Okay I'm going to wait on testing because well just because..

But just incase, start throwing things at me that I should and should not be doing...I know that doctors come up with new stuff all the time...I heard recently that tuna is bad...If you recall I planned to eat tuna everyday to lose weight but on day one it made me so sick that I didn't touch it again..Soo I'm carrying several symptoms that could mean a number of things, but just in case I might be pg...Fill me in on the latest tips!

TIA

Here's the TO AVOID list! Good luck! Many prayers!
1. You're right, they just decided all tuna is bad...avoid it all!
2. hot dogs and lunch meat....due to having a bacteria in some that can kill fetus even up through month 9! Happened to someone I know! The expensive over the counter real deli meat is supposed to be okay, but I cook it first anyway just to be safe.
3. No shark, red snapper, king makerol (sp?), all shellfish, lake fish, tile fish, etc.....basically Talapia/some pollock/ and salmon are OK.
3. No softened or aged or unpastureized cheeses like brie, feta, softned mexican cheese dips, etc....stick to hard cheddar and the other norms.
4. No artificial sweetners, Splenda they say is okay, but it really hasn't been tested, so I avoid them all.
5. No honey due to bacteria that can kill up to 9 months
6. If you have severe nut or milk allergies, avoid those products so that you don't up the risk of your baby having these allergies as severe and get the nutrients somewhere else
7. 16oz or less of caffine a day, preferably less
8. no alcohol or smoking or drugs
9. No cold meds, no IBProfin, etc....basically the only safe OTC is Tylenol
10. avoid certain herbal teas and all green tea products....peppermint tea is okay they say though
11. Avoid using anything with Retinol in it...creams, etc...can cause major malformations in fetus
Hmmm...I'm sure there are more out there, this is just what I do right now with my pregnancy and my docs here in MO!

I know you have cats... stay away from the litter. [whateeeeeksign] You probably knew that and the tuna is true. I didn't mind because I don't like tuna unless it is white tuna. Watch what you lift.. you said the other day you were lifting heavy parts books. Just be cautious. [OKOK]

hot dogs?!? :oops: ate a whole pack last week...will keep that in mind for the time being...

other than the book thing...should be ok

as far as the cats, i used shredded paper for litter and rarely go sticking my hand in the box....with Angela, I went into a frenzy, loaded up my beloved cats and took them to a lady's work so she could take them to her aunt's house for a new home...by evening I went back to the same place to regather my beloved cats and took them back home :lol: a few weeks later my MIL convinced me that i HAD to give away my cats...so i did :cry: all the way....so hubby bought me a puppy to shut me up :lol: :lol: :lol:

I had to give that puppy away when Angela was born because I had no time to groom her, ****zu...

You should have seen me :cry: the other day when hubby mentioned giving our chi away because he wasn't house training well enough.....oh dear i cried :lol: so i do believe i'll save myself the trauma and keep my pets as long as i can afford them :wink:

keep the tips coming, just want to be informed

Lis just wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly after cleaning out litter box. You'll be fine. We have 3 cats. And you can get Toxoplasmosis from raw meat, the garden and sandboxes as well. In fact most cases of Toxo are from raw meat ;)
Also if you are a cat person ... which I know you are :lol:... you have most likely already had Toxo as a child and will be carrying it.

I looked Toxoplasmosis up on the net recently (for the second time LOL) and that is what the article said. You don't have to get rid of your cats or stop changing their litter trays out. :wink:

When you're pregnant, it's also important to avoid food-borne illnesses, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, which can be life-threatening to an unborn baby and may cause birth defects or miscarriage. Foods you'll want to steer clear of include:

soft, unpasteurized cheeses (often advertised as "fresh") such as feta, goat, Brie, Camembert, and blue cheese
unpasteurized milk, juices, and apple cider
raw eggs or foods containing raw eggs, including mousse and tiramisu
raw or undercooked meats, fish, or shellfish
processed meats such as hot dogs and deli meats (these should be well-cooked)
fish that are high in mercury, including shark, swordfish, king mackeral, or tilefish
If you've eaten these foods at some point during your pregnancy, try not to worry too much about it now; just avoid them for the remainder of the pregnancy. If you're really concerned, talk to your doctor.

