https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 20:54:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-450850 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 16:30:30 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 450850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine didn't but I'm in Mexico, so I think it's just something the doc wouldn't think to contraindicate since it's not that common here. He did mention avoiding canned foods and pork products though, which I don't think is standard in the US, but does make sense for the local population (and are things I avoid anyway). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-450833 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 16:13:05 +0000 Revel 450833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jaclyn: @hergreenapples: Interesting perspective. I've read about lots of different guidelines across various countries. I suspect that a part of the discrepancy is related to America just being much more risk adverse than other countries. The risk of listeriosis should be a fairly steady number (although food handling in various countries should have an impact) and that low risk is considered unacceptable by most American doctors, but acceptable by those in the UK/Canada - at least for certain foods. </p> <p>On the one hand it's simple to just avoid certain foods, but I don't care for the culture of fear that surrounds pregnancy in the US. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-450690 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:39:25 +0000 heartonastring 450690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jaclyn: Funny that you mention this, as I read that same recommendation on the NHS site and almost mentioned it in my reply as well.</p> <p>It brought to mind some larger cultural differences that I see in terms of how pregnancy is treated in the US vs. other Western countries. I'm in Canada and we are closer to the British example than the American. I would say that most Canadian woman have never heard of/aren't told by their doctors/midwives to avoid 90% of the things that American women are told to avoid. I would imagine the case is very similar in the UK and other northern European countries where pregnancy is less medicalized (e.g. midwives are primary care providers in many of those countries; women don't see an OB unless they are high-risk).</p> <p>I'm not here to make a values judgment or to say one system is necessarily better or worse. It is an interesting observation I've made during my pregnancy though. I'm not sure what exactly is at the core of it (socialized medicine vs. private insurance? Liability/the more litigious nature of American society? And, I'm sure, a whole host of other factors). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-450658 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 11:44:41 +0000 jaclyn 450658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting to see the difference between the US and UK. According to the NHS website here in the UK, pregnant women aren't advised to avoid smoked salmon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-448623 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:41:10 +0000 heartonastring 448623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've had it twice this week, including for breakfast this morning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-448548 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:06:39 +0000 Revel 448548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for chiming in - my gut says that if I'm wondering about it probably should skip it for the rest of this pregnancy - but not stress out about the few times I've had it so far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-448428 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:40:10 +0000 heffalump 448428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like for things like that, the risks aren't worth it. Sure, it could be a one in a million chance something happens but with my luck I'll be that one in the million, and is lox really worth it (and I love love love lox!). But no, not worth worth it, so I stayed away from it. My mom brought me lox the day I got home from the hospital though :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447649 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:18:56 +0000 MaisyMay 447649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Shelf stable is supposed to be okay. If it has to be refrigerated, it's supposed to be avoided. </p> <p>I love smoked salmon and miss it but have had regular salmon. It's not as good, but makes me miss the smoked salmon less. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447414 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:31:37 +0000 mrs. wagon 447414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I avoided it in the first pregnancy (sadly... one of my favorite foods!!). I ate it a few times the second pregnancy. Also sushi from places I trusted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447403 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:27:52 +0000 birdofafeather 447403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i ate it once and i am pretty liberal with the "rules" but i didn't feel comfortable eating it for some reason. if i could have found a local place that made it or if salmon was local to me, i probably would feel better, but it's not the case. i told DH that he will have to get me some lox for right after i birth! i am definitely craving it!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447216 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:20:52 +0000 Foodnerd81 447216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember reading the shelf stable kind was OK, but the refrigerated kind wasn't. OR, it could have been vice versa! I don't like lox so I didn't pay that much attention, but there was something like that... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447210 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:18:51 +0000 SugarplumsMom 447210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lox is cold smoked, not really smoked, but cured. So it's technically raw. Gravlax is a local specialty and it wasn't in any forbidden list here (Sweden), although they did mention to be mindful of the expiration date. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447192 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:12:23 +0000 shopaholic 447192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I finally caved in to my love for smoked salmon about 1/2 way through the pregnancy. I will still get a smoked salmon crepe or smoked salmon quiche once in awhile but I always tell them I'm pregnant and make sure they cook it really hot and thoroughly. I know my GF was adamant about all the smoked salmon being cooked "steaming hot". I've yet to try it cold still since it was on the no-no list. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447145 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:02:15 +0000 keiki_mama 447145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ate lox sparingly while I was pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447140 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:00:05 +0000 ParkerHaus 447140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I eat sushi (my midwife has a similar sensible approach) but i have been avoiding lox. I read something that made me feel avoiding lox was more important than avoiding sushi... wish I could remember what- the baby ate my brain. Oh and the smoking would not kill the bacteria. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447138 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:59:29 +0000 shinystraps 447138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had lox and bagel several times while I've been pregnant - probably 3 times? Each time was on the coast (so fresh fish), very reputable place. And it was soooooo delicious! My doctor told me any smoked meat is fine, it's the truly raw ones that are worrisome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447130 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:57:40 +0000 autumnlove 447130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ate it a few times! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447128 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:57:09 +0000 Revel 447128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It just seems like it's such a crapshoot! </p> <p>Like, when the doctor says it's ok in moderation, they are basically saying that because the risk is so low, they think you are ok to have these "forbidden foods" sometimes. But it doesn't mean they're safe... sigh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447120 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:53:11 +0000 hilsy85 447120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I avoided it :( I love lox! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447119 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:52:58 +0000 prettylizy 447119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't worry about it. Smoking should kill any bacteria. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447117 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:52:26 +0000 Mrsbells 447117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doctor told me to avoid it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/smoked-salmonlox-while-pregnant#post-447114 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:51:29 +0000 Revel 447114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, for some reason this no-no escaped my notice, and I've definitely been eating it throughout this pregnancy. My doctor takes a more humane approach to the rules - i.e., sushi or a deli sandwich from a more reputable place is fine on occasion.</p> <p>What do you all think? Should I take the smoked salmon off the menu? I'm not eating it all the time - I've maybe had it 4 times since the start of the pg. I just got scared reading about listeriosis and how it could be dormant in your body for while. I'm almost 16 weeks. </p>