Lunch Meat???

MyLuvBugs wrote: Have any of you been told by an actual Doctor, that you aren't supposed to have Lunch meat while your Pregnant? OR if you have it you're supposed to cook it first?

The "Nutritionalist" at WIC told me that the other day, and I laughed. I think it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. If any of you have any knowledge of this, please share.....

MommyToAshley replied: Actually your nutrionalist was right. My OB even gave me a pamphlet about listeria and the types of foods to avoid.

The danger with lunch meat, hotdogs, and soft cheeses is that it contains a bacteria called listeria. Listeria can be VERY dangerous to an unborn child... the biggest concern is that it can lead to preterm delivery or stillbirth. You can still eat lunch meat and hotdogs, you just need to heat it to about 160 degrees internal temp before eating. When I was PG, I avoided them all together.

EvesMom replied: I got that pamphlet too. It also had warnings about fish (mercury) including canned tuna.
The lunch meat thing killed me during pregnancy. I had horrid cravings for an Italian Sub.

gr33n3y3z replied: Yep its true plus my Dr just told me not to eat it bc its bad for you and tons of salt in lunch meat.

MommyToAshley replied: Here's an article I had bookmarked from when I was PG.
http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/101/1...tm?pagenumber=3

ilovemybaby replied: Yes but I never followed all those warnings. I ate pork luncheon, tuna and peanut butter when I was pregnant with Abby and do now too. I never got listeria or mercury poisoning and Abby is not allergic to peanuts.
Back in the old days they didn't stay away from any foods when pregnant.
I think they cause us to worry far too much these days.

I don't buy lunch meat from places I don't know. But I get it from the supermarket. I used to work there and I know how strict their hygiene and rotation rules are.

I think everything in moderation is fine.

3_call_me_mama replied: Nope your nutritionist is right. i read an article in National geographic when I was PG with Cameorn about listeria and the dangers of it. made me never eat teh stuff again while pregnant and rarely when not pregnant. Lunch meats are also loaded with Salt and nitrates neither of which are good for your body. And just because it never happened to you in past pregnancies or anyone you know it can still happen. Listeria bacteria can cause miscarriages adn stillborn births. Nothing , IMO, that anyone should have to experience or laugh about.

mummy2girls replied: yup he is right! i avoided that kind of foods throughout my pregnancies

Bee_Kay replied: Wow, things change so fast!
The last time I was pg was over 13 years ago and there weren't really any warnings (I craved bologna sandwiches).
Just warned to watch what I eat and how much.

MyLuvBugs replied: Well, absolutely none of my doctors have ever warned me about it, and I personally think it's just another thing the have us "worry" about like Ilovemybaby said. Pretty soon they're going to say we can't have anything except what's on their "Pregnancy Diet Plan". There's toxins, chemicals and "bad things" in everything we encounter everyday, including Milk, drinking water, eggs, etc. So, I'm eatin' what I want and/or crave. Like Bee_Kay said "times have changed", and a few years ago they said Eat everything you want. I'm sure they'll change there minds again in a couple years and say it's ok to eat this stuff, but not this stuff....

1lilpeanut2love replied: I have heard of that, but you know what I ate lunch meat and hot dogs.... and Kaylee was as healthy as can be!!!!!

holley79 replied: Yep she is right... I refrained from eating anything that was uncooked. I would get fresh ham and have the deli slice it, fry it up in a pan then make a sandwhich. I missed feta while I was prego.

ilovemybaby replied: There is loads of salt and nitrates in lots of other foods too. And we still eat those.
How many of us drink soda while pregnant? There is 150 calories in one 250ml glass of soda. But I basically live on the stuff. I hate water and I only drink milk, juice or soda.

Sometimes people go so overboard when pregnant... one of my friends said her doctor told her not to have chicken, pork or fish. Um, my doctor never told me to stay away from any of those. Except canned fish like Tuna.
Actually I read that pregnant women should have two servings of fish a week.

We had pork for dinner last night. I just made sure it was cooked properly.

I wonder how many women lost babies to listeria back in the 1800s?

MyLuvBugs replied: Well, from my understanding of all these articles, Listeria is only a problem in foods that aren't Pasterized, which isn't really a problem for us in the USA. Most these foods in the USA that you buy at a grocery store in a package, have been pasterized (especially DAIRY, and now some meats too) and will say it on the packaging. So if you eat those lunch meats that have been pasterized, by theory you will be fine.

And the whole eating uncooked hotdogs is icky to me anyway. In my book Hot Dogs are supposed to be Hot PLump and on a bun. lol

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I eat lunch meat and hot dogs. I just make sure the lunch meats are from a good deli or if it's packaged, I just spend more and buy a quality brand. Hot dogs, I scorch them. As far as eggs and milk, I buy organic when I can. There are a lot of cheese and juices in the US that are still not pasteurized, but typically sold at more gourmet food stores or fresh fruit bars.

Lysteria is very scary and not to be taken lightly, but I believe the concern is more in terms of when you eat out. I trust what I cook in my own kitchen. I would just try to stay clear of salad bars or hot dog/sandwich stands that may not clean their utensils. I've worked in several kitchens before...you would be scared at what goes on in there!

Also, if you want a lunch meat without nitrates, buy Dietsel brand from a health food store. It's expensive, but just pointing out that there are options.

My2Beauties replied: I heard the tuna thing but not the lunch meat thing and I went to WIC too. I ate sandwiches with lunch meat on them the whole time I was preggo.

ilovemybaby replied:
ITA!

NEWMOM05 replied: I craved snadwiches while pg, in fact besides milk that was one of the only things I could keep down. So I porobably will eat again, just not from places I don't know.

Heather77 replied:

Same goes for me!
I actually love raw hotdogs, but I stay away from them during pregnancy.

ilovemybaby replied: Raw? Do you mean cold or uncooked? I know the sausages are precooked so you can eat them cold.
I can't eat them cold though. They have to be hot!

Heather77 replied: I mean cold ... I call that raw. I've never seen actual raw hotdogs though... do they sell those?

Edward's Mommy replied: I never heard about that! I ate it anyway 'cause I didn't know and didn't have a problem!!

ilovemybaby replied:
LOL I hope not!!! I wouldn't eat it raw.

EvesMom replied:
So did I! My fav!

Cece00 replied: If you do not eat large amounts of these food items and/or heat them to a certain degree, they are fine.

Try to just eat hot dogs, CERTAIN lunch meats (its not all lunch meats), fish (INCLUDING canned tuna) more than about 1-2 times a wk & you will be fine.

A friend of mine contracted listeria @ 18 wks & her son died. So it does happen.

ashtonsmama replied: Never EVER heard that one before!

Sounds a little over the top to me, but maybe it's true!
Who knows.