Curious as to how strict you all are?

[MyGossip]

Hello ladies,

Just found out I'm pregnant with baby #1 and hubby and I are super excited!!

I was making dinner as normal last night and didn't even think and had lots of feta cheese which I've now seen I probably shouldn't have eaten. And it got me thinking, how strict are you all being when it comes to food you can't/shouldn't/can eat?

For example, I love tuna and although the NHS website says it's ok to eat it, my friend has said she was told by her MW to only eat 1x tin a week max.

Be interested to hear all your thoughts around food restrictions or any great alternatives you've all found too!

There's things like fish fingers in the freezer which I won't be having.

Why?

The pasteurised/unpasteurised is what's getting to me at the moment because its not written on anything that I have looked at! Cheese is a worrying me - like pasta filled with cheese i am avoiding even though I think it's ok.

Anything unpasteurised has to say so on the label. If the label doesn't specify then it's pasteurised. The stuff in filled pasta is processed and then you boil it, so it's fine.

PS OP - feta is fine if pasteurised, and unless you bought yours from a specialist deli it will almost certainly have been. It's really quite difficult to find unpasteurised feta in the UK.

My midwife told me the nhs guidance but then stressed it was just guidelines and I could eat what I liked. She said she didn't avoid anything in her pregnancies because the risk was so low.

I avoided unpasteurised stuff and raw fish (except smoked salmon ) but everything else was fair game.

Happy pregnancy!

@PuntoEBasta thank you. I thought I read somewhere about not having cod which is why I would avoid the fish fingers. I may still avoid and opt for a healthier version of fish just as a personal preference. I didn't realise they had to show unpasteurised on labels as it's not something I've ever paid attention to before.

I am definitely being over cautious and know I am but this is my first pregnancy and wouldn't want to think I had done something that means it doesn't end well. Xxx

Just follow the NHS guidelines and ignore people's personal opinions.
I miss Pate, but am most definitely having my 2-4 tins of tuna a week atm.

I have never in my life heard anyone saying they can't eat fish fingers before! Cod is good for you.
That's bordering on the ridiculous. If it doesn't say you can't eat it on NHS website you CAN eat it.

[quote Peach1204]@PuntoEBasta thank you. I thought I read somewhere about not having cod which is why I would avoid the fish fingers. I may still avoid and opt for a healthier version of fish just as a personal preference. I didn't realise they had to show unpasteurised on labels as it's not something I've ever paid attention to before.

I am definitely being over cautious and know I am but this is my first pregnancy and wouldn't want to think I had done something that means it doesn't end well. Xxx[/quote]
I wonder if you might have read the advice not to consume cod liver oil, which is high in vitamin A. Cod is absolutely fine

My first pregnancy I was 100% by the book. This pregnancy I've eaten a fair bit of brie and had half a crabbies ginger beer in the garden last week.
Feta is not one to worry about though, enjoy!

[quote Peach1204]@PuntoEBasta thank you. I thought I read somewhere about not having cod which is why I would avoid the fish fingers. I may still avoid and opt for a healthier version of fish just as a personal preference. I didn't realise they had to show unpasteurised on labels as it's not something I've ever paid attention to before.

I am definitely being over cautious and know I am but this is my first pregnancy and wouldn't want to think I had done something that means it doesn't end well. Xxx[/quote]
Do you truly believe your pregnancy will end badly if you eat a fish finger? If that's the case then I would honestly speak to your Midwife (I say that with kindness). That's not being cautious, that's really over anxious behaviour. I suffer from extreme anxiety myself so you have my sympathy. Maybe you could speak to the Mental Health Team as often these feelings can get worse when baby is born. Xx

@MaryShelley1818 like I said I thought I had seen it somewhere and it said about limiting it. I understand your ridiculous comment in relation to that (hoping that you weren't referring to me as bordering ridiculous for being careful!) I've read a lot since finding out and have been cautious. Some of it may not be correct but I'd rather be cautious then risk anything happening. Xxx

