the spot nonetheless.

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/may/29/health.medicineandhealth

This shows that the evidence is limited on the damage these cheeses can do. I'm eating more or less what I want after reading this article and discussing it with my midwife. I guess its down to personal choice how literally you want to take the advice.

I'm with Lizzy. Am off to Paris this weekend and planning to stuff myself with may have the odd piece of cheese.