Accidentally eaten game and found lead!!

[Cat345]

Hi! I'm freaking out right now as my father in law gave me a stew and after eating it, I came across two hard bits which were clearly lead fragments. I'm so annoyed with myself for not asking the right questions about what was in the meal and really worried about the lead exposure to the baby :(

Has anyone eaten wild game throughout pregnancy and can provide any reassurance? I'm wondering whether to get my blood levels checked to ensure the levels aren't now high.

Literally sat here weeping that I could have exposed the baby to lead aargh!

Thank you!!

I read a study because I worried about this too. The issue seemed to be high (regular) exposure to high levels of lead. Not people who ate game once in 9 months.
there is lead in lots of things too, you’re often exposed (which shocked me!) there’s also less lead in large game like deer. personally I would feel fine eating some game knowing that. Perhaps best to avoid it going forward if you’ve had it now though maybe. Obviously I’m not an expert but I personally wouldn’t worry.

A friend of mine eats nothing but game (a farmer) throughout her pregnancy and her 3 year old has had no ill effect. She is onto her second pregnancy and is doing the same again.

I would mention it to you midwife if you are concerned.

Take care

Lead poisoning takes time and large volumes!! You spotted those bits and maybe some tiny fragments got in your tummy but honestly the fraction of toxins that could have gone near the placenta is minute and no harm to baby

I looked into lead a lot as we are renovating an old house while I'm pregnant (and have a toddler) so wanted to be really safe.

I'd up my vitamins from food and prenatal as including iron and vit C, and eat a lot of calcium for a few days, as that can help with chelating if there was any exposure. Calcium blocks the absorption of lead.

But as a one off I wouldn't be so worried about. The Food standards Agency recommended pregnant women avoid small game in pregnancy. However they seemed more worried about regular exposure. For adults they suggested 100 g a week should be the max for no ill effects. Just don't have it again and I doubt there would be the accumulation.

Thanks so much! 🙏🙏

I think it's natural to panic, with the hormones coursing through also. I remember crying for an evening in my 1st pregnancy when I realised I had been served unpasteurised and two week out of date mozzarella (in a meal I hadn't prepared). Mentioned it to my midwife at my next appointment and she honestly couldn't have cared less