@PuntoEBasta it might have been that I had read. I've read a lot recently! Xxx

@MaryShelley1818 after having it explained, no I don't think that and just said I would choose a healthier option as a personal preference - as in my own taste preference. I am trying to be as healthy as possible due to my own health conditions so I am trying to avoid what I class as junk type food (luckily all I'm wanting is salad but think that's probably more because it's so bloody hot!). Thank you for the concern. If I do have any questions I'll ask a midwife. From being part of another group I believe a lot of FTMs worry until first scans/12 weeks etc so I don't feel my anxiety is any higher than other people's. Xxx

This is my third, I eat what I crave because I can't stomach much so need to eat what I can stomach, then within a few days I've gone off it.
If I could hold down coffee I would still be drinking it. I wouldn't drink alcohol or smoke though, no matter how much I craved it.
I don't even really know what else I'm supposed to avoid to be honest. My last pregnancy someone told me the whippy ice cream! I was also told prawns, but I looked that up and it's fine if they are cooked.

@Wewearpinkonwednesdays a girl at work told me Mr Whippy and McFlurries. Assume it's to do with the milk used? Xxx

Mr Whippy and Mcflurry are fine if you're buying from a proper establishment where they will clean the machines properly. Maybe wouldn't eat from the ice cream van though

[quote Peach1204]@PuntoEBasta it might have been that I had read. I've read a lot recently! Xxx

@MaryShelley1818 after having it explained, no I don't think that and just said I would choose a healthier option as a personal preference - as in my own taste preference. I am trying to be as healthy as possible due to my own health conditions so I am trying to avoid what I class as junk type food (luckily all I'm wanting is salad but think that's probably more because it's so bloody hot!). Thank you for the concern. If I do have any questions I'll ask a midwife. From being part of another group I believe a lot of FTMs worry until first scans/12 weeks etc so I don't feel my anxiety is any higher than other people's. Xxx[/quote]
Ok, I think you've backtracked a little as that's obviously not what you stated initially - and yes I do think believing your pregnancy will end if you eat a fish finger to be more than normal "being sensible" or cautious.
As part of my job I do a lot of pre-birth work with families and your initial comments just naturally raised concern as it sounded very extreme indeed. Now you've reworded that to say it's because you want to eat healthily that's obviously completely different.
I'm pleased to hear you will speak to your midwife if needed though, they will be able to support you with these feelings. Good luck xx

The Mr. Whippy and McFlurry thing is to do with the cleanliness of the machine. If they're not sanitised properly and regularly, they're breeding grounds for bacteria

@MaryShelley1818 thank you. I didn't necessarily want to explain myself but felt I had to. Thank you for your concern and flagging but it was a misunderstanding over an anxiety thing. Xxx

I’m pregnant with my 5th and not one pregnancy have I followed any guidelines. (Except I don’t drink but didn’t really anyway) My main reasons were that they’ve changed over the years so anything in moderation is fine. (My Mum was told to eat raw liver when pregnant with me 🤢)
So I’ve eaten anything I fancy and not even looked at the NHS guidelines and so far 4 healthy babies/children. I’ve never taken vitamins or folic acid either.

Like pretty much every poster - I followed what the NHS guidelines said and then when I got into my third trimester maybe I relaxed a wee bit - so a bit of pâté here, the odd slice of salami and a glass of Prosecco or two now and again! I once had unpasteurised eggs accidentally and worries for a bit but I was absolutely fine!!

Just to add the only things I didn’t mess about with was raw fish or rare meats - which KILLED me because I like my meat RARE and sushi is one of my fave things in the entire world x

Bollocks did the doctor say it's OK to smoke 4-5 cigarettes a day when pregnant!!!

Don’t go on random websites from other countries with different food standards. Just use NHS. Also, midwives definitely aren’t always up to date with their info, so I trust the NHS site more.

Sushi is OK to eat if the fish was frozen beforehand

This brings back memories of the Christmas where I insisted on cooking the camembert with a meat thermometer

@dementedpixie is correct actually this is true!

I like the fresh stuff from Nudo or Itsu rather than the packet stuff and just didn't want to talk to anyone to ask if that was the case 😂😂