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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Accidentally ate something I shouldn't

32 replies

Vida32 · 15/12/2016 22:37

We were out this eve for DH's birthday doing some fun, silly, 'we won't get a chance to do this when the baby's here stuff'. Microbrewery where he (not I) sampled a few, favourite burger place and then an ice cream parlour. I was tucking into my sundae when in the midst of the fun evening I realised I wasn't supposed to be eating this. I didn't check whether it was pasteurised and I'm certain the bit on the top of the sundae came out of a soft ice cream machine, which I know you're not supposed to have.
DH has tried to reassure me but now we are home I feel sick and am frankly hysterical with worry. I can't believe I was so irresponsible. The worst part is I carried on eating a little bit after I realised because I was sort of trying to convince myself I hadn't done anything wrong. I stopped pretty quickly though.
Salmonella doesn't worry me too much but listeria terrifies me because of the horrific effects for baby and how susceptible you are to it during pregnancy. I know it's the main risk with ice cream.
And I've just looked it up and listeria can take 3-70 days to develop, so I feel like I'm facing 70 days of unbearable anxiety.
I'm only 19+4 at the moment.
I just feel so awful about it. Like l've let my baby down.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Marmalade85 · 15/12/2016 22:39

You'll be fine.

peppatax · 15/12/2016 22:40

In the nicest way possible Vida, does your midwife know about your anxiety issues? This is a massive overreaction to something that has a minuscule chance of happening. You didn't do anything wrong. It might be a good idea to address this before the baby arrives as this will seriously never be the worst thing to happen to make you think you've let it down.

dementedpixie · 15/12/2016 22:40

There is nothing on the NHS site to say to avoid it. If it is an ice cream parlour then they are likely to clean the machines regularly so I really wouldn't worry. I would worry more about getting it from an ice cream van tbh. Stop worrying and enjoy your pregnancy

peppatax · 15/12/2016 22:42

What I'm trying to say is - when your baby/toddler starts licking the handle on the trolley at the supermarket you'll be wondering why you ever worried about a bit of ice cream potentially harming them.

LurkingQuietly · 15/12/2016 22:42

This is not a proportional response to what's happened. You will be fine. You need to discuss your anxiety issues with your midwife though. I repeat...you will be fine.

OutnumberedByFurchesters · 15/12/2016 22:43

Dont worry about it please.

I ate more ice cream (with raw egg and etc) than i can remember and then only cottoned on at about 34 weeks... it's a small small risk. If you're worried ring midwife or similar in morning for reassurance.

I would also mention the high anxiety levels too. Take care.

Itsmytemporaryname · 15/12/2016 22:44

How many people have you known anyone who had listeria? that's how likely it is

bluelilies · 15/12/2016 22:44

How many people do you know who've caught listeria from ice cream? You're no more likely than ever to catch it (just more of a worry if you do). I ate ice cream when pregnant. I think I heard something about avoiding it if it had been out of the freezer for ages, but even then the risk is minute.

Spam88 · 15/12/2016 22:45

The risk is so tiny, really don't worry about it.

(I ate a pepperami and realised half way through I shouldn't have been eating it, but I finished it because it was delicious...so you are not alone).

Fishcakey · 15/12/2016 22:45

I read once not to have Mr Whippy when pregnant just in case but I have never heard of anyone EVER being ill from Mr Whippy ice cream and like the other poster said, it would be regularly cleaned. Please don't worry. We all eat and drink a small amount of stuff we shouldn't when pregnant without coming to any harm. Advice changes like the weather! It might be encouraged this time next year to eat soft ice cream!

sortthetacheoutbernard · 15/12/2016 22:46

When I was pregnant soft ice cream wasn't on the ' banned' list so we all ate it and I know noone who got listeria.

Tartyflette · 15/12/2016 22:47

Commercial ice cream is always pasteurised, in the first place it's very hard to get hold of unpasteurised milk or cream in this country.
And the egg (if indeed it contains any in the first place)is very likely to be pasteurised too.

Fruitboxjury · 15/12/2016 22:47

You will be fine, listeria is extremely rare. When pregnant I accidentally opened and had a mouthful of smoked salmon that was a week out of date, I phoned my midwife who reassured me it was a stupid mistake but had been done now and the best thing I could do was not dwell on it and just make sure I was more careful next time. She said obviously keep an eye out for symptoms but in her whole career had only ever seen one case of listeria (and both mother and baby were fine).
Welcome to the world of motherhood, where you see risks in things you never even thought were things.
I do think pp has a good point though, if anxiety (or hysteria) is something you suffer with, you would do well to address it sooner rather than later so that you are equipped to deal with the emotional challenges of becoming a parent.

raviolidreaming · 15/12/2016 22:48

The NHS only caution against homemade ice cream depending on how it's made. Where did you read to avoid soft ice cream?

VanessaBet · 15/12/2016 22:49

It will have been pasterised, and hygeine in these places is stringent or they'll be put out of business. As a pp said, maybe avoid the icecream van soft serve, but a restaurant will be fine. Please try not to worry

Manumission · 15/12/2016 22:50

All of these precautions are due to tiny theoretical risks. I've lost count of pregnant acquaintances who have absentmindedly eaten soft cheese etc. No harm came to any of them.

Does the warning really apply to indoor mr whippy machines?

SpornStar · 15/12/2016 22:52

Honestly, you'll be fine.

We went on a cruise as our last hurrah before baby was born. There was a self-serve Mr Whippy style ice cream machine by the pool. I ate my own body weight in the stuff with no ill effects.

I also ate loads of things that the NHS website recommends avoiding. Didn't do us any harm at all.

Thissameearth · 15/12/2016 22:52

NHS says soft ice cream is fine OP

raviolidreaming · 15/12/2016 22:53

Does the warning really apply to indoor mr whippy machines?

No mention on the NHS website of Mr Whippy machines, indoor or otherwise.

minijoeyjojo · 15/12/2016 22:56

According to government stats an average of 180 people get listeria each year in the U.K. That's out of a population of 63million, 180 cases. It's very very rare. I'm sure you'll be fine

JosephineMaynard · 15/12/2016 22:57

You'll probably be fine, the main reason soft ice cream is advised against is in case the machine isn't maintained and cleaned properly, and I'd expect an ice cream parlour to be on top of looking after their machines properly.

I ate a sandwich with goats cheese in it when pregnant with DS3 a few months ago. I didn't read the information on the packaging - including a "you're advised not to eat this is you're pregnant" warning - until I'd already eaten half the sandwich. I didn't get listeria or anything else nasty and DS3 is absolutely fine.

sortthetacheoutbernard · 15/12/2016 23:01

I reckon every pregnant woman makes a 'mistake' food wise at some point.

Honestly you'll be fine

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 15/12/2016 23:05

It might be worth reminding yourself that the "rules" in other countries (e.g. France) are very different. So if your were living in France you'd merrily be gorging on these things without a second thought!

Original poster

Vida32 · 15/12/2016 23:07

I can't tell you how much this has helped. Thank you so, so much. I really was going over the edge with this. I suffered from anxiety before getting pregnant and came off medication when ttc. I've actually done really well with it so far but maybe I do need to talk to someone about this again. Thank you.

OP posts:

Ilovetorrentialrain · 15/12/2016 23:09

Hey OP you'll be fine and I imagine 0% chance of unpasteurised milk!

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