Eaten pate over Xmas and now terrified

[Chimpysmum09]

I wondered how much any of you are carefully watching what you eat? I'm 11 weeks pregnant and have had pate twice in the last three days. I've only just found out how dangerous it to eat and now I'm working myself up into such a state that I'm going to get Listeria and harm my baby. Can anybody advise?

Call NHS direct or your doctors surgery. I'm sure it is all fine but always best to check as the stress isn't good for you.

you will be fine. Pate is more about high levels of vitamin A along with a very remote chance of listeria. Just avoid it from now on and relax.

Have you ever actually met anyone that's contracted Listeria? No, of course you haven't. Neither have I. The incidence of listeria in this country is practically nil. 156 cases reported in 2010 (www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/archives/2011/news1311.htm#list#wnv) and even then most of those wouldn't have gotten a serious dose of it, they'd just have gotten flu-like symptoms. The guidelines are there to stop people over-indulging so stop worrying. Or, if you're genuinely upset, why not go to your doctor and have them reassure you? Or NHS direct? Working yourself up into a state won't help.

www.babycentre.co.uk/x536435/is-it-safe-to-eat-pate-during-pregnancy - very few cases of listeriosis

I have knowingly had pâté. Found a Swedish website where they said you could have up to 100g which is actually a fair portion. I am NOT recommending that others do this but it is an individual choice. I have had smallish amounts twice (am 12 weeks).

Try not to worry, I had a scan this morning and baby is doing fine.

Sorry above relates to vitamin A- I'm not worried about listeria for reasons stated by home.

If you look at the HPA link, the number of pregnancy associated cases of listeriosis is about 25 per year. Which puts things into perspective.

I sat in a sushi bar and tucked in with my second baby (20 weeks at the time) and I was half way through when I realised 'I'm not allowed to eat this!" I was absolutely fine as was he but I worried for ages. If you get listeria you'll know about it and also I'd reassure yourself-I presume you know its been kept in a fridge and is in date etc? The guidelines are to protect from high intakes and also people who don't store foods properly to keep them safe to eat. I was in a restaurant and while its a very high quality restaurant I had in my mind that I had no idea if its been prepared and stored correctly yet still it was all fine. Don't worry it does nothing for you xxx

Don't worry, if you haven't had flu like symptoms i'd say it is unlikely that you have contracted listeria. Pate is not recommended because of Vit A but i'd say 2 helpings are highly unlikely to do any damage, just stay away from now on. Plenty of women have eaten and drank loads of unrecommended stuff before finding out they are pregnant and have perfectly healthy babies (one of my colleagues did not realise til she was 7 months gone, and was freaked out as she had been drinking and smoking etc,...)

sushi is ok in pregnancy as long as you didnt have uncooked shellfish

www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/is-it-safe-to-eat-sushi-during-pregnancy.aspx?categoryid=54&subcategoryid=216

Blonde, I'm pretty sure sushi is safe in the UK as by law all the fish has to be frozen first.

www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Listeria/EpidemiologicalData/listeCaseReports19832010/ - 17 pregnancy associated listeria cases in 2012

If you have listeriosis you will absolutely and utterly know about it. You would be vomiting and feel like death. It's not something you miss.

Pate is about listeria, but also often made iwth liver, which is high in vitamin A so not advised in pregnancy. Two portions should be fine though. And if it was something else, like salmon, that isn't an issue anyway.

Try and relax

Currently 17 weeks. List of naughty things I have had while pregnant ( in small amounts): alcohol, sushi, mackerel pate, Brie, blue cheese, nuts, slightly pink steak, runny egg yolks. All delicious. It's a personal decision, but not of these things ever did me harm before I was pregnant, so I doubt they will now.

I wish I'd done my research at the time I worried terribly, the shellfish on the plate wasn't raw no-So I wasted half a sushi boat and lost sleep and there was no need?! Typical-thanks for the info ladies xxx

Same here, I made some pate over Christmas as German health advice for pregnancy says eating liver once a week after the first trimester is fine. Now, you're only 11 weeks but I doubt you scoffed a whole package.

I recently heard that sprouts are high in Vitamin A and I have eaten LOADS over Christmas as I love them. It's got me worrying a little...

I'm sure sprouts have a different version of vitamin A. It is animal based vitamin A that is the issue not vegetable based

Just avoid from now on. It's very unlikely you will do any harm. Talk it through with your gp though if you need more reassurance.

As for those saying they are x y and z and their babies were fine - I wouldn't recommend taking these risks yourself. You often wouldn't know there was a problem until the baby is born. Just be sensible and follow the nhs guidelines.