4 Our Health

Question:

The more I read on this and other boards, the more my head feels like it's going to explode. There seems to be such a huge list of do's and dont's - I've got the basics down (don't drink, don't smoke (quit as soon as got BFP), don't do illicit drugs, dont take OTC meds w/o doc consent, don't run a marathon if you never ran one before).
But then there seem to be whole other categories that I don't quite understand or know how to change. For example,
1. soft cheeses (what are these and why are they bad).
2. cat poop (I have six cats! and though I don't clean the litter box myself, they plop their little butts on every surface in the house so it would be hard to avoid).
3. aspartame (sp?) - I'm not even sure what this is, is it nutrasweet? Which foods contain this?
4. non-organics - I've wanted to go organic for some time but the truth is that we're just too poor to affort organic foods. I bought some organic eggs a few weeks ago and they cost something like $3 (compared to $1 for regular eggs). DH and I would never be able to send this kid to college if we went organic. At least in our town, these products are barely available and therefore also really expensive. So are there other ways to make improvements on cutting down on the pesticides and junk in regular foods or are there essential types of foods that we could substitute organics without having to do our change our whole grocery list (i.e. meats?). Are there places to order fresh organics online? (hard to find in the area).
5. Exercise - seems like it's okay in moderation but what does "moderation" mean?
6. Caffeine - I drink about half a cup per day (or less) but some people seem to think that any is bad for baby (including my DH who seems to keep putting tea in front of me every morning!)
7. deli meats - we normally eat TONS of cold cuts from Walmart (ham, turkey and cheese sandwiches) for lunch and also cut up deli meats to put in our omelettes for breakfast. Now that I'm PG, are deli meats out? or are there precautions I can take while still eating them? (like cooking them first?)
8. Peanuts - heard that they're bad for baby's potential allergies. Don't really like peanuts that much, but isn't peanut oil used in a bunch of stuff that I wouldn't normally associate with peanuts anyway. Other than actual peanuts, other foods to avoid that contain peanut oil?
9. Seafood - I'm still not clear on which are okay and which aren't.
I'm sure I'm forgetting something.
Can someone help me clarify which of these are truly important and which are just crap. More importantly, can you share how you manage to make so many lifestyle changes (esp. the whole organic vs. non-organic thing and the deli meat thing) so quickly? I'm feeling overwhelmed!

Answer:

I'll give a shot at what I know....

Originally posted by Snowbaby

1. soft cheeses (what are these and why are they bad).
this has to do with pasturization. Don't drink or eat anything that hasn't been pasturized. Soft cheeses usually aren't and thats why they are soft.

2. cat poop (I have six cats! and though I don't clean the litter box myself, they plop their little butts on every surface in the house so it would be hard to avoid).
toxoplasmosis, mama! Its a virus (?) that lives in cat poop. If you've had cats for years, you probably are immune. In a normal adult, it manifests kind of like a mild flu, but for babies it can be deadly. Again, if you've been around cats a lot you are probably immune and can't give it to your baby. I believe there is a blood test you can take to see if you are immune or not.

3. aspartame (sp?) - I'm not even sure what this is, is it nutrasweet? Which foods contain this?
It's artificial sweetner. It's what makes nutra sweet and sweet and low. It's carcinogenic, meaning it causes cancer.

4. non-organics - I've wanted to go organic for some time but the truth is that we're just too poor to affort organic foods. So are there other ways to make improvements on cutting down on the pesticides and junk in regular foods or are there essential types of foods that we could substitute organics without having to do our change our whole grocery list (i.e. meats?). Are there places to order fresh organics online? (hard to find in the area).
I hear ya, sister! it can get PRICEY! The main thing is to try to limit chemicals in your foods, like the pesticides that are on non organic veggies. Do what you can, and when you can afford organic veggies and fruits, get a good veggie wash and just wash your stuff really good. Do you have a Trader Joes near you? It's a GREAT place for organics at really reasonable prices. Also, for me when I get REEEEEALLY poor, I always make sure to get organic meat and dairy. The chemicals used in meat and dairy production on non orgaic farms concentrate in a womans reproductive system (cause it's usually the fattiest part of us), so I always will spend the extra money on organic milk or chicken. Again, do what you can and take precautions when you can't spend the money.

