McFlurry Cravings

[VixenAndCub]

I've been told by my midwife and GP that soft scoop icecream is a big no-no.

But of course now I want what I cant have... I naturally cut out energy drinks since they are super bad for the baby (and me!) but McFlurries and Shakes! Nightmare!

I read before that they're a no go because of uncleanliness and unpasterised - but my cousin works in McD's and she told me of the strict guidelines of hygiene they go through to clean the pipes and that they've used pasterised milk for ages.
So is this an outdated bit of info? I stay away from icecream vans since they dont get inspected, but McD's should be okay right?

My midwife said that if the craving was really getting to me, I could put the icecream/milkshake in the freezer to kill bacteria then have them. Kinda destroys the idea of a milkshake though...

If I freeze the McFlurry solid, then take it out and let it melt a little - will that make it pointless? Will it still be potentially unsafe? My teeth are super sensitive so having softer icecream is much easier on me.
If I freeze it then let it melt a little, will that make it safe?

Trust me you'll be fine ! I've had 3 babies and ate McFlurrys with all of them and dippy eggs !!

Yep, you should be fine. McDonald's flurry machines, the product itself and the toppings are all strictly controlled/cleaned to a high standard. All of the dairy products are pasturised.

I was a fairly anxious and risk-averse person during pregnancy but I would have happily eaten a McFlurry and did have at least one Mr Whippy type ice-cream. I’m sure a McFlurry especially would be fine.

I think if I’d come across even just one person who had been ill due to eating soft ice-cream then I might have felt differently but it’s so unlikely I didn’t feel like it was a risk. Otherwise people wouldn’t give them to children etc.

From the NHS website:

Ice cream in pregnancy
Soft ice creams should be fine to eat when you're pregnant, as they are processed products made with pasteurised milk and eggs, so any risk of salmonella food poisoning has been eliminated.
For homemade ice cream, use a pasteurised egg substitute or follow an egg-free recipe.

I'm having baby number 4 and never heard of this.

Don't know what your midwife's on about. McFlurries are fine. I have a bee in my bonnet about the propaganda around what you can't eat when pregnant and it's even more annoying when the midwife's spreading it. I've said before mine told me not to eat smoked salmon or sushi which isn't current advice at all. I'm not sure they all read the nhs guidance themselves.

I was under the impression McDonald’s was fine due to their hygiene practices. I had loads of their mcflurries and milkshakes when pregnant. DD is fine. I wouldn’t have eaten an ice cream from a van though.

NHS website says all soft serve ice cream is fine!
I also get annoyed about the propaganda about what you can and can't eat. Also find it pretty ignorant when people say that "obviously" ice cream van aren't inspected. They are. And they still have to adopt hygiene procedures and use pasteurized milk.

All the ice cream vans I've seen have got the star ratings that restaurants have on them

I had my booking appointment 2 weeks ago and the midwife said to avoid soft serve icecream but said runny eggs were now fine! Personally I would eat a mcflurry because I know the machines are cleaned really well...Mr Whippy vans aren't inspected or cleaned as often so I suppose the risk is slightly higher for those.

I've had a few McFlurries and even a Mr Whippy once, as well as dippy eggs and sushi.

I'm now 15 weeks and bubs is fine!

Ive only heard of the soft ice cream thing on MN. I think definitely have if you want it, baby will be fine.

And dippy eggs are definitely fine I eat them all the time!

Makes me so cross that midwives still spout this shit!! All Ice cream vans in the U.K. have to be inspected for hygiene just like restaurants and a McFlurry is deffo ok!!

My MW told me they were fine, and the NHS website says they're fine.

I've had loads of McFlurries and Mr Whippy and all is fine. 26 weeks and baby currently plotting on the 90th centile!

And genuinely what does she think freezing an ice cream is going to achieve? Freezing meat and fish can kill parasites but freezing doesn’t kill bacteria, it just prevents it multiplying! Really, she should be ashamed of herself.

This is very outdated information! Can’t believe your midwife and doctor told you this, that’s awful. I really hate all the scaremongering around food and pregnant women.

I’m incredibly paranoid about that I eat but I think McDonald’s McFlurrys and milk shakes are absolutely fine. I don’t like ice cream but I had a lot of their milkshakes when I was pregnant with DD.