Salad dressing

[Anonymous]

Should you stay away from certain salad dressings while pregnant?

[Anonymous]

Probably those that have raw eggs in them (like freshly made Ceasar dressing). It's the salmonella thing...

[Anonymous]

I would also stay away from salad dressings that contain raw-milk or blue-veined cheeses....

[Anonymous]

Even if you do slip out don't freak out too much (unless you are really high risk).

Just remember - everything in moderation. That means the occasional hotdog, deli sandwich, sushi, dressing, bacon, coffee, coke, diet coke, and all the other "forbidden" foods!

[Anonymous]

I don't think I agree with the PP about eating everything in moderation during pregnancy. I think some things should be given up. I got food poisoning early in my second trimester and not only did I feel like I was going to die but I was scared out of my mind for the baby. I was convinced it was listeriosis. I also got a 24-hour episode of almost constant diarrhea in my third trimester from something I ate. I think you are just more susceptible to stuff when you are pregnant. I did not want to take any chances, because getting sick made me feel so awful and stressed about the well being of the baby.

[Anonymous]

As some of the previous posters have posted, there are real reasons why pregnant woman are advised against certain foods. Yes, if you slip up - don't freak out, but the guidance of everything in moderation during pregnancy is not common medical guidance.

I would like to clarify that - caffeine is not a forbidden. There is evidence that large amounts can contribute to miscarriage. I believe large quantities is defined as 6 cups a day. My dr allows me the equivalent of 1 cup of coffee and 1 coke a day.

If you have specific concerns, call your dr.

[Anonymous]

I completely disagree with the last two. All of which basically means "listen to your own body."

I also follow the Timothy Leary method of pregnancy, aka everything in moderation.

I think some people are more susceptible to things, pregnant or not, and some people are constant worriers over nothing. If you are in either camp, then don't listen to my advice as you'll be miserable.

My rule: no sushi, no Splenda. Everything else is fair game.

A 1/2 a cup of coffee, the occasional glass of wine after the first trimester (and don't beat yourself up if you went on a Bloody Mary bender before you found out), the hot dog if you have a huge craving: enjoy (see exceptions above).

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much. As always, very helpful.

[Anonymous]

I too am of the everything in moderation school, and I think the only salad dressing I would be worried about is one that had been left out at a salad bar for a while, but I think I would avoid that pregnant or not.

I think pregnant women go overboard with what they can and can't eat or drink during pregnancy. I mean, I'm not going to have a bologna sandwich on white every day, but every once in a while if I want a salad with blue cheese sprinkles, I'm going to have it.

There's a couple reasons why, but one is that in this country, everything is pastuerized to death anyway.

If you're already into eating organic all the time or something, you're going to disagree, but generally I saw eat what you want.

By the way, you never know if you have had food poisoning without tests, and during pregnancy I would chalk most of my upset stomach and bad bathroom bouts up to surging horomones, which really does affect your intestines.

[Anonymous]

The one thing I have seen fairly consistently: people who are completely uptight during pregnancy tend to have pretty uptight babies. And they tend to teach their children this regimen right from the getgo.

I saw a mother FREAK OUT because her daughter had a bite of a peanut butter cookie last week. Like made her spit it out and was like OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD.

Except she was 4. Not allergic, no history of problems, no family history of problems, but she "is a child so she might be so I'm not taking any chances and to do that is ridiculous and I don't know how anyone could you ever do that to their child (condescending look at me/my child who was munching on her second cookie)."

They were delicious, btw.

Needless to say, both she and her daughter are a Real. Pleasure.

So anyway, don't be that person with your fetus and you probably won't be when it's outside. And we'll all like you a whole lot better.

Sorry for the rant.

[Anonymous]

There are many highly personal choices to be made regarding what to consume during pregnancy. For myself, I have made the decision that I am comfortable with raw dairy products, so long as I know the exact source. I feel that the benefits outweigh the risks, and I've done the research. I'm not, however, comfortable consuming alcohol or caffeine (except for the occasional chocolate It makes sense to do your homework as to the reasons why certain foods are banned, and to make decisions that YOU feel comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

It is only 9 months. I figured that for 9 months out of my entire life I could live without sushi, deli meat, wine, etc. Frankly, I see women adopt stricter diets and even unappetizing ones when they are trying to get ready for summer bathing suit weather. Is it so hard to give up a few types of food for a short period of time? How would you feel if you did develop listeriosis and had a stillbirth?

[Anonymous]

Oh dear lord. Calm down.

I'd feel about the same as if I got in a car accident or I slipped and fell--that things happen, but it's not like I'm not going to drive or walk out of complete and utter fear.

Moderation, people. Including in panicking yourselves.

I'm much more afraid of my child, once birthed, developing asthma from breathing in our particle-laden air created by mothers who insist that they "need" an SUV without a care of what it does to the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

And it's ten months.

[Anonymous]

I'm also in the "it's only 10 months of my life, it's not worth the risk" camp, but I'm also not a controlling anal person--there is a middle ground people!. When my MIL served only deli meat sandwhiches at my shower, I ate it and didn't freak out.