5. Exercise - seems like it's okay in moderation but what does "moderation" mean?
What I understand is don't do anything MORE than what you are used to. Meaning, if you usually walk a mile a day, that will still be ok...just don't try jogging it or walking 3 miles. Just stay at the level you were at pre pregnancy and listen to your body.

6. Caffeine - I drink about half a cup per day (or less) but some people seem to think that any is bad for baby (including my DH who seems to keep putting tea in front of me every morning!)
Ok....first of all caffine has been shown to increase the heartrate of the baby and cause lower birth weights when mom takes in A LOT. That said, most doctors say that a glass of tea or cola a day is ok. For mama, it dehydrates you, so you'll usually need two glasses of water per one glass of caffinated beverage to balance it out. I have a hard time getting one glass of water in a day PERIOD so I limit my caffine to two or three times a week.

7. deli meats - we normally eat TONS of cold cuts from Walmart (ham, turkey and cheese sandwiches) for lunch and also cut up deli meats to put in our omelettes for breakfast. Now that I'm PG, are deli meats out? or are there precautions I can take while still eating them? (like cooking them first?)
This one I don't know but I think it has to do with bacteria in uncooked meats.......

8. Peanuts - heard that they're bad for baby's potential allergies. Don't really like peanuts that much, but isn't peanut oil used in a bunch of stuff that I wouldn't normally associate with peanuts anyway. Other than actual peanuts, other foods to avoid that contain peanut oil?
I don't know about this one either...my midwives keep TELLING me to eat peanuts.
9. Seafood - I'm still not clear on which are okay and which aren't.
Sushi is usually out because it's raw. Many mamas here eat it regularly though and the key seems to be making sure you KNOW KNOW KNOW it's fresh. The other thing is canned fish, like tuna, you need to limit because it often has mercury in it. I think the rule of thumb for that is limit yourself to one can a week. I really don't know about other fish products so I just give my "one serving a week" rule all around.
!

Answer:

Just wanted to add that I think deli meats can contain listeria, a nasty bacteria. However, I've read that they're OK as long as you heat them until they're steaming hot.
As far as peanuts go, I've read that you shouldn't eat them if you have a family history of food allergies. I try not to, but they're in so many of the foods I love!
In regard to soft cheeses, I think it's mainly the imported soft cheeses that aren't pasteurized (feta, spanish cheeses). I believe domestic cheeses must be pasteurized, so you might be able to find a safe substitute if you're missing a favorite.

Hope this helps.

Answer:

Okay, here's another take...
No, the risk from soft cheeses (and deli meats) is listeria, a leading cause of bacterial food poisoning. There is some debate as to whether pasteurized soft cheeses are okay or not... it's thought in some circles that contamination is possible after pasteurization (but I think the FDA's latest take is that pasteurized soft cheeses are okay). Listeria can pass the placenta and is very dangerous to fetuses. The hardness/softness of cheese has to do with the way it's made and how long it's aged, by the way...
I'm not sure about this one, but I think the risk from aspartame has to do with the warning posted on all those little packets.. there are people who can't digest the amino acids in aspartame, and it's dangerous to them. Your fetus could be one of these people (and if you have a baby in the hospital, it's one of the tests they do before you leave... I hate the test, but we'll do it again... sigh). I've never heard that asparatame is carcinogenic... it's pretty foul, but it's made out of perfectly digestible (for most of us) amino acids....
I wash all of our produce pretty thoroughly, organic or no. Sadly, I know that I'll eat a lot less broccoli if I have to pay $3/lb for organic stuff, so I get the regular and wash... Pesticides concentrate up the food chain... we're vegetarian, and any dairy products we get are organic, and if we start eating eggs again, they'll be organic, too.
I totally agree with the previous poster about exercise. Stay hydrated, keep comfortable, don't knock yourself out.
I've read all sorts of conflicting stuff about caffeine, so I try to stay away from it (I have 1/2 a cup of coffee when I'm constipated, though...).
Deli meats are in the same category as soft cheeses. Just cook them till they're hot before you eat them--take out your skillet, saute your slices till they're nice and hot, and then make your sandwich with them.
I can't help you on peanuts... ds is still nursing and has eczema, so we're supposed to be avoiding peanuts, anyway. And I've found that peanuts are the new "alcohol" for pg women... I've had my bagel w/ soy nut butter on it when I'm out and about, and friends who know I'm pg (but don't know it's soy nut butter) always take me to task. ;)
There are a lot of types of fish that you should avoid because of heavy metals and/or pcbs (or other nasty stuff). Check out the info at the "seafood watch" at the Monterey Bay Aquarium web site.
And just try not to worry. I really don't think there's a "pefect path" through pg... just try to take care of yourself and enjoy it!

