https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:25:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587520 Sun, 17 Jul 2016 19:22:29 +0000 ShootingStar 2587520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Haha, nobody's? I laughed at the nurse when she told me steak had to be well done. I was like, "yeah, no." I also eat deli meat ALL the time without heating it. But I'm diabetic, so I have to get in protein where I can. I've never in my life heard of people getting sick from these things. Bagged spinach and cantaloupe seem to be way more dangerous.</p> <p>I don't smoke because I don't smoke, and I was never much of an alcohol drinker. The only thing I'm leery of is unpasteurized cheese, because my SIL got very very sick from some. But it's not like that's an every day issue to deal with. I eat lox, soft serve, medium steaks, deli meat, etc. I'd probably eat sushi from a reputable place, but it's kind of turning me off now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587468 Sun, 17 Jul 2016 15:35:28 +0000 caterw 2587468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: OMG yes this!! Fresh spinach can give you listeria.... no one has ever recommended that I stop eating that while pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587467 Sun, 17 Jul 2016 15:34:16 +0000 caterw 2587467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first OB/GYN was the high-risk specialist at the practice I went to in our former city. She was pretty relaxed about things and I trust her completely, so I did what she told me last time and this time. Her recommendations sound pretty similar to your doctor @nana87! She is German, so she actually encouraged me to drink a little wine or even a beer at night to help me "relax" hahaha. I loved her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587412 Sun, 17 Jul 2016 10:59:32 +0000 maddyz 2587412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to make smart choices admit food prep and I've avoided big fish.</p> <p>It all strikes me as overly controlling.</p> <p>I had a waiter tell me all the things I couldn't order on the menus. Which maybe was nice but felt it off place and then made me wonder if the kitchen was clean.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587360 Sun, 17 Jul 2016 00:24:41 +0000 QBbride 2587360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nobody's :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587355 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 23:12:42 +0000 Alexandra603 2587355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I followed most of the typical rules for my first pregnancy but haven't really paid attention or followed them with my second! I mean I don't drink (though I would have a few sips here and there) and I don't take any medications but I eat everything and drink coffee and such. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587336 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 18:52:41 +0000 yoursilverlining 2587336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't subscribe to "better safe than sorry" when so many food restrictions are in the U.S. Only, and when all the recent listeria outbreaks are from food not on the "do not eat" list. I believe in sensible choices and everything in moderation. I abstained from drugs and cigarettes - which I do anyway. I am a big believer in feeling in control and empowered during pregnancy; which for me meant no fear mongering, but for others may mean something completely different. That's ok! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587311 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 15:49:16 +0000 skipra 2587311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My thoughts generally fall under the better safe than sorry philosophy. I mean there seem to be so many food safety issues with "safe" foods that I don't feel like satisfying certain cravings is worth the risk on foods that have known potential to cause problems. But I am far from perfect and have a hard time limiting caffeine and have certainly forgotten about things I wasn't supposed to have...like soft serve and cookie dough oops. With my first pregnancy I didnt even know salad bars were on the no no list so I had it at work all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587302 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 14:28:53 +0000 catlady 2587302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm another who enjoyed Expecting Better. It really helped to make sense of the rules.</p> <p>There are certain things they tell you to avoid that I don't like much anyway (alcohol and swordfish come to mind), so it's easy to cut those out completely. Everything else in moderation, using common sense. I won't eat an undercooked burger from a source that seems questionable but I would definitely eat sushi from a reputable restaurant. That kind of thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587289 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 13:14:26 +0000 tlcbaby 2587289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess I've been following my own rules, based on all the information I've gathered from books, my midwife, etc. I've had pretty much everything on the "no" list except illegal drugs. :) I feel that a lot of the rules are more because of the small chance of something happening or because we don't know what the safe limit is, so I don't go around with beer and fro yo all day, but I've had both. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587284 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 12:59:56 +0000 pachamama 2587284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly the only thing I avoided was drugs and alcohol. Actually, I had a few beers pregnant! I think a lot of those rules are ridiculous. I don't eat a lot of mercury-laden fish or cold cuts anyway. I had runny eggs, soft serve ice cream, salad bars, a few hot dogs, tons of coffee, and bean sprouts. And unpasteurized cheese. My son was 100% fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587048 Fri, 15 Jul 2016 17:09:58 +0000 youboots 2587048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@stratosphere: yep, expecting better was my pregnancy bible/saver of my sanity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587046 Fri, 15 Jul 2016 17:02:21 +0000 stratosphere 2587046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read (and loved) the incredibly rational, fact/research-based approach of the book Expecting Better. It doesn't tell you what to do, but examines the conventional wisdom/traditional "rules" around all sorts of pregnancy-related topics, and shares the research/reasoning behind them, and empowers you to make your own risk/reward decisions.</p> <p>For the thinking person who doesn't enjoy overly simplified and paternalistic proscriptions, this book was PERFECT. Highly recommended. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587036 Fri, 15 Jul 2016 16:15:17 +0000 stiletto_mom 2587036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Everything in moderation.</p> <p>Seriously, I've eaten everything that I'm not "supposed" to. Raw rushi, raw oysters, deli meats, papaya, brie and camembert cheese, runny eggs, medium rare beef etc. </p> <p>Thing is, I eat them from reputable establishments or ensure that I'm handling it well on my end if I'm preparing it. But the nutritional benefits of a balanced diet outweighs the risks to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-rules-in-pregnancy-whose-do-you-follow#post-2587024 Fri, 15 Jul 2016 15:58:41 +0000 nana87 2587024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My ob gave me a printed list of foods to avoid (mostly specific fish but also things like alcohol and unpasteurized cheese), but it doesn't include some things that I've seen as no-nos on other lists--like runny eggs, salami/pepperoni/other cured meats, frozen yogurt...</p> <p>She's generally very conservative (like, her list says to avoid salad bars....) so I sort of think if she doesn't say not to then I'm going to eat it anyway this time around...Though I avoided much more with my first pregnancy!</p> <p>So, whose "rules" do you follow? Your doctors? The internet? A book or blog? Your own? Do you err on the side of caution and avoid everything? </p>