About Fish. Fish and shellfish can be an extremely healthy part of your pregnancy diet — they contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, and are high in protein and low in saturated fat. But limit the types of fish you eat while pregnant because some contain high levels of mercury, which can cause damage to the developing nervous system of a fetus. Mercury, which occurs naturally in the environment, is also released into the air through industrial pollution and can accumulate in streams and oceans, where it turns into methylmercury. The methylmercury builds up in fish, especially those that eat other fish.

Because canned albacore (or white) tuna and tuna steaks are generally considered to be higher in mercury than canned light tuna, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that you eat no more than 6 ounces a week. A 2006 review by Consumer Reports, though, showed that some canned light tuna can contain levels of mercury even higher than that of white tuna. But the FDA maintains that the levels are safe if consumption of the fish is limited, and that the current recommendations should stand.

It can be confusing when recommendations from trusted sources differ. But since this analysis indicates that amounts of mercury in tuna may be higher than previously reported, some women may want to eliminate tuna from their diet while pregnant or when trying to become pregnant. Almost all fish and shellfish contain small amounts of mercury, but you can safely eat those with consistently low mercury levels (like salmon, shrimp, clams, and tilapia). Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about how much — and which fish — you can eat.

When I was pregnant with Trent I had the dr. test me for Toxoplasmosis because at the time I was fostering two inside kittens for the Humane Society and had lots of outside cats. I didn't have it and he told me to keep the cats but to make sure I wash my hand thoroughly after handling them or the litter or anything for that matter. He said to wear gloves when working in the yard because my cats or even stray cats could poop out there and I could get my hands in it and get the disease. His said as long as I had good hygene not to worry about it. :D So don't get rid of the kitties.


Stephanie :D :D

As you may have caught on, I am not big on the do's and don'ts or various aspects of life. When I was pregnant, I ate a normal diet, which doesn't consist of too much fish anyway- I still had tuna, no more than one can per week is what I was told... I wore Rubbermaid gloves when I changed the cat box (though ocassionally I used the pg excuse to get someone else to do it for me :lol: ) It is direct contact with the actual feces that can cause problems.

My mom always marvels at how she could have possible made it through six healthy pregnancies and childbirths without the extensive list of do's and don'ts! I realize that science and technology is far more advanced than it was back then and I have a moderate level of respect for such, but ultimately I believe God is bigger than any to do list and will provide adequate safety for His unborn. These things make me wonder what pregnant women who live on the edge of the ocean where fish is a staple of their daily diets are to do?

Yup you can get it just from patting them. I was never worried about it... I've been around cats all my life.
I know we worry about things during pregnancy but I think sometimes we are doing more harm to baby by worrying so much about things than we would be if we were to eat or drink something they tell us not to.
I had honey, tuna, peanuts and peanut butter, hot dogs, fish (shark) and pork luncheon, coffee, V drink etc... during my pregnancy with Abby and she is perfectly fine. The only thing on that list that I haven't had this time is V drinks. Everything in moderation. I hate to think how they did it back in bible times :wink:
I ultimately trust in God that he will take care of my baby.

Call me naive but I have one perfectly healthy child and another that from the US's and appointments with midwife is believed to be healthy as well. And I believe she is. :D

I swear the list gets longer with each passing day!

The fish to avoid are deep sea fish - you aren't even supposed to eat these regularly when NOT pregnant either due to mercury.

YOu can eat salmon just not smoked.

People say NO caffine, but a recent study I watched on pregnancy taboos said just don't EXCEED caffine intake (I drink one a day which is fine according to both my midwife and obst).


My friend worked at a deli counter where all the lunch meats/chickens were sold and she said "Trust me, eat NONE of it" IN reality no matter how expensive it is, you are relying on the shop keeper to be honest about it's freshness. I would not do that personally.

Don't eat PRECOOKED shell fish, buy it fresh and take it home and cook it yourself, to eat cooked prawns even on ice is dangerous.

No sushi/sashimi - some of it is raw and it also sits in the cabinet in the supermarket gathering bacteria. I actually have made my OWN and ate it fresh (but not the raw type of sushi)

Don't drink ANY "detox" tea etc.

All food should be steaming hot.

Don't use the same chopping board for chopping meat and veg.

With the chicken, you have to watch listeria AND salmonella, which is common knowledge anyway, just serve it STEAMING hot.

You can get cats tested for active toxoplasmosis infection - but all we did was trained our cat to go outside instead of in the litter so as to not even have to face that concern.

I also saw on my favourite health show WHATS GOOD FOR YOU, that Listeria is a relitively NEW bacteria, and here I was wondering all the time why my Mum and her friends where like "listeria... WHAT?". I am not sure whether they meant it's a new strain of bacteria, or newishly discovered

With the hotdogs, I always assumed it was don't buy them from hotdog stands because I eat them from time to time but HOME MADE, where I take them straight from the freezer and boil the "hell" out of them to kill bacteria (to my minds eye, if you can eat cooked lunch meat, you can eat home cooked hot dogs)

As I said above the list grows LONGER every time you turn around so my basic rule is pray over all your food.

xoxo Aussie Mum

Thanks everyone...I don't get into the whole do's and don'ts list fully, but some of it is just plain common sense kwim?

you sound like me. i just had tuna saturday night. it's light in water, but it was tuna.
I eat bologna straight out of the package, same for other lunch meat.
I really think that all of the don't do this, don't do that stuff just worries more moms than it actually does good. kwim?
It's like said earlier, some women live on coastal areas that depend greatly on fish, but, actually, their bodies have adapted to the large amount of fish they eat, so that's where the docs back their selves up, LOL.
and then I was told in my last pregnancy that it's like 97% of women who were exposed to cats as children carry the toxo strain, so you're "immune" to it now.
their is simple blood test to find out, for some women, it's worth it just for the comfort. You know that if you're carrying it, you can't "get" it, so it makes you feel less worried about having the kitties.

best wishes to you, though, and don't spend nine months worrying, it's not worth it. enjoy the pregnancy and enjoy the pampering that comes with it.

Yup I was even told recently that the main culprit of Listeria is cold rice. :shock: Well we eat rice once a week but not cold. But apparently if you eat it second hand (like the next day) it is risky.

I honestly cannot be bothered with all these warnings. If I followed them all I wouldn't be able to eat anything. :roll: I am just careful with food. And I don't drink or smoke.

I think Listeria has probably always been around ... just that no one probably knew what it was or where it came from.

Also they just had something on the news here recently that said almost ALL chicken has Campylobacter (sp?). And they were discussing not selling chicken fresh anymore... just frozen :shock:

IMO if you cook it properly you'll be fine. I've never had food poisoning from Chicken except when my parents bought their microwave and cooked chicken in it the first time. They didn't cook it long enough. I was the only one that got sick from it though because they bit into it and told us "don't eat anymore it's not cooked properly." I was hungry and stupid :roll: and said "I'll be fine" and kept eating it :shock: I don't know why they didn't grab it off me LOL but I guess I got what I deserved! :oops:
I've been cooking chicken for the last 7 years and never been sick from it... or any meat for that matter. I always check it is cooked properly by cutting it in the middle. I actually usually overcook my meat :roll: :oops:

Thankyou everyone for the helpful tips..I'm not preggars but one day I will be and you all have been a big help!! :D

Ok, this was an awesome idea. I will be re-reading this!!

Oh, my helpful tip is don't go swimming pregnant... it will drown the baby. That's what those old wives say!! hehe :wink:

Renee - oh dear see that's what I mean the list grows longer, I have NEVER in my whole life heard that eating cold rice is bad for listeria (who eats cold rice anyway LOL). Was the news meaning Chicken Treat, Red Rooster also? I have eaten that all my life and have never gotten sick from it ???

Today I made my own KFC Twisters for DH and I, steaming hot, delicious with jalapenos and cheese. SO nice! Why would we want to eat out?

LOL - swimming will drown the unbornbaby, that is hysterical! That must be why midwives recommend low impact water aerobics and all types of swimming ROTF.

