Ate raw eggs last night and worried about the effects on the baby

[Janey2012]

Hi,
I'm pregnant with my first baby and have been enjoying the litle niggles and big questions that go along with the first time pregnancy thing!
We went for a meal last night and I had chocolate mousse but only realised when I got home they used raw egg whites. These are on the list of 'not allowed' to eat I'm sure and now I'm worried about salmonella, reading online if the baby has it you don't get any symptoms and it can lead to miscarriage/still birth and have now got paranoid. I'm seeing my midwife anyway tomorrow for my 28 week check-up but should I take any action today to get it checked out?
Really grateful for any answers/reassurance. Thanks!

Assuming that it was a reputable establisment it is highly unlikley.
It is possible, even probable, that they used pasturised egg whites - I would suggest that you give them a call to check.

Hey - just a quickie to say DON'T PANIC! Raw eggs are a bad idea because of the risk of salmonella. If you have no symptoms, there is nothing to be concerned about. Raw eggs themselves are not dangerous, it's just about managing risk. Mention it to your midwife but otherwise, just be aware of it for future dessert choices. :)

Are you in the UK? If so, risk is very low. Please try not to worry too much but if you're unwell then contact GP/midwife/hospital. x

British eggs have the Lion mark to show they are salmonella free. The chances of you catchings salmonella from eggs are probably lower than your chances of winning big on the lottery. All commercial chickens in the UK are vaccinated against salmonella, so you're more likely to catch something nasty by not washing your hands after the loo.

Try not to worry about it and enjoy your pregnancy.

Thank you omletta, I'll give the restaurant a call as well - they are an expensive place so hopefully will be ok. The baby is normally doing gymnastics by now for most of the morning and has been very quiet which is why I started to get more worried. And yes Coops79 from now on I'll step away from the desserts board!

Try not to worry, it'll most likely be fine in the UK. plus there's nothin you can do about it anyway so don't drive yourself mad worrying!

Chances are if you are in the UK it was a lion brand egg, which shows that the chickens have been vaccinated against salmonella.

If its an expensive place then even if they arent using pasturised egg whites they will be only buying eggs from a provider who is following excellent practice. Ask them what their HACCP says with regards to using raw eggs. I am sure it will be absolutely fine. Babies do this - just to freak you out!

Janey don't worry, and no need to call them. It's only not reconmended because of the very small risk you might have got food piosoning. If you had, it would have been within 3-5 hours of eating. You haven't so you can stop worrying.

What I do when eating out, is just to say to the waiter/ess when ordering that I'm pregnant is it ok to have such and such?

If baby is moving less than usual, then give your MW a call anyway. You don't need an excuse, and they won't mind.

Any restaurant has to use vaccinated eggs, so you'll be fine.

So at this ridiculous governmental "health" advice that has pregnant women in an almost constant panic!!! Grrr....

Your baby would onlybe at risk if you actually fell I'll with salmonella, and I assume you feel fine? In that case baby will be fine.

you are supposed to avoid them because of the risk of salmonella,but to be honest salmonella has pretty much dissapeared in the ul,from what i have heard anyway!I eat my eggs runny and have had real mayo,im not worried!If you feel fine now then you obviously have nothing to worry about!

i meant the UK!

I would suspect that you worrying about this is worse for your (mental) health, than the risk from the eggs.

For what it's worth, I ate raw eggs in both my pregnancies! :) A lot!!!
I made sure they were organic and local and all that...and I never thought twice about it.
Healthy chickens lay healthy eggs :)

i ate soft boiled eggs throughout my last pregnancy, even worse they were from my own unvaccinated, unlionbranded hens they were yum.

as others have said, the risk is tiny due to the lionbrand mark, you're more likely to get ill from a bagged salad from the supermarket.

Hi Everyone,
Thank you so much for all your reassuring messages. :-) I feel so much better now! I hadn't posted on here before and now see what a fantastic community it is. I really appreciate the time you took to answer my worries and am now feeling happier again!
Thanks again x

I've baked a few cakes in the last few weeks and have fully been indulging in 'licking the bowl' even though there are raw eggs in it because I know the eggs I've used are fresh and well within date. The risk is very low and, as others have said, if you're in the UK any eggs you use should be lion-marked and salmonella-free.

When eating out, I'd imagine that most restaurants have a daily delivery of fresh lion-marked eggs as they'll get through so many. So its very unlikely you'll get food poisoning

Glad you're not as worried now, its scary being pregnant sometimes. All the food no-no's when pregnant most of the time though are due to a very small risk so chances are you'll be fine even if you have the odd slip-up

"this ridiculous governmental "health" advice that has pregnant women in an almost constant panic!!! Grrr...."

Totally agree CakeBump - making pregnant women afraid of food, what a result

I'm an egg producer and can back up that the presence of salmonella in the UK is now virtually non existent. All Lion eggs chickens are vaccinated and the farms are tested on a regular basis.

I eat soft boiled (ie partly raw) eggs on a daily basis, and have never had salmonella.

I gather the risk is very small, you'd have to be very unlucky.

Also, I have HAD salmonella once and it is pretty instant. If you are not chained to the loo by now, you will be fine

:)

Glad you are not worried anymore!

I forgot to add I eat a lot of runny eggs! yum!