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

Pregnancy questions food and products feel silly asking midwife!

20 replies

Cb700 · 15/04/2019 21:46

I am 17 weeks pregnant after 6 rounds of ivf and 8 years of ttc. I am obviously worried about every single thing! I have a list of questions if anyone could help me answer as nhs only lists a few things!
Is it ok to eat and drink:
Freshly squeezed juice (orange and others from a juice extractor)
Raw Cacao powder to make smoothies and overnight oats - what you buy from Holland and Barrett
Mr whippy Ice cream - I know the nhs has changed this recently it says on website soft ice cream is ok as long as it is pasteurised so is this ok - off to the coast at Easter. What about the frozen yogurt out of machines?
Other silly questions:
Any beauty products to avoid - I use decleor oils are they ok? Self tan?
When exercising is it safe to do any on your back?
Thank you xxx

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Chinks123 · 15/04/2019 21:54

I’ve never heard of cacao powder so can’t be much help there. I have also been told to avoid lying flat on my back when sleeping, but I’m not sure about exercising..I can’t say I do much except a bit of pregnancy yoga.

I still drink freshly squeezed juice and eat mr whippys. I also use a fake tan which is safe in pregnancy and for breastfeeding, as I’m not 100% sure they all are. I use ‘bare’ by vogue but there will be others.

Congratulations! Don’t feel silly asking your midwife, they will have heard it all, and advice changes so often!

Chinks123 · 15/04/2019 21:57

Just googled and I think all fake tans are safe in pregnancy apparently, it’s just spray tans that should be avoided! Tried to google cacao powder for you but as I don’t know what it is really I’ll let someone else answer that Smile

MissSmith80 · 15/04/2019 22:01

My yoga instructor encouraged me to eat raw cacao nibs for its ?magnesium levels due to me getting awful cramp. I am not saying that he advice is the same as a midwife so I'd check but I do trust her - she seems to know her stuff.
Congratulations x

Chocolate35 · 15/04/2019 22:05

All orange is fine. Fake tan is fine too.
www.mumsnet.com/pregnancy/eating-dairy-products-when-pregnant This might help your dairy questions. I’d ask in Holland & Baratt about the powder.
Congrats on your pregnancy. There are no silly questions. X

redbedheadd · 15/04/2019 22:08

In yoga you tend to avoid lying on back for any extended periods after about 20 weeks but I think for short stints when your bump is small it's fine. Big difference between a 5 min exercise move and sleeping on your back for 7 hours.

If you are worried about the ice cream you could just get an ice lolly?

Congrats!!!

Cb700 · 15/04/2019 23:10

Thank you another silly question:
I’m going to Spain can I eat vegetable paella, Spanish omelette, salads,ice cream etc? I go to the same place every year so know all the restaurants.

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Spam88 · 16/04/2019 07:23

Laying on your back before a certain week (can't remember what!) is fine, and then at the point it's not fine you'll probably find it too uncomfortable anyway.

I didn't realise the guidance had changed on mr whipping style ice cream so can't help there. Orange juice is fine, cacao is fine just don't forget to factor in the caffeine if you're still drinking caffeinated drinks.

Only think I avoided abroad, other than the stuff you shouldn't eat here anyway, was runny eggs.

Congratulations :)

windysowindy · 16/04/2019 08:31

Hi OP!
I am in Spain Grin
I personally don't eat the omelette when pregnant, even though it is my favourite thing.
I like it quite "juicy" so that is not fully cooked. In theory, all bars and restaurants should use "huevina" which is an egg protein instead of raw eggs, but most don't. Salmonella cases are still present in Spain because of the heat and the fact that the eggs are not "lion stamped" so not vaccinated for salmonella (the hens, eggs don't get a vaccine)
I have never got salmonella ever and if I wasn't pregnant I would eat it no problem.

However, the NHS has changed the advice on cured meats and you can freeze them for 3 days then eat them.

You can have any paella, marisco, conejo, seafood is safe to eat if cooked.

Heyha · 16/04/2019 08:38

Oh god, just read the NHS guidance. If it's not listed it's because there's no known issue, they aren't going to cover every possible food and cosmetic eventuality and nor is anybody going to fund research into vegetarian paella being a risk in pregnancy. I understand your anxiety and congrats on your pregnancy but stress is more harmful than fake tan so please take my words as a gentle boot of realism.

That should do you, other than not eating from places that you don't trust the hygiene of but you wouldn't be doing that anyway- just be even more cautious about that than you would ordinarily and you'll be fine.

Also get a copy of the book Expecting Better if you want to read some of the evidence (or otherwise) for the guidelines but that may cause more confusion.

Cb700 · 16/04/2019 08:48

Windy - is ice cream pasteurised in Spain ? From ice cream parlours etc?

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Cb700 · 16/04/2019 09:14

Thanks heyha you are right the midwife seems really relaxed when I ask her things and I have been trying just to go from the nhs website. You can find problems with every food I know saw something that said don’t eat pineapple!

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Heyha · 16/04/2019 10:07

I did have to ask a question on here because the NHS website said something was ok but the midwife was adamant it wasn't- on balance (and after being backed up on here) I decided to ignore the midwife on that one and stick with the NHS website Smile so I understand where you're coming from.

windysowindy · 16/04/2019 12:24

Sorry OP I don't know because I don't eat it but I would think so, most milk in Spain is UHT anyway, so I don't think they would use non pasteurised milk.

Cb700 · 17/04/2019 11:19

Two midwifes have sat s different things about ice cream. One said it is fine as it says in nhs and another said no due to ice / water in Spain. It is normally what we do on holiday !! . She also said avoid salads!

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redbedheadd · 17/04/2019 11:44

I ate ice cream in Spain at 12 weeks without a second thought.

Is your midwife from France as a French colleague told me they avoid pre prepped salad in France. Again I ate loads with no ill affects.

I think ultimately the risk with all these things is tiny ... but if you've been TTC a long time or you are an anxious person your stakes feel different- you need to weigh up if worrying about eating the foods will override your actual enjoyment of it --- and if yes just don't bother. There are plenty yummy things that carry no risk.

YesQueen · 17/04/2019 11:46

The issue with the mr whippy type is the cleanliness. Personally I wouldn't but would eat say a McFlurry because of the rigorous cleaning. However I am biased because my gran got incredibly ill after eating a mr whippy from a machine that wasn't properly clean. Normal ice cream is fine

windysowindy · 17/04/2019 12:13

No issue with ice/water in Spain 🤦🏻‍♀️
I would dismiss that midwife's advice. Water in Spain, ridiculous

Cb700 · 20/04/2019 11:07

Thanks everyone for your help. I assume if you would get listeria you would be ill? Would it effect you even if you wasn’t pregnant? xxx

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Eliza9919 · 20/04/2019 22:26

Not eating pineapple is true. My sister saw a consultant to investigate her recurrent MC's after her stillbirth and he told her to avoid pineapple in the future when ttc/PG.

Chinks123 · 20/04/2019 23:42

I was told the pineapple thing was a myth by my midwife.. I ate it every day when pregnant with dd.

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