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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

can i have a ham sandwich??

26 replies

jingleboo · 17/12/2007 12:48

I have a handout from my midwife (in the bounty pack) which lists all the foods to be avoided by pregnant women, and includes 'cold cooked meat' like pre packed ham. Avoiding this isn't mentioned in any of my other books/leaflets etc - is it just an old handout or is ham, cold meat etc best avoided? Also it says no prepaked salads, does that include ready made sandwiches from boots etc? Thanks!

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chocolatespiders · 17/12/2007 12:50

i havent heard of that before?

Naetha · 17/12/2007 12:53

I've been eating ham all through my pregnancy with no problems - I'd imagine it's the slight risk from food poisoning.

Personally, I think a large dollop of common sense is needed for all this "can't eat xx during pregnancy" malarky.

GreenGlassGoblin · 17/12/2007 12:54

I've never heard the cooked meat thing. The prepacked salads will be because of the small risk of listeria, I think (like soft cheeses). I think most of the advice is about known, but tiny (statistically) risks. You have to make up your own mind about the risks you take.

bethoo · 17/12/2007 12:55

i ate ham though kept away from the other cold meats like the continental ones next to hte ham in the supermarket. i know you should not eat liver, brie, blue veined cheeses and shellfish!

orangehead · 17/12/2007 12:56

not heard of that

ImBarryScott · 17/12/2007 12:56

I did get the same information when I was pregnant - it is indeed due to the tiny wee possibility that something in there might cause a stomach bug. I ate it anway, but then again I ate unpasteurised cheeses, rare meat, lightly cooked eggs, homemade mayo, pate, the works.

Didylicious · 17/12/2007 13:33

My midwife mentioned ALL cook-chill foods and said "including a chicken sandwich".....

So, I took that meaning everything like ham - other cold cooked meats - sausage rolls, (most buffet party food stuff!)..

It's awkward sometimes, but I tell myself it's just for a few months and my baby's well-being is worth the minor inconvenience.

Apparently there's about a 1 in 20,000 chance of getting listeria (so it's still a low chance).

The risk is - YOU might have no symptom, and yet your unborn baby could die because of listeria (IF you got it!).

I think also caution has to be used with pre-packed salads aswell. Not to mention the rest of that LONG list!

Didylicious · 17/12/2007 13:34

Forgot to say - I always look for a cheese and pickle sandwich if we're out - and avoid salad and meat in them!

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 17/12/2007 13:35

blimey!

i think i ate almost everything i could keep down.

Wisteria · 17/12/2007 13:37

my good lord, what with this thread and the other one I am seriously beginning to reconsider having another child!

I'm bound to get it all wrong - when did all this prepacked thing come in then??

When I was pg with number one - the advice was cut down on alcohol to no more than about 4-5 units a week (I think), give up smoking, eat healthy food and avoid raw eggs.

With number 2 it had increased to don't eat pate and soft cheese (which I had consumed in abundance with number 1 )

Haylstones · 17/12/2007 13:38

I have heard this (heard with dd 4 years ago and again with this pg). Definitely avoid pre packed salads (I also avoid salads when eating out but don't know if you have to). I have been eating cooked ham but only in sandwiches etc that I make at home (I stick rigidly to storage instructions and bb dates etc-I stick to cheese when out! I agree it's probably slightly over reactive but I don't like taking any chances as it really is only for a few months.

Haylstones · 17/12/2007 13:39

(BTW I am a bit of a 'control freak'- hate that term but it does sum me up)

Sarahjct · 17/12/2007 15:13

Oh dear, I couldn't have survived the last 8 months without ham and cheese toasted sandwiches! And I just had a chilled sausage roll on the way back from Tescos because I could feel myself starting to get a bit hungry-sick-dizzy...

coldtits · 17/12/2007 15:15

Don't forget to stop breathing too - in 100% of Good Pregnancies Gone Baaaaaad the mothers admitted to breathing repeatedly.

LadyOfWassail · 17/12/2007 15:18

Eeek, read the title just as I am tucking into a ham sandwich. I ate ham last time, never heard of avoiding it before but I guess I'll cut down. After this sandwich

stockingfiller · 17/12/2007 15:35

i ate ham sandwich three/four meals a day for nine months never heard of that lol

goingfor3christmaspuddings · 17/12/2007 15:39

I know you shouldn't eat cold meats like Parma ham because it's only cured not cooked but cooked hams are fine.

finallypregnant · 17/12/2007 18:30

I agree, my mw said it's only parma ham that you shouldn't eat.

I think it's getting a bit extreme now if you ask me.

Emprexia · 17/12/2007 18:50

I was told packed off the shelf was fine, but to avoid it from the Deli counter.

Califraunkincense · 17/12/2007 18:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GLAMpresentsforMAMAplease · 17/12/2007 18:56

Bugger. I have ordered Parma ham to go with melon for Christmas Day starter. Now I don't know what to do instead as DD was just going to have melon. I don't want to make 3 starters.

threestars · 17/12/2007 22:29

I've never heard that you can't have cooked ham. I was under the impression it was just smoked meats (eg. Parma ham, salami etc) that you can't have, because 1:they haven't been cooked, and 2: the smoking leads them to containing nitrates, which isn't supposed to be good for the baby.
Soon they'll just be recommending we consume powdered vitamin milkshakes only...

GLAMpresentsforMAMAplease · 18/12/2007 10:38

I have been eating salami quite happily throughout this pregnancy

LilyToTheB · 18/12/2007 11:37

As I understood it, it's best to avoid all raw or smoked meats, and pre-cooked meats from the deli. This is probably due to them being sat there and more of a risk of bacteria

fishie · 18/12/2007 11:39

i believe its listeria you are tyring to avoid, other food poisonings unpleasant but don't cross placenta. look at food standards agency website for proper government advice.

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