Salad dressing

[Anonymous]

I do know a mom whose baby was stillborn with listeria infection as the suspected problem. I hope you understand why I don't plan to write to her to confirm whether she ingested it through salad dressing or a hot dog. I met a mom whose baby was septic from groupB strep. I've heard other moms dismiss antibiotics because the stats for contracting groupB step and infant mortality looked low to them.

I developed PE/HELLP mid second trimester. The stats on this are even low, 2% but now I know many moms through support groups who went through it as well. I was put on bedrest. My sister wanted me to go shopping and ignore bedrest. She pulled studies that questioned bedrest in reducing infant mortality and claimed I was overeacting in following my MFM's instructions. Bedrest is about getting more time in utero and controlling BP. Every day counts with preemies. I had relatives criticize us for not taking our 4lb baby (born weighing much less!) out to a mall once she came home during RSV season.

As a former NICU mom, I can't express enough how there really are two worlds out there. No one prepares you for what happens when you become one of the low statistics. You would do anything in the world not to be there. You meet all the other moms who never thought something could happen to them.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous
I am the PP quoted in the quote. Actually, the point I was making was exactly that the unfortunate situation in which you found yourself was not because of any food you consumed. I have not called anyone uptight, I haven't judged. Human life is fragile, women who have had children in the NICU are not the only ones privy to that information. I think I have been very understanding of others positions, I don't criticize others for choosing not to eat whatever they chose not to eat. My point, and I believe the point of many others in the "moderation camp," is that many of the commonly cited "risks" are overblown, scientifically unsupported, constantly changing, not workd-wide, etc. Whether some of these things are even risks varies from one doctor's office to another in DC.

Your last sentence only goes to make my point. Do you think that American pregnant women who eat nuts are putting their babies at risk? What about eating salad?

And with regards to the recurring argument about food I am willing to give up to lose weight, I just find it silly. I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't give up any particular foods to lose weight, instead I eat less and exercise more.


I debated with myself whether to respond because it is so clear that you have missed my point and in addition I'd rather not dignify your resort to name-calling. However, as we are discussing an important matter I shall rise above it.

My point simply is that having experienced what I did during pregnancy,I would not knowingly (being the operative word) eat something that has the smallest chance of hurting my unborn child. I don't care if the risks are overblown. If there is a risk I am not touching it. If you and those in the “moderation camp” would rather rely on your own instinct/research than those of experts in the field that is your prerogative. Telling others to do the same however, is another matter. Personally, I don't think the members of the medical profession are a bunch of raving lunatics creating random imaginary or bogus risks just to make the lives of pregnant women a misery. Buts that's just me.

Of course I do not have the monopoly on the knowledge of the frailty of human life but IMO when you come so close to losing your life and your baby’s you take it less for granted and your approach to risk taking vis-a-vis your pregnancies changes. You could apply the same principle to any other type of risk/experience – it just so happens that we are talking about the risks pertaining to bearing children here. Because of the issues arising from my first pregnancy I have not been able so far – almost 6 years later - to have another child. Now do you think that if, God willing, I do manage to get pregnant again I would be blasé about it and graze on what I please? I think not.

Finally, we all know that dieting, for most people, requires the avoidance of certain types of food or at the very least some manner of dietary restriction be it smaller portions or Jenny Craig. The point I am making is if you can deprive yourself for that purpose, how much more for your unborn child and for such a short time?

Now I have said all I have to say and many times over at that so I’ll say no more. All the very best with your pregnancies every one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[quote=Anonymous
I debated with myself whether to respond because it is so clear that you have missed my point and in addition I'd rather not dignify your resort to name-calling. However, as we are discussing an important matter I shall rise above it.

...

Personally, I don't think the members of the medical profession are a bunch of raving lunatics creating random imaginary or bogus risks just to make the lives of pregnant women a misery. Buts that's just me.

What name-calling are you rising above? Like I said, I haven't insulted or judged anyone. I mentioned the word uptight in my post to clarify I was not that PP. Perhaps you should read more carefully.

And I don't think all medical professional are raving lunatics. But if they are not all saying the same thing, why do I have to assume the one who proposes the most restrictions is the one who is right?

[Anonymous]

AnonymousTelling others to do the same however, is another matter. [/quote wrote:

PP here. I am also not telling anyone to do anything. Just as I don't advocate blindly following one doctor's advice, I hardly advocate blindly following some anonymous poster's advice. What I have repeatedly suggested is that people educate themselves on the "risks" and, armed with as much information as they care to gather, make choices with which they are comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Some of the risks for, say, alcohol (occasional glass) are simply uknown. And while there may be some absolutes that you should stay away from, the fact is that the recommendations for "banned" vs. "Moderation" vary with the doctor. Mine said it was fine to have a glass of wine. Fine to eat fish. All in moderation. I was on antibiotics. They barred me from very little in the way of OTC medicines when I was sick.

As for risks, if you're going to stay away from alcohol, fish, and some other things cited in this thread, then obviously that means that you will not drive right? There are greater risks in some everyday activities than there are in eating a piece of fish. My dr. had some stats at the time that I no longer have, before anyone asks . . .

My stance on moderation, btw, has absolutely nothing to do w/ lacking an ability to appreciate the frailty of life or babies. While I'm sympathetic to some of the difficulties some parents have experienced (as stated here) there is no segment of mothers/fathers that has the market cornered on being able to appreciate that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do know a mom whose baby was stillborn with listeria infection as the suspected problem. I hope you understand why I don't plan to write to her to confirm whether she ingested it through salad dressing or a hot dog. I met a mom whose baby was septic from groupB strep. I've heard other moms dismiss antibiotics because the stats for contracting groupB step and infant mortality looked low to them.

I developed PE/HELLP mid second trimester. The stats on this are even low, 2% but now I know many moms through support groups who went through it as well. I was put on bedrest. My sister wanted me to go shopping and ignore bedrest. She pulled studies that questioned bedrest in reducing infant mortality and claimed I was overeacting in following my MFM's instructions. Bedrest is about getting more time in utero and controlling BP. Every day counts with preemies. I had relatives criticize us for not taking our 4lb baby (born weighing much less!) out to a mall once she came home during RSV season.

As a former NICU mom, I can't express enough how there really are two worlds out there. No one prepares you for what happens when you become one of the low statistics. You would do anything in the world not to be there. You meet all the other moms who never thought something could happen to them.

I'm sorry for your situation (I was the one that asked about it). My nephews were in the NICU (born at 25w1d) so I have some impression as to what it's like, even though it wasn't MY child. I agree with you, FWIW....