I've Got a Confession to Make

[BosunsWife]

As most of you know, I'm pregnant. In the beginning, my doctor told me the basic things to avoid during pregnancy. He told me I could have my beloved California Roll and fresh local fish (about once or twice a month), and he did not want me eating canned tuna.

Well, last weekend, DH's ship had an "end of Charlie period" bbq at Bellows Airforce Base Beach. (End of Charlie period means that they can be tasked to get underway pretty much any time now). They were cooking some wonderful local dishes on the bbq - wasabi crusted ahi, bbq'd fresh oysters, teri flank steak and chicken, etc. They had fresh Poke (raw ahi marinated in sesame oil, tomato, onion), marinated octopus, shrimp and my favorite, sashimi (ahi and ono).

I just couldn't help myself and ate several pieces of raw ahi, some poke, not to mention the oysters and wasabi crusted ahi. I finally broke down and confessed to my doctor yesterday what I had done and thank god he absolved me LOL! He said that in the first trimester he would have chewed me out, but now it was okay. Although he said it was okay, he did say that it probably wouldn't be a good thing to do more than maybe once a month at the most.

Goodness that feels better to get off my chest. Now that I've received my fix, I'm probably good until I deliver in June. I told DH that we are headed to a Japanese restaurant for my birthday in July. He simply doesn't understand my craving for raw fish. I, on the other hand, don't understand his fascination with eating bloody meat!

[Peggy C.]

I guess we can also! But I think we need a smiley wagging his finger and saying tsk tsk!;)

[BeckyM]

Bosunswife, I know how you feel! I'm PG too, and I know pregnant women aren't supposed to eat raw eggs, but I was making cookies the other night, and I just couldn't help myself from eating some of the dough! I think it's just in case there is some bad bacteria in there (which I assume is the same thing with the raw fish), and since I'm not sick yet, I figure I'm okay, PLUS, I didn't eat that much, and there was a lot of flour and other ingredients, so I probably didn't get that much egg anyway. I haven't been absolved by my doctor though, and I'm in my 11th-12th week, so I'm still feeling guilty about it. But I've also read that feeling super-guilty about things we've eaten is probably worse than actually eating those things, so I should probably just relax and try to avoid raw cookie dough in the future.

Becky

[MrsReber]

My downfall is brie- they say it can carry listeria, which is very harmful. Give up my beloved cheese? No way, I just eat it in moderation! Hey, you can't avoid everything! I was reading the other day that cold cuts are even bad! Nobody told me that. You can drive yourself crazy with worry. Moderation is the key.

Becky, raw cookie dough is the best! People freak out about eggs and salmonella (my DH for one), but I also read that it's extremely rare to get salmonella from a raw egg.

[JoanneOR]

Bosunswife, don't feel bad, you got it out of your system and now you'll probably be fine until you can eat it again. So your doctor said no canned tuna? Do you know why? I've had a few Subway tuna sandwiches, I would imagine that's from cans. I've also had cravings for tuna salad with lots of pickles, I even bought four cans of tuna. Now I'm wondering if I should eat it.

Becky, I love raw cookie dough, too. Sometimes even more than the actual cookies! I was very newly pregnant during Christmas time and didn't know it yet. I made lots of cookies and ate more than my share of dough. I think they tell you to avoid it because of the salmonella and how you are more susceptible to those kinds of things when you are pregnant. Has anyone heard that you shouldn't eat lunch meat or hot dogs during pregnancy?

[MrsReber]

Joanne, the lunchmeat and hot dog article I saw mentioned listeria! Nobody ever told me about that last time so I ate them with no problems.

As far as canned tuna, there have been numerous articles in our papers in NJ regarding the health hazards! I wouldn't eat too much of it! I stay away from it all together, actually. I don't eat fish to begin with, but I do like the occasional tuna sandwich. I have an article right in front of me that a co-worker cut out of the Trenton Times on March 3rd. The FDA issued a warning last year saying pregnant women should limit the consumption of swrodfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish. The Tuna Foundation which represents the top tuna producers say that the level of mercury is very low. However, there is some talk that the FDA was pressured by the tuna producers and that's why the warning about tuna was not given. The FDA met with the Tuna Foundation three times before their advisory was given last year (which did NOT contain anything about canned tuna). I know that here in NJ, it isn't very safe for women or children to consume too much seafood. When I asked my dr about canned tuna with my last pregnancy, she told me that she's more concerned with the high salt content than anything. She said that was reason enough to stay away from it.

[DmOrtega]

When I was pregnant with my dd, I lived on tuna fish sandwiches. No one ever told me not to eat them. My daughter asks for them in her lunch frequently. Should I be concerned?

[MrsReber]

It may depend on where you live. I know in NJ we have high levels of mercury in the fish so they advise not to eat it often. You may want to look into it in your area since all areas are different. The problem is that nobody knows what fish the tuna has been eating and whether or not that fish was contaminated. You may want to be a bit skeptical about what the FDA and the Tuna industry have to say about it, though. In the article I have (too long to post) it says they talked to some focus groups about it and the people agreed that there should be better warnings for the public. But, like I said, that's here in NJ- it may be a different story on the west coast.

[BosunsWife]

Yep, MrsReber is right. Its the high levels of mercury in the tuna. My doctor said he was more concerned about me eating canned tuna than eating raw (local) fish. The trouble with the tuna is that you never know where it was caught, thus not knowing the level of mercury in the fish.

I'm lucky, I'm not a big tuna salad eater and DD absolutely cannot stand it. Now fresh ahi on the other hand....

[Julia1Pin]

Bosunswife -

One of the OBGYN's in the practice I go to is 6.5 months pregnant. She eats sushi, and drinks 1 can of diet coke a day. She says everything in moderation. My doctor says fish about 3/week should be fine. And she said canned tuna was ok too.

I think it's true - everything in moderation. So don't feel bad. By the way, all those studies - they're on MASS quantities of caffeine, fish, etc.... Here and there won't hurt you.