Thoughts re eating tuna salad while pregnant?

[Anonymous]

So the last time I was pregnant, tuna wasn't really on the fish list. I love tuna salad and often get it for lunch (versus make it). I have no idea if they used canned light/white/water/oil tuna - do I really need to stop eating this or can a sandwich every week or so be okay?

[Anonymous]

I personally would not eat it, but your doc can advise you. It contains mercury and other toxins but not sure if it's enough to be bad??? can you eat chicken salad instead?

[Anonymous]

I did it probably three or four times during this pregnancy (I'm 39 weeks), making sure not to do it more than once every two weeks. I think 6 ounces no more than once a week is fine, though I spaced it out a bit more than that.

[Anonymous]

I would feel comfortable having it once a week.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't eat it more than 2x a month. There can be a lot of mercury in it.

[Anonymous]

According to FDA, you can eat canned tuna a couple times a week.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pregnancy-nutrition/PR00109

[Anonymous]

I limited tuna to one tuna melt every couple of weeks during my first pregnancy and had no issues. Wouldn't do too much more than that based on my doctors guidelines.

[Anonymous]

Also I think the type of tuna counts too. Less mercury in chunk light than in solid white albacore.

[Anonymous]

To be safe re mercury while still getting the benefits of fish, I assume that if I eat tuna out it's albacore (for which the recommendation is one can a week), and make tuna salad at home from chunk light (where a can is ok every 3 days).

[Anonymous]

It really depends on what kind of tuna, the origin and size of the fish. There are companies out there that sell line caught albacore tuna from the pacific northwest and they tend to have far less mercury than regular albacore tuna. I probably still wouldn't eat it more than once a week though because mercury is a pretty serious risk to the fetus.

[Anonymous]

My doctor said to avoid tuna altogether, which I thought was surprising. Can you eat a smaller fish like salmon instead? Or maybe switch to chicken salad?

[Anonymous]

I would not eat it when pregnant due to the listeria risk of a salad pre-made in a restaurant/deli/etc. If you made it at home, I would have no problem with it, but would use the lower mercury tuna.

[Anonymous]

First baby ate it closer to end of second tro and on once a week....sometimes twice. healthy 4 yr old who is very smart!

[Anonymous]

Why would you eat tuna when you know it contains mercury??? Even small amounts? Sounds like a BAD idea.

[Anonymous]

OP when were you last pregnant? Tuna has been something to avoid or limit for many years.