So how good are you really being with 'banned' food?

[Heatherbell1978]

Ok second pregnancy here (15 weeks) and I'm definitely being a little more relaxed than last time. Currently eating sushi and haven't paid any heed to the runny egg thing at all this pregnancy. The week I found out we were on holiday and I decided I still wanted to enjoy a few cold beers. I might have had the odd glass or 2 of fizz too. Last time I was much more strict although had a few beers after the 36w mark. Just wondering if I'm alone....

[Whatmirrormore]

NHS advice is largely outdated and over cautious to the point of being ridiculous. Do your own research and make your own mind up.

[SquedgieBeckenheim]

fenella NHS website still says no runny yolks, yet my midwife agreed all the latest evidence says it's OK. The NHS website is outdated on so many things! However, lots of sites still say no rare steak, so interested to see where the pp who said it's safe got her info.

[Arseicle]

Never mind latest evidence, we've known for 15 years plus that runny eggs are just fine.

[jusdepamplemousse]

No rare steak or other meat due to toxoplasmosis risk.

Its a parasite which can cause early pregnancy loss / significant birth defects. Risk of contracting probably small, but consequences of contracting can be huge.

Cooking the outside of the meat doesn't kill it as it can live throughout the cut.

You might be immune but you need to be tested BEFORE you're pg to know.

I researched this extensively when pregnant...really craved raw meat .

I'm getting tested before I get pregnant again!

[jusdepamplemousse]

Sorry just to clarify when I say 'other meat' I mean 'other rare meat'. You're allowed meat, obvs.

[ineedwine99]

My first is 4 weeks old, i had a couple of low alcohol beers plus 6 small glasses of wine across the whole pregnancy, baby totally fine, also drank coffee (probably borderline on guideline amounts)

[plimsolls]

I was really careful. I just felt that there wasn't a huge amount I could actively do to safeguard the pregnancy so I may as well do whatever I could, which was stick to the guidelines, if you see what I mean. It made me feel better, if nothing else.

It didn't bother me to cut out unpasteurised cheese/booze/pate, it didn't feel like a terrible sacrifice. I think there were a few things that I ate which may have broken the guidelines because I didn't realise (e.g only found out about cured meats halfway through!) but where I was aware, I stuck to them.

There's a bit of a badge of honour around pregnant women where I live in terms of not sticking to the guidelines. I don't know why but I detected a vibe of one-upmanship about how cool and laid back people can be about pregnancy with many of the pregnant women/mothers I met. I just smiled and ignored really. Good for them, not for me!

(I'm not saying that's true of all pregnant women who don't stick to the guidelines, just this particular group btw before anyone takes offence. I understand the guidelines are over cautious and Expecting Better has good studies etc etc)

[MyBreadIsEggy]

Isn't toxoplasmosis (the rare steak thing) also in cat poop?! That's why pregnant women shouldn't empty cat litter trays or if they have to, wear gloves?
I've been using it as a great excuse to get out of doing that stinky job

[kikisdelivery]

Toxoplasmosis, I believe, is actually highest in soil, so ladies who enjoy gardening should also make sure they wear gloves/wash their hands thoroughly.

When I told her I have three cats, my midwife said i'd probably already had toxoplasmosis without even realising and didn't even bother to test! She said if I continued to need to do the litter tray at any point just to wash up thoroughly afterwards. I haven't told the OH that - as far as he's concerned the litter is now his job!!

Food wise, I have eaten quite a bit of sushi because I love it and can't be without it in my life.... I have stuck to alcohol guidelines overall, at my bro-in-law's wedding I only had one measly flute of champagne all day... I haven't missed steak as i've not really fancied red meat, though normally I'd have it mooing! I haven't really avoided any cheese, including camembert because I'd only eat it baked anyway. I haven't had brie because it's just a bit too bland for me. I ate basically the equivalent weight of a small child in stilton over the weekend....mmmm..... so good!

[oldlaundbooth]

Thanks, demented, didn't realise!

Was actually chatting about this last week, I'm sure the Japanese don,t abstain from sushi during pregnancy!

[twocatsandatoddler]

I've grown up with outdoor cats my whole life, and have two currently, so I'm pretty sure I would have picked up toxoplasmosis already. I think it's from going outside that they catch it (eating mice and birds that are infected with it) so I don't think indoor cats carry the same risk. I do still change the litter tray, but I make sure I wash my hands extra thoroughly, not that I wouldn't be doing that anyway!

I've heard the biggest risk is from gardening too, so but all guidance seems to cite the rare steak risk without giving the same weighting to gardening.

[Bexta147]

I don't stick to them at all and haven't in my previous two pregnancies either. Pate on toast, rare steaks, runny eggs, seafood

Steak is my favourite food and if I had to eat it cooked anymore than medium rare I think I would have a breakdown 😂

[raviolidreaming]

I'm probably having a fraction too much caffeine some days, and am still emptying the cat's litter tray, but otherwise I'm avoiding everything I should be - particularly alcohol / vitamin A / mercury. I couldn't forgive myself if I carried on with the occasion drink / eating pate or swordfish and the baby was harmed.

Runny eggs are okay if they're lion marked and peanuts are absolutely fine to eat.

[AllAboutCats83]

Can I recommend that anyone concerned about the banned foods list/alcohol consumption should read 'Expecting Better'. The author comes at it from a data perspective and actually pulls apart the research which a lot of this information is based on. She then presents you with the findings which allows you to make your own choice. FYI- one of the commonly cited fetal alcohol syndrome studies didn't take into account the fact that quite a few women in the study were regular cocaine users! Personally I don't really like many of the foods on the 'banned' list anyway and I'm an all or nothing girl when it comes to alcohol so I've decided just to give it up for now, but I wouldn't feel guilty if I cracked and had a few.

[isittimeforarainbow]

I have stuck rigidly to all the guidelines, and have probably been extra cautious on top, even though the rules on eggs have now changed I would still rather wait to have them.
I am sure I'm not the only cautious one out there!