What should we, and shouldn't we eat!

[EmsMum72]

I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread listing things that pregnant women shouldn't eat. I'm just starting the list off, please feel free to add foods you know shouldn't be eaten, or to ask any questions about whether a particular food can be eaten or not. Hopefully we can all help each other out to give our babies the healthiest start in life!

OK, here goes!

I know I shouldn't eat:-

* soft cheeses
* deli meat
* soft serve ice cream
* cooked chicken (that's been sitting there for god knows how long)
* left overs (unless reheated to boiling)

I know I should be eating/drinking:-

* a variety of fruits & vegetables
* wholemeal/wholegrain bread
* hard cheese/yoghurt
* protein (meat)
* drinking at least 2 litres of water a day
* taking folic acid (elevit) tablets.

I also know I should be excersising at least 30 mins a day, 3-4 times a week, and I shouldn't be going near cat litter trays or cat poo due to toxoplasmas (or something like that :laughing: ).

What I'm not sure about is:-

* is it best to steer clear from places like maccas, kfc etc? Is there anything we can eat from there? I ate heaps of KFC when I was pregnant with my DD, now I'm a bit worried about eating take away. :banghead:

[Bellas_mummy]

Great idea for a thread Emsmum, very tired now but will come back tomorrow and try to add to you list.:wave:

[Bel1978]

Im going to check with my Ob this time.. But sienna was put into emergency when she was 1 week old.. her paed said it turned out to be a newborn condition but i was told if it happened a few days early he would have put it down to caffine withdrawals.. i will check and update you..

[Rachel87]

What should you avoid eating while pregnant?

Fish is a great and healthy food to have while pregnant! Its a simple matter of what TYPE of fish to avoid like the large salt water fish that contain high levels of mercury. Fresh water fish like trout, catfish, fish sticks, flounder, salmon, craoker, and haddok are ok to eat. Tuna can be eaten in moderation (one serving a week). Large fish like shark, tile fish, swordfish, tuna steaks, sea bass, Halibut and other LARGE saltwater fish are known to contain high levels of methyl mercury, a substance that can potentially cause neurological damage when consumed in large amounts. Farm-raised trout and catfish, Pacific salmon, and fish sticks are safe. Shellfish (shrimp, crawfish, crab, etc)are also fine to eat while pregnant. Remember that all of these are to be well cooked, not raw or smoked.


Other foods to avoid are-


-Raw meats -Raw chicken -Raw eggs (Caesar salads and eggnog!!!) -Soft cheeses, including Brie, Camembert, Mexican-style, and any other cheese that may be made with inadequately pasteurized milk, can harbor Listeria. -Do not drink raw milk, or eat foods that contain unpasteurized milk. -Pate -Unwashed fruits & vegetables -Foods & drinks that contain caffeine (limit or avoid!) tea, coffee, and colas -Alcohol -Saccharin (NutraSweet is preferable)


Liver should be avoided whilst pregnant (including all pate) as is contains a high level of Vitamin A which can be very harmful to your unborn baby. Anemia is common during pregnancy so you could look for other ways of increasing your vitamin A levels - remember to take your folic acid supplement!. Peanuts are also a healthy snack and should only be avoided if you are allergic to them (DUH!).

Taken from ~ http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_should_you_avoid_eating_while_pregnant

[Bellas_mummy]

Things in general to avoid (some of this is the very strict list that i am sticking to for now but perhaps when i get past the 15ish mark i might relax a little)

- Hair die
- nail polish remover
- nail polish
- fake tan
- mould remover in batheroom
-oven cleaner
- weed killer
- Caffine
- Alcohol
- cold meat
- anything that is not cooked infront of me
- All the other food EmsMum mentioned
- dont know if it matters but last time i squeesed into too tight work pants?? SO this time i am straight on to loose fitting pants. Has anyone heard if that does anything? You would think it would??

[Tan-mumof3]

Hi sorry to intrude just wanted to answer Emsmums question about takeaway.
I just had my little boy 3 weeks ago and i ate takeaway occasionally, i would not eat anything with mayo in it (don't know if it is kept in the fridge and fresh) and would ask for my burgers etc to be made fresh and they would always do it. So if you want it you can eat it aslong as it is hot and fresh :thumbsup: .

[sueliz]

HI Ladies!!

Sorry to intrude on your thread, but I thought you might like to have a look at this brochure - I stumbled across it recently and found it great. Lots of info on what you should not eat, but also on what you should eat.

Good luck with your pregnancies - my DH is a May baby so I therefore think that May is a fabulous month for being born!

http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumer/pdf/pregnancy-brochure.pdf

[Bellas_mummy]

Thanks for that Susan, just had a good look through it.

[cindye]

I got a food safety booklet at my early pregnancy class last friday night - am I'm going bonkers.
There is NOTHING you can eat!

If you're ever in a food court, pretty much the only thing that's safe is hot chips!

You shouldn't eat salad stuff, unless you've prepared it yourself - so that means no sandwiches, subs etc.

You shouldn't have anything out of a "hot box" because you never know how long it's been sitting there.

Definitely no soft serve icecream, and all the usual culprits - soft cheeses,sushi, ham, smoked meats, shellfish like prawns, crab, lobster. Pizza is a no-no, unless you're having just plain cheese - and what's the point?!!!!

Apparently you shouldn't ever have any sprouts either - not even if they've been washed and/or cooked. So snowpea sprouts / alfalfa are off the list!

It's just as well i'm not that hungry at the moment and all i'm interested in is mashed potato and red cordial!

[Manxie]

Another intruder here.

I was reading my Healing Remedies book the other day and stumbled across something which I didnt know should be avoided during pregnancy. Celery

It says

Caution

Because celery may cause the uterus to contract it should not be eaten during pregnancy

Anyone else read or been told that:detective:

I'd be curious to know why you cant have sprouts?

[sueliz]

I'd be curious to know why you cant have sprouts?


Apperntly for the same reason that you shouldn't have raw or 'runny' eggs - the risk of salmonella, (or however it's spelt!!).
I only found this out recently too - right after I had eaten Vietnemses spring rolls two nights in a row with lots of - you guessed it - sprouts! :eek: :)

[cindye]

Ok - not a food question, but thought I'd ask here anyway...

At our early pregnancy class, the midwife said to avoid painting - especially in a confined room. Not that we're renovating or anything...

But, what do you think about water based acrylic paints - the non-toxic ones they use in schools? Best to avoid them? I may have to use them at work. What do you think?

[TheEmpress]

God.. i didn't avoid half those foods when I was pregnant with DD !
I only didn't have what the hospital told me .. which was :
-soft cheeses
-pate's
-liver
-Raw meat,chicken,fish (Anything uncooked including steak thats rare get it well done in pregnancy)
-Processed meats ,salami,Ham ,chicken Loaf (anything smoked is bad)
-Raw egg(egg must be cooked )
- bought sushi (is only ok if you make it at home but no uncooked fish , have tuna and lettuce or avacado and cucumber etc)
-salads at shops (cause you don't know how long It's been sitting there but I still got salad sandwiches from shops cause they don't have dressing or anything so I thought it would be fine !)

I'm so glad I don't like celery ! I never knew that ! Oh this reminded me .. they say to steer clear of some essential oils especially in the 1st 3 months as some can bring on contractions,early labor or m/c.
I know pepperment and parsley oil should be avoided , theres heaps more you can look it up but I stay away from all oils in pregnancy .

I'm not sure about the paints, It's the fumes that are dangerous, Non Toxic children's paint should be ok... but I'm not totally sure ? :confused: