Ok, I'm curious if you ate cold lunch meat during your pregnancy? My first doctor said to not eat it unless it was cooked. This doctor didn't mention it and I forgot to ask her.

Oddly enough, the one thing I want more than anything is a turkey sandwich, but the paper that my first dr gave me scares me.

Thanks.

What is it in the lunch meat that you cant have? Hormel just came out with all natural deli meat that is really good, they have plain and honey turkey. They sell it at Meijers!

I ate cold lunch meat when I was pregnant but it came already cooked. You're just not supposed to eat uncooked meat, but if it's sold already cooked then it should be fine to eat as long as it's within the date.

I've never heard of that before...but, I ate sandwhich meat (cooked) like that when I was pg and all the time and never got sick or seem to affect Sam in the slightest. But if the doc said, I'd follow it b/c I'd be scared something might happen.

I always craved sandwiches when i was preggo with my daughter. I would go to subway (lunch meat is cooked their) or go to the store and by some turkey (cooked as well). Usually all the packed lunch meat at the grocery store are cooked.

Some drs say not to eat cold lunch meat bec it can have Listeriosis on it - a bacteria that can kill a fetus - if you heat the turkey until it is steaming hot, it will kill off any possible bacteria and then it is ok to eat.

I used to nuke my cold cuts or toast them until they were super hot, then let them cool back to room temp and eat them. I don't think listeriosis infections happen all the time, but I figured it wasn't worth the risk.

Here is a site with more info:
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/listeria.html

I frankly haven't paid any attention to that "rule" and eat it anyways!

Although my midwife did tell me that that bacteria is usually found in processed meats... the ones where it looks like the pushed a bunch of meat into a tube... but if you get the actual turkey breast, where you can tell that cut it right off the breast that that is fine.

Some drs say not to eat cold lunch meat bec it can have Listeriosis on it - a bacteria that can kill a fetus - if you heat the turkey until it is steaming hot, it will kill off any possible bacteria and then it is ok to eat.

I used to nuke my cold cuts or toast them until they were super hot, then let them cool back to room temp and eat them. I don't think listeriosis infections happen all the time, but I figured it wasn't worth the risk.

Here is a site with more info:
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/listeria.html

Tfs hun! :wink:

I think sodium nitrates is a big reason you hear not to eat lunch meat or hot dogs.

The list of "banned" foods can be daunting. They say no lunch meat because of lysteria. This also applies to hot dogs, liverwurst and other meats of that kind. However, I was told by someone as long as it was actual meat from the turkey or ham like from the deli, it should be fine. I did restrict my intake of it, but I didn't totally ban it. I just had to have the turkey sandwhich from Panera Bread a few times. In fact, that is supposed to be my first meal after the baby finally comes. If you do heat it up until it is steaming, it kills the bacteria. But who wants a cooked turkey sandwhich like that? They do say to restrict the sodium nitrate intake a little, but there really is no proof as to whether that matters or not.

I think babycenter.com has a list of foods to avoid. I came down to the conclusion to just use your head and make wise choices. I did restrict my tuna consumption (I normally love tuna) but that hasn't been too hard since the smell of it has turned my stomach pretty badly since being pregnant. I hope I get the taste for it back though. I love my tuna noodles I make.

Just use your head and make good decisions. I've always been very picky about eating lunch meat right away after opening the package. I don't let it sit open for more than three days normally (I used to work in a health department in environmental health, where the people do restraunt inspections and food service classes. I think I know too much now. My poor husband gets frustrated sometimes because I will not eat in certain places after stepping foot inside and looking around and I keep up with who all has passed or failed the recent inspections). I think if you follow good food preparation and storage guidelines, you should be fine.

Cindy,

I'm so happy for you that your pregnancy is going so smoothly. I've been praying for you!!

Deli meat is quite dangerous to eat during pregnancy, for the reason alot of the other ladies mentioned...the specific bacteria in it can cause birth defects. Ditto for raw eggs (found in mayonaisse & certain salad dressings like Caesar, for example).
Also, fish high in mercury is really bad (swordfish, etc.) and all raw fish (like sushi) is forbidden. But cooked fish- only if low in mercury- is good.

The other thing I discovered from my research is soft cheese (like goat's milk) is risky too, during this time, for a similiar reason.
I think the government has a webpage with a list of foods to avoid while pregnant. So does www.babyzone.com
They have a great list of good foods to have & bad foods to avoid
while pregnant.
It seems like too much to remember...but it gets easier...I'm following the same info while we are TTC now.

God Bless you....Jennifer

Thank you, Jennifer.

I've decided to just stay away from lunch meats. I don't want to risk it. The baby is too important to me to risk it over a turkey sandwich. So, I figured that dh can pick me up a sandwich from Panera after the baby is born!!!

I'd rather be cautious, it makes me feel better.