Hellobee Boards

Wasn't on the list!

Nope!

Mine had the same reactiom, and said just don't eat any kind of food from a shady place! She also said all cheese sold in U.S. Restaurants are pasteurized so I'm good there.

@dc yoga bee: really (about the cheese)? I think some fancier restaurants definitely have raw cheeses- though usually they do specify them as such. I don't actually think it's a big deal to have unpasteurized cheese anyway, but I've seen it at restaurants.

@Foodnerd81: That's what she said. Before I've eaten any, I've looked up the menu and so far have yet to find any "soft cheeses" that weren't pasteurized. Mind you, I've been so sick we have not been to any $$$$ restaurants this pregnancy

It wasn't on my doctor's no-no list! Personally, I've read enough about most of the dietary restrictions that I feel comfortable ignoring most of them. I don't eat cold deli meat because I've never liked it. But I eat rare steak and runny eggs and sushi and soft serve and raw cookie dough and soft cheese (though I don't think I've actually come across raw cheese since getting pregnant). Honestly, for those things, the risk isn't any greater because you're pregnant, it's just especially crappy to be pregnant and get food poisoning. So I've just been making a point to only eat those things from reputable places and everything has been fine. I'm also in the camp that an occasional small glass of wine is fine. And I feel no guilt, whatsoever, about my morning cup of coffee. So yeah, I'm a bad pregnant lady. But it works for me.

i think it's an internet thing

My midwife hasn't mentioned it.

What's in it that could be a risk?

I just avoided unpasteurised cheese, cured meats, rare meat, runny eggs and that kind of thing.

@dc yoga bee: @Foodnerd81: I am a cheese snob and I definitely know restaurants where they will have unpasteurized soft cheese. It's usually going to be the type of place where you can order a "cheese plate." I just ask if not sure.

I'm reading the pamphlet included in my doctor's info pack which is given out to newly pregnant mums. Its the Australian government's Department of Health Listeria pamphlet and soft serve is listed as a high risk food. I'm not sure if its egg (powder?) in the soft serve, or the temperature, or perhaps the risk of bacteria on the actual equipment? It is definitely listed though, I suppose via the Australian Medical Association.

@AprilFool: well that definitely makes sense.... ice cream sitting on the nozzle festering, being wiped down with a wet chux wipe every so often... no thanks!

@JenGirl: That actually isn't true. It's not just 'really crappy' to get listeria when you're pregnant, it's potentially fatal to your fetus. So, worse than just 'crappy'.

Ummm.... I'm 23 weeks pregnant, soft serve is one of my favorite foods, and it's 5,000 degrees in south Florida so I want it (and usually eat it) alllll the time. So...yeah. I guess I am taking my chances? LOL.

I don't remember if it was specifically on the list but I have gotten food poisoning after eating in one of the chain yogurt places so I wouldn't risk it.

My doctor just said no drugs or alcohol. I think a lot of the food restrictions are just an internet thing.

Nope - the only food/drink my doctor said to avoid was smoking and alcohol. He's not even worried about caffeine. I've had soft serve froyo numerous times this pregnancy.

ETA: he practically started laughing when I brought up some of the various things the internet says to avoid.