Prawns. I want prawns. Can I eat prawns?

[Cocobear]

Lots of pregnant folk avoid prawns. Is there a sound, scientific reason for this? Would like to indulge in Chinatown please.

The reason as with most things I think is the risk of food poisoning. I was told by mw that they are fine as long as they are cook through and hot when you eat them.

Coco Ahhh we have the same craving Usually hate the things.

My midwife said it was ok. I have been eating prawn sandwitches since 8 weeks pregnant after having it confirmed that it was ok. please seek advice from your midwife first though.

Can you eat them with Marie Rose sauce - i.e mayonnaise and tomato ketchup?

Hadn't even thought of a prawn sandwich. That sounds even better.

yes you can, and yes to ketchup and mayonnaise, assuming the mayo is shop bought pasteurised stuff not home made.

Well my Bump is still very much alive (just under 3 weeks to go and acting like an octopus) and I've eaten

prawns
squid
mussels
any other sea food in a shell you'd care to mention
soft boiled eggs
things with raw egg in
good rare bloody meat
pate

I much prefer the French guide to eating in pregnancy!

I ate loads of prawns during pregnancy and couldn't get enough of them - isn't it that you are more likely to get food poisoning from this kind of thing than other foods which is why you might want to avoid them as food poisoning during pregnancy would not be nice. I've never had food poisoning in my life so did wonder about lots of those things we're told to avoid. I bet the French don't avoid rare meat and those lovely soft cheeses during pregnancy, likewise with the Spanish and Italians and that lovely cured ham......

Ahhhrgh Prawns! ...sorry I am prawn phobic

To answer your question I think they are okay if cooked thouroughly.

ooooh yes prawn and mayo sandwitches mmm mmmmmmmm and prawn pasta salad OMG!!! Right gonna have to get one now

Schneebly you are me before I got pg with this baby, because I found a parwn with all it's legs still attached in a sandwitch many years ago. Put me right off. I wouldn't care if I saw that again now.

With dd2 it was blummin peanuts, although I was more afraid with that one and only ever ate the occasional snicker bar.

Who the heck eats raw prawns??? They're even cooked in sushi. Okay, so the no-prawn thing is a paranoid avoidance rather than a listeria-type nasty thing. Well-cooked, reputable source, ensure no funny scent, check. I can see a Chinese restaurant out the window... bet they've got prawns in those lovely slippery rice noodles...

i think some people think prawns have to be hot to eat in pregnancy, i think that's what they mean by cooked. of course they are cooked if they are pink rather than grey, so can be eaten cold, as long as they are pink and therefore cooked!

I've had loads of prawn mayo sandwiches during my pregnancy - love 'em! Didn't even occur to me that perhaps they were on the "banned" list until after I'd eaten a few - then I thought, "What the hell" as I've eaten prawn mayo sandwiches for years without having a dodgy tummy so thought it was unlikely I'd have a problem just because I'm pregnant. As others have said, just make sure they're properly cooked (ditto any shellfish).

If you adhered rigidly to avoiding everything you're "supposed" to avoid you'd die of starvation which would also be no good for your baby ...

Thanks everyone. The prawns at lunch were yummy. Bump and I both feel great.

Oh i don't like prawns at the best of times but when I'm pregnant there's no way I can face a plate full of those tiny pink foetus alikes.

(that's a queasy face btw)

sorry to crash but with my first baby i had a major addiction to prawns and I have never heard of anyone else having it I ate loads of them ds is fine

Eugh, pesky, ugly, nasty little pink things.

We need a prawn-phobic support thread. I would rather eat a live tarantula than be in the same room as an unrestrained prawn.

oooh yummy- prawns cooked in olive oil, lemon and garlic with nice french bread to dip in or hong kong style sweet and sour king prawns - yummmmyyy!

I think the issue is that prawns & shellfish are filter feeders so can take on board lots of waterborne nasties potentially.

an informed choice

I think it depends how fresh they are aswell and in most restaurants that can be dubious. I hate scare stories but a few years ago I was at a chinese restaurant with some girlfriends. One of my friends was about 4 months pregnant she ate prawns came out in a rash from head to toe and we had to rush her to hospital as she became very sick. Luckily mother and baby were fine.Personally after that I stay away from all shell fish when I am pg.Its only 9 months, its hard as I love prawns but its not worth the risk.

Must admit I avoided them. Book your DP in to bring you some into hospital! DP brought me in a load of very runny stinky French cheeses that I had so desperately missed- heaven!"

umm that sounds good, I cant wait to eat nuts again aswell and maybe even some alcohol. I have cravings for pink champagne