Any Americans know what the take is on RANCH DRESSING? it contains eggs, but are they raw.? Has anyone heard you should never eat Ranch dressing - it's kind of similar to mayo. I steered clear of it today :cry:

When did the list become so long??? I did at least half of that stuff when I was pregnant with Riley (and again with this one) and Riley turned out just fine.

I can understand why we should do (or not do) certain things, but others seem to be nothing more than paranoia to me.

I hadn't heard the ranch dressing thing. Maybe ours is different here in the staes?

I have come to the conclusion that if we all followed the listings of what to eat and not to eat, we would all starve to death, and no babies would be born.

I just ate some ham lunch meat, wrapped up in amercian cheese. I had been craving that for weeks now actually. Finally did it. It was wonderful.

Crystal

Ok, this was an awesome idea. I will be re-reading this!!

Oh, my helpful tip is don't go swimming pregnant... it will drown the baby. That's what those old wives say!! hehe :wink:

[rofl] LOL :lol:

Renee - oh dear see that's what I mean the list grows longer, I have NEVER in my whole life heard that eating cold rice is bad for listeria (who eats cold rice anyway LOL). Was the news meaning Chicken Treat, Red Rooster also? I have eaten that all my life and have never gotten sick from it ???

Today I made my own KFC Twisters for DH and I, steaming hot, delicious with jalapenos and cheese. SO nice! Why would we want to eat out?

LOL - swimming will drown the unbornbaby, that is hysterical! That must be why midwives recommend low impact water aerobics and all types of swimming ROTF.

Any Americans know what the take is on RANCH DRESSING? it contains eggs, but are they raw.? Has anyone heard you should never eat Ranch dressing - it's kind of similar to mayo. I steered clear of it today :cry:

Yeah I don't know if it's true or not... I was told that is why you shouldn't eat Sushi while pregnant other than the fact that you have it with raw fish, tuna, salmon etc right? They said even if it is vegetarian and doesn't have any meat in it you still shouldn't eat it because of the cold rice :shock: It's probably just another tale...

I think when they said chicken they just mean before it's cooked PROPERLY. In other words ALL chicken that is fresh not frozen. I don't know why frozen is ok.. perhaps freezing kills Campylobacter? :shock:

Renee... mm yeah I could have swarn the only thing I have heard about not eating sushi is due to the ingrediance (not the rice).

If I make it at home it's all made and then eaten there and then (with cooked chicken), so it's fine.

Oh I see what you mean about the chicken, that sounds really odd because when you cook any meat at high temperature it's safe. Who eats raw chicken ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

That's the thing LOL I cannot see how anyone can be getting food poisoning from chicken if they are cooking it properly. Apparently Campylobacter in chicken causes 50,000 cases of food poisoning a year or something...
Well I just don't get that. Obviously these cases are mainly food outlets not cooking their chicken properly... or maybe people reheating chicken the next day. I always make sure it is piping hot if I reheat it.

Well people are always going to get food poisoning either from undercooked foods, or bad hygiene that shouldn't really make politicians or food stores take it all off the shelf. I mean it's commonsense and knowledge to be careful with meat/chicken.

It's kind of weird about the Salmonella thing too because to my understanding there are times when there are "outbreaks" and stores begin removing stuff of shelves. I got salmonella as a child and ended up in quaranteen at the children's hospital.

Also, not long ago a whole bunch of products were recalled from shelves in supermarkets (mostly chopped salad stuff) because of listeria being present *gulp* I don't even WANT to know how that came about (whether it was routine health department testing or whether some poor unforunate person found out the hard way).

Here is a link to the show I was watching on Monday night which featured "Pregnancy taboos" I really enjoyed it;

http://health.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=116432

Thanks Emma! :D

Yeah I understand we should be careful but I really don't think it is necessary to take things out of our diet just because we are pregnant. JMO

I have only heard of one lady getting Listeria during pregnancy and she got it because she bought a sandwich from a bakery and took one that was ham and cheese. She knew it had ham on it and she said she'd take it if they took the ham out. But she still got Listeria.
I wouldn't have taken the sandwich in the first place. I would have just got something else...