[kiwi-girl]

Just wondering how strict you are while pregnant with all the various eating guidelines that are out there?

I am newly pregnant (6.5weeks - second pregnancy, first pregnancy ended in MMC) and have been fairly careful within reason to date. When I saw my FS (who is also an OB) he was really relaxed and said you can get as strict as you want but he only warns "no alcohol, 1 cup of coffee per day, no raw seafood". He said it was ok to eat ham, cheese etc....(obviously within standard food safety guidelines).

Are you strict? Eat what you want? or somewhere in between?

[80'sKnickerb...]

I eat too much sweet stuff, but do well in avoiding coffee, alcohol, sushi, pre-made rice and prawns. I also eat McDonald's occasionally, but most of the time my diet consists largely of cereals, legumes, veggies. So I am probably somewhere in the middle!

[Juju38]

I pretty much follow your OBs rules. No alcohol at all. Only 1 coffee a day (this I find the hardest to maintain!) and no raw fish or any sushi due to the risk with the rice.

I still eat ham, albeit infrequently, if I know it is fresh off the bone. I am more concerned with nitrates than freshness, but that applies to not being pregnant too.

I still eat salads, just not pre-prepared ones. I have friends who refuse to eat salad for the duration of their pregnancies, even when washed and made at home.

I am cautious with seafood and don't eat pre-cooked prawns. I eat fish regularly and where I would normally eat salmon a little underdone, when pregnant, I cook it thoroughly.

I do still from time to time indulge in a little fresh brie or blue cheese. I am not so concerned with cheese as it is made from pasteurised milk in Australia. I just don't eat feta from delis where I have no idea when they last changed the water it sits in.

[HurryUpAlready]

I pretty much did what your OB said (except I drank a glass of red wine when I wanted to).

I wouldn't have eaten ham from anywhere, but my local deli is always super busy so I know their product doesn't sit around for long.

I just made sure what I ate was fresh, reheated well where applicable.

I definitely am not a member of the listeria hysteria club.

[Mummy fab]

I'm somewhere in the middle, I still drink too much coffee ( but have ordered some Nescafé decaf pods this week). But I don't eat soft cheese or salami. Later on I may have a glass of wine. I don't really drink anyway so it's no big difference.

I don't go totally crazy like no lettuce etc.

[Mummy fab]

Oh and I don't have runny yolk in my eggs

[sarkazm76]

Was more strict the first time around - not so much this time.... also because I'm 50kg heavier this time so trying to not gain any weight, at least no more than the baby weighs. So far so good, I actually lost some weight in the first tri (yay). Chocolate gives me migraines when pregnant so that helps.
I am trying to limit my caffeine and low calorie soft drinks, things with lots of unpronouncables in them. Rest of the time I am eating anything that doesn't make me gag at the thought. Mostly craving salads. I dont' buy pre-prepared ones from the supermarket, not into Subway where it comes in a bag and sits around all day - but at home or in a cafe or restaurant I'm not worried.
I've never had food poisoning so I don't expect to get it now.

[3littlegents]

I avoid alcohol 100%
Everything else I eat with normal care (ie no short use by date smoked salmon, or cheese platters left on the table for too long).
Avoiding ham and lettuce seems crazy.
Wash the lettuce like it is recommended you do (even when not pregnant) and buy ham from the deli that doesn't smell funky. Common sense stuff.

[pinkchutney]

My child was IVF after 6 miscarriages and 7 years TTC. So I think I tended to be more 'paranoid' than the norm. My fellow IVFers I found were also as paranoid. However, the mothers in my mothers group (none IVF) didn't adhere to the eating bans at all. And most hadn't even heard of them!

Must add that those not eating salad AT ALL are incorrect. Salad from shops is unknown, and therefore on the "do not eat list". But if you make it at home, wash it correctly it is perfectly fine.

[foxgirls]

I have probably ticked every box in the 'bad eating guidelines' and I'm only 7wks. But it's all in extreme moderation. If your eating/ drinking thee 'Bad things' day in day out then surely that's when it's a worry?? But then, I guess it would only take one dodgy pizza shop with crap salami and that would do it?????
My point is, if I worried about it too much it would do my head in. So again, my idea is moderation.

This post has been edited by foxgirls: 18/11/2012, 01:58 PM