After getting through most of my first trimester eating cold cuts for lunch almost daily, I learned I'm wasn't supposed to eat deli meats during pregnancy...unless they are heated up.
So that next time I ordered my turkey and cheddar on whole wheat, I instead asked for grilled turkey and cheddar so the heat would kill off any listeriosis.
WebMD says that all lunch meats should be avoided and this includes "ham, turkey, bologna, and salami -- unless they have been reheated until steaming hot."
Listeria is a bacteria that can cause food-borne illness, which can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or other serious health problems.
And while I know women who ate salami, sushi, and even drank wine during pregnancy without any consequences, I have made all my cold cuts hot during my pregnancy just to be on the safe side.
Are you concerned with eating cold cuts during pregnancy?
(This is general mom advice and experience, but definitely check with your own health professional with any questions while pregnant.)
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Comments 12
I was during my last pregnancy... I had never heard of it before then.
I found out about it via a pamphlet from my OBGYN.
I always heated up my deli meats to steaming in the microwave before making a sandwich.
Here is a website from the CDC concerning it with helpful info:
http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/listeriosis_gi.html
I knew about it but it was hard! I did heat my turkey though. I also went through a craving phase for lebenon (sp?) bologna!
I knew about it, but I kept forgetting. I'm just glad it worked out okay.
Well I'm glad that the whole time I was pregnant I couldn't stand sandwiches. I love them any other time though
My husband was always on the watch for "evil deli meats" when I was pregnant. I would sometimes forget to hit them up. He would always be there mid bite to remind me ;-D
not at all, oopps, my doc told me as long as i have bought from the same place before and haven't gotten sick then we are good to go, so i still buy cold cuts and make sandwiches for on the go.
also i did it when i was pregnant the first time and i had no clue that i wasn't supposed to eat it. =-/ no one told me!!!
sodapple, I'd get a new doctor!
I read somewhere that the packaged deli meats ran less of a risk than going to an actual deli and having them slice it off at the counter. I am guessing less human error (someone not washing hands or cleaning slicer). At first I heated all deli meats up, but later on, I didn't Everything turned out ok.
Nope, I just avoided alcohol and sushi. And cut back on my coffee.