I ate swordfish

[SunshineOutdoors]

I've tried not to get worked up about this, but I keep googling and it's not helping!

I'm nearly 16 weeks pregnant, last week I ate a swordfish steak and stupidly waited until after I'd eaten it to check if it was allowed or not. When I found out it was a no no I got pretty anxious, about an hour after eating it I made myself sick until I was sure I could not throw any more of it up (sorry I know that's disgusting).

Now I'm worried because I'm reading about how the high mercury levels can cause developmental delay and brain damage and affect the development of the brain and central nervous system.

I'm so worried that I've done something to harm my baby when I've been trying so hard to do things 'right' this pregnancy.

Does anyone know if the mercury would have been absorbed before I was sick? I know there's nothing I can do about it now and I should stop worrying but I'm finding it difficult.

I suppose I'm hoping for reassurance if anyone has any?

As a one off, personally I'd not worry.

Just don't do it again, once won't be a big deal. Don't make yourself sick again! It's a stressful thing to do to yourself, not helpful.

Nothing you can do about it now - just chalk it up to experience and stop worrying about it.

Google tells me that Australian and New Zealand advice is to not eat swordfish in pregnancy more than once a fortnight, my guess is the guidelines saying 'never' are simply erring on the side of caution.
Your baby will be fine.

Thanks for replies. I've been prone to anxiety in the past and I think that might be starting to happen now. I've got 16 week check on Thursday so I'll talk to my midwife then.

Hello, I also ate swordfish by mistake when I was around 8 weeks pregnant and then shark (flake) when on a recent holiday to Australia when I was about 23 weeks (shark is a common fish to use in fish & chips in Australia). I recalled that shark was a no-no and googled it, after eating it!, and found some good and sensible advice from an Australian food standards authority.

It said "Women should not be worried if they?ve had the odd meal of fish with high levels of mercury. It is only a potential problem when that type of fish is eaten regularly, which causes a build-up of mercury in the mother?s blood."

Here's the link to the rest of the guidance www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Mercury_in_fish

I liked the way the guidance was written - not scare mongering but giving practical advice. I think the easier message to send out with food and alcohol is don't have it/drink it when the reality is that in moderation it probably will do no harm.

I thought it was only a problem if eaten regularly.

Thank you. This is making me feel a lot better. I always get good support on mn. I'm just going to avoid fish for a bit and try not to worry

when my mum was pg with all three of her dcs she ate liver twice a week as the doctor said it would be good for her as its full of iron!! now liver is a no no as it has too much vitamin a in!! we all turned out perfectly fine. I guess my point is to follow the guidelines because they're there for a reason but even if you ate everything on that list that is no garentee of a problem!!
I'm sure you're baby will be fine!!