URGENT - NEED REPLY WITHIN 15 MINS PLEASE

[emsiewill]

Can anyone advise me - I can't remember now, as it's 3 years since I was pregnant. Is it OK to eat seafood when you're pregnant. I'm specifically talking about prawn cocktail made from frozen prawns.
I'm leaving work in 15 mins, so would be really grateful for speedy advice.
Thanks all.

emsiewill, from what I can remember, avoid seafish that had shells, ie mussels and prawns. Will look in book, but thought Id quickly post this!!

They say to stay away from shellfish, I take it includes prawns hth.

Not really. To be on the safe side I would not.

Just had a look at the Health Education Authority book I was given and it doesn't specifically mention seafood - although again that was 3 years ago. I know I did eat already cooked prawns if I prepared them myself but shied away from barbequed (sp ?) seafood

Thanks v much for getting back to me so quickly - for a work colleague who was going to make it as a starter tonight.
Definitely a reason for the "I love mumsnet because....."

Hi emsiewill - I dont know exactly what prawn cocktail is but I did read you should avoid cold prwans because of any bacteria. I'm thinking because of Hepititas A maybe. Not exactly sure though. Its probally best to try and avoid all cold seafood.

I had a prwan sandwich craving when pregnant with DD - didn't do us any harm !

I quite like prawns too!!

So long as it's cooked well, there shouldn't be a problem. I think it's generally all scare-mongering. You can't eat pate, nuts, eggs, shellfish, live yoghurt, drink too much alcohol, etc, etc. Just use your common sense, make sure all food is properly defrosted and properly cooked, and I really can't see there being any problem.

I agree with rhubarb, you do what you think is best. Nine months is a long time to deprive yourself. Luckily for me I don't like nuts, shell fish & pate. I have eaten prawns, live yoghurt(?) & drank some alcohol though.

I don't think there is a problem with live yoghurt? In fact I thought it was recommended. When I was p/g in 2001, a remember hearing about a study showing that if you eat live yoghurt during the last month of pregnancy and while breastfeeding it decreases the risk of your baby having allergies.

And hasn't the advice on nuts changed now too? They thought eating peanuts in pregnancy sensitised the unborn baby, but now they think it might be caused by peanut oils in creams. There will probably be another theory tomorrow. I understand French woman don't get the same advice as we do re: cheeses etc, and I wonder if they have more babies damaged by Listeria than we do?

Here's a thought - when my mum was pregnant with me she was advised to eat plenty of liver, and when I was born, my first solid food (at 6 weeks!) was Bonemeal and vegetable broth - as recommended by HVs!!!!! So I guess take everything in moderation!