Last week I went to my first prenatal appointment. It was more of a formal meeting with the OB nurse than anything else. I sat in her office and she drilled me on my medical history, updating her records. Then she flew through a list of common pregnancy “do’s and dont’s” as applies to food. She was going so fast because she knew this was my third pregnancy and I wasn’t hearing anything for the first time.
But a few things stuck out to me this time.
Lunchmeat – she said if I eat a submarine sandwich I should ask for it to be toasted. YUCK! I really don’t like toasted subs, especially during the hot summer months. I know that toasting the sub kills any extra germs that might possibly be lingering on the turkey and ham, but seriously? I’m sorry, but subs are the healthiest thing I eat during pregnancy, they are a fantastic way for me to get my veggies in for the day and I am not going to ruin them by toasting them.
Oh and caffeine! I am so excited! I was reading in a pregnancy magazine that said you are allowed no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day and there are approximately 50 mg in regular cola! I have been limiting myself to 1 can per day but now I won’t feel bad if it comes down to drinking a 2nd can or losing my mind in exhaustion and I chose the Pepsi. I have heard that B vitamins are a sure fire way to get more energy and I will focus on that as well. Another way that has helped – taking my Slow release Iron supplements. Not being anemic sure is a wonderful thing! But even with all those precautions I still love drinking my Pepsi.
So untoasted subs and Pepsi, will this kid come out deformed? Yikes!
no the baby will not come out deformed. 😛
Eat healthy, and eat what you want. As long as they overlap most of the time and you’re not drinking, you’re fine. 🙂
i read a forum post about a girl who just could trust her doula because the doula at lunch meat while pregnant and the girl thought that if the doula was that unsafe with her own baby, then she couldn’t be trusted to take care of this girl’s baby.
it was really ridiculous. the bacteria in the lunchmeat is called listiria and it’s on old lunchmeat or meat that’s been left out. I ate lunchmeat while pregnant with Brighton and he’s normal as far as i can tell.
there are some foods you really should avoid like high mercury fish and there are some foods you should eat maybe with caution and limit like lunchmeat.
there was no way i could give up caffine. i love chocolate and dr pepper! i did limit the amount i consumed though.
This is your third pregnancy, so you know your body and limits. trust your mommy instincts!
PS i just got a visit from AF so maybe a baby will come sooner that we thought! keep us in your prayers!
Interesting about listiria! I had no idea. I am going to do a lot more research about that. When I am doing my errands and I get really hungry I really love a turkey sub with tons of veggies – sure beats a cheeseburger!
Oh and I am so excited for you! I pray God blesses you soon!
you should stay away from the pop!!!!! and lunch meat. very high in sodium. and toasted vs non toasted? well… i have never heard of this. why would she focus on the toasted instead on the salt… idk… too much sodium can cause toxima… high blood pressure… and swealling…. or your ankles… and pepsi has lots of sodium and sugar and empty caleries … not good and diet pepsi is even worse…. this rises your blood sugar fast and then it will drop fast. protein as you know… cheese and meat…. and fruits and veges … one pepsi a day now maybe… but please watch it. lov ya so much
mom
I personally would stay away from lunchmeat, even not pregnant.. lotsa nasty stuff in there. However, you could just get it toasted and wait till it cooled before eatting it… Or like a previous poster said get a veggie sub.
Not to rain on your parade more 🙁 sugar decreases your immune system and as you know its already weaker in pregnancy. I read somewhere that 1 can of pop/soda can decrease its effectiveness for 6hours.. yikes! My comments are just meant to inform not to criticize. Good luck in your pregnancy!
I am learning so much from this post – thank you 🙂 Seriously I had no idea high levels of sugar decreased your immune system. I have heard of a wonderful energizing drink called “upbeat” that is milk based with lots of B vitamins. I wish they sold it in 6 or 12 packs cause it is so good for me and gives me energy……but it is only sold in individual 8 ounce cartons LOL
I would be more worried about the sodium nitrite in meat. Please read about it online. I’m 5 months pregnant and avoiding it. I also don’t give it to my 2.5 year old after reading some info about it.
Also, pop has high-fructose corn syrup in it… another thing to worry about. Sorry!
I am off to google “sodim nitrite” right now. Here I was thinking a slice of deli turkey was basically flavored turkey meat – I am learning so much! And I know how bad high fructose corn syrup is……I try to avoid it as much as possible, but that burst of energy I get from Pepsi is so stinkin’ addicting ya know? I have GOT to find a healthier alternative
I have not tried it – I will now though! I prefer to eat meat LOL it gives me energy 🙂
I drank pop and ate deli meat with both my kids! I craved subs with Sully and ate a ton of them! I drank diet soda with both and they are perfectly healthy little monsters! I think people get too paranoid, it’s ridiculous!
Amber D. – I know, we do get sometimes too paranoid, but keep in mind that we don’t always get to see the effects until years later.
I recently read a study in which hamsters were fed a GM (genetically modified) diet. Almost all hamsters in the third generation were sterile, the infant death rate in that generation was much higher and they grew a lot of hair in their mouths. Genetically modified food was introduced in 1996, so we might not be able to see any effects in humans for a while still since we’re only on the first generation. This is just an example… there’s other things that show up a lot sooner, i.e. in the first or second generation.
I also recommend watching “The Disappearing Male”:
http://www.archive.org/details/TheDisappearingMale-CBC
I don’t mean to scare anyone. I just want you to be informed and not go through what some women go through (e.g. the mother of the young boy in the show).
I knew about the deli meat, but I heard we are also supposed to stay away from salad bars, buffets and the foods that are in the glass cases at the deli counters too.
I forgot about the deli meats when I was pregnant and ordered a greek salad several times with feta only to have to pick off all of it. lol! Baby brain, for sure!
I am amazed at how much the restrictions seem to change over time. When I was preggo with my first 3 yrs ago, the dr’s were telling me NO caffeine at all. Then, this time I was told the same as you, thank goodness. I always have a cup of coffee in the morning and don’t know how I would have made it without that one cup. 🙂 It gave me something to look forward to each day, like my one thing I allowed myself. It’s the little things. lol
The reason you should avoid deli meat is because of the risk of listeriosis. Pregnant women are more susceptible to getting ill from listeria. In fact they are 20 times more likely to get it than non-pregnant healthy adults!
As for the caffeine, the less you have the better. Caffeine crosses the placenta to the baby and a little bit to you is a lot to your developing baby whose immature metabolism cannot fully metabolize it.
That being said, there are so many risks we take in life and in pregnancy. What it comes down to is eating that deli sandwich and drinking that Pepsi worth the risks?
I ate deli meat during my first pregnancy and had no idea I wasn’t supposed to. I was fine, the baby was fine. With pregnancy 2 I heard about not eating deli meat so I didn’t unless it was cooked. I would have them microwave the meat or just have it toasted. I did not consume any caffeinated beverages, but I had an occasional piece of chocolate.
I decided that the risks were not worth it to me. My philosophy on all sacrifices that I make for my children is that the amount of time for these sacrifices is negligible in the big scheme of things. I’ve consumed minimal amounts of caffeine for the last 5 years because I have been pregnant or nursing. In a few months when my son is fully weaned at 2, I can drink caffeine to my hearts content! 🙂
I know you’re a great mom and will do what’s best for you and your family, because only you can decide what’s best for you! Sorry this turned into a novel! 😉
Check out this site for lots of great info on pregnancy: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/