I've eaten banned foods HELP

[aliceml]

I just found out I'm about 6 or 7 weeks pregnant, and this weekend just gone, I've eaten scallops which weren't cooked all the way through, salmon sashimi sushi, roast lamb which was pink. I haven't been ill at all but I'm worried there may be parasites affecting the development! I feel like suck an idiot for not clocking I might be pregnant, but sometimes I'm irregular and we've had loads of busy weekends and work has been mad lately. Luckily I haven't drank as I was driving. I'm worried about miscarriage as I had one earlier this year. I'm 36 and my body clock can't afford losses if I'm going to have a family, hoping for two kids.

i got drunk at a party 2 weeks before i found out.Your not the first to make a oops mistake you wont be the last.Whats important is you know now.Its all about risks there are risks and eating more of something increases that risk but if its a one off it will be fine.If your truly worried ring your doctors for advice.

There are no 'banned' foods
You can eat sushi
Shellfish should be cooked through though
I'm sure you will be fine

Non-issue. Congratulations and stop worrying.

I have 3 boys, ages 19, 18 and 15.

Apart from the youngest i was pretty drunk when i didn't know i was pregnant and back in those days you could drink up to 4 glasses of wine a week, eat peanuts, seafood, pink meat etc. I think the only thing you weren't allowed was camembert or something. (I could be wrong, so will no doubt be corrected). My point being that everything was fine - and back then we didn't have half the restrictions that your age group do now.

The best thing you can do for your baby is relax and be kind to yourself. Eat well from now on. Anxiety hormones are far more harmful than a bit of roast lamb. Good luck with it all.

I'm not an expert in good safety, but I am sure you will be fine.

These foods are not banned, it is just recommended that you avoid/limit them. For instance properly prepared and stored sushi is very safe, but if it was not stored or prepared properly you may be at more risk of food poisoning. It does NOT mean you will get food poisoning!

I understand you are concerned, but right now, your stress will potentially be more risky. Take a deep breath and try to just enjoy this wonderful news xx

dementedpixie, there are foods that are strongly advised against in pregnancy.
Unpasteurised soft cheese for a start, due to the Listeria risk. Liver, due to excess vitamin A toxicity. Alcohol due to fetal alcohol syndrome, and so on.

@Doglicks

I have 3 boys, ages 19, 18 and 15.

Apart from the youngest i was pretty drunk when i didn't know i was pregnant and back in those days you could drink up to 4 glasses of wine a week, eat peanuts, seafood, pink meat etc. I think the only thing you weren't allowed was camembert or something. (I could be wrong, so will no doubt be corrected). My point being that everything was fine - and back then we didn't have half the restrictions that your age group do now.

The best thing you can do for your baby is relax and be kind to yourself. Eat well from now on. Anxiety hormones are far more harmful than a bit of roast lamb. Good luck with it all.

You can still eat peanuts and cooked shellfish, sushi, etc.

Mould ripened and blue cheese can be eaten if cooked which is the same for cured meats

My kids are 14 and 17 and it was advised not to drink alcohol in both those pregnancies.

@Babdoc

dementedpixie, there are foods that are strongly advised against in pregnancy. Unpasteurised soft cheese for a start, due to the Listeria risk. Liver, due to excess vitamin A toxicity. Alcohol due to fetal alcohol syndrome, and so on.

They are not banned and you can make some of them safer e.g. cooked unpasteurised cheeses and cured meats

You'll be fine.

At this early stage, you don’t need to worry. You’re aware now so stick to the guidelines henceforth.

Congratulations.

I'm still eating "banned foods" in my third trimester! Lots of it is around food hygiene. If it's properly washed/cooked/prepared/stored then the risk is so tiny. Try not to worry OP.

www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/

@dementedpixie I believe hard blue cheese is now "safe" to eat, and soft blue cheese is all good if cooked. Listeria is the main worry so if it's been stored properly it should be fine nonetheless!

Banned food? Banned by who?
There are guidelines and advice but make your own informed choices.
You will be fine

If you live in other European countries with good health care systems then they all have different 'rules' which contridict the British advice.

As long as you are careful, keep to a minimum and stay away from liver (and pate) you are probably fine.

I was 37 when I had DS. I ate small amounts of 'banned' food.

You will be FINE.

Hi - congratulations.

It's only natural to look back on that and worry about it. But at this early stage of pregnancy, you don't actually share a blood supply with the baby as it is using the yolk sac for nutrients and doesn't have a placenta yet. So it's very unlikely even in the unlikely event you did eat some foods that would give you food poisoning that this would pass to baby. Relax, draw a line under it - now you know you're pregnant, you can make informed choices about what to eat and what to avoid.

Smoked salmon in the UK is fine, as is raw sushi which has been pre frozen - most of it is. Was pleasantly surprised when I saw that on NHS advice. I ate very out of date mozzarella ( was served to me, only realised when it tasted odd). Midwife said you'll know if you get sick - food poisoning symptoms etc and at that point you can be tested for listeria. I was worried but I've been fine so far (ate it months ago). I also know a lot of people that've been a lot looser with the guidance and just stuck to very reputable suppliers / places for 'banned' foods and they've been fine

I knowingly ate some banned foods when I was pregnant having read up on it and risk assessed for myself.

Most of the foods on your list would have had to give you food poisoning to pose any risk at all to the baby or you would have to eat a ton of it on lots of days.

You haven't done anything to harm the pregnancy.

Congratulations

Im with dog licks mine are 17 & 16 and alcohol wasn't banned just advised couple glasses etc
Also soft cheeses i found out but wasn't told , also after I ate numerous mr whippy's was told they were not advised .
Liver was other one although my mum days in her day they were advised to eat it
Just advise midwife / dr when you see them and they can reassure you and also what to avoid going forward as it changes

Parasites from food are extremely rare in the UK, so don't give it another thought, enjoy the rest if your pregnancy!!

Soft ice cream is not on the list to avoid so eat a Mcflurry or Mr Whippy if you are buying the ice cream from a reputable shop

You'll be fine OP. Most women don't find out till after they've eaten, drunk or done something that's not advised. Try not to worry. Congratulations

The main risk with that kind of stuff is food poisoning, listeria, etc.

You would know of you had those. So if you're well (aside from any pregnancy symptoms!) you're OK. There won't be anything terrible and undetected happening inside.

Congratulations!

Sounds bloody delicious 🤤

If you're not ill then the baby is fine too. None of the discouraged foods put you at risk of parasites or secret diseases, if you were sick you'd know about it. Remember you were happy to eat these foods at the time, the risk is very small, it's not like you ate uncooked roadkill!