Answer:

Welcome to the chaos that is pregnancy! Here are my opinions on most of these things:
1. soft cheeses (what are these and why are they bad).
soft cheeses are cheeses like brie and bleu cheese. Supposedly they haven't been pasturized (sp?) and therefore have higher than normal amts of bacteria in them, which isn't that big of a deal when you aren't pregnant, but there's the big WHAT IF? factor. I eat these every once in a while. I will eat brie at a christmas party, but won't just buy it to have around. I still order bleu cheese dressing because I like it and think that in most restaurants, they aren't using real bleu cheese anyway.
2. cat poop
the thing to worry about with cats is called toxoplasmosis and if you have six cats, you arelikely already immune to it. You can ask to be tested for the antibodies if you're really worried about it. With six cats, I wouldn't be.
3. aspartame
yup, it's nutrasweet. I avoid this while nursing too, well really in general. it creeps me out. everyone has a thing, right?
4. non-organics
ahhhh, I'm sure there are those who will disagree with me, but I believe it is possible to eat heathily from non-organic sources. Wash your produce, do what you can. If it's not possible for your family, don't beat yourself up over it.
5. exercise: do what your body is somewhat used to. Don't use this time to train for a marathon, but if you're used to aerobics 4 days/week, keep on keepin' on. Some exercise is very good for you; in addition to the exercise part of it, I got a lot of information about what it takes for my body to do something hard. I did aerobics 2/wk with my first pregnancy and I think it gave me a lot of stamina and solidified the idea that I can do something that is hard and hurts some. All around a good idea. Even walking is good. Swimming is wonderful for pregnancy related exercise.
6. caffeine: not sure about this one, as I don't drink much to begin with, I never thought much about it. I know there is an ongoing thread discussing this on this forum.
7. deli meats:
I eat a lot of deli turkey as well. The threat is listeria, a bacteria that lives even in the cold of the refridgerator. I make sure to buy small amts more often to reduce the likelihood of eating older meat. You can also heat it up, but who wants to do that. Just run a search on listeria on google and see what you're comfortable with.
8. peanuts: do you have a lot of food allergies in your family? or in dh's? there are risks, but unless you have some reason to be overly worried, I wouldn't stress about this one.
9. seafood: I live in MN, what is "seafood"? Don't know anything about this. I don't eat things that swim.
There are a million things you will be told in the next few months. Do what you can. I was told not to raise my arms over my head or I would choke the baby. It was a risk I was willing to take.

Answer:

opps double post...

Answer:

It all becomes such a personal matter, often a matter of opinion...
Here is my personal take on the mass of do's, don'ts, and advice presented to pregnant women now adays:
*soft cheeses:
may contain listeria, a bacteria that is potentially very harmful to the fetus. From my understanding, cheeses made in the US are pasturized, unless they state that they are a raw cheese. IMO, a bit of feta or goat cheese, as long as it is fresh is just fine to eat during pregnancy... but it really is your choice.
And as others mentioned, deli meats can also contain listeria. But IMO most deli meats are plain nasty anyways. Most all conatin nitrates, preservatives, sugar,and "fillers", some even contain MSG.
*cat poop~ can contain harmful bacteria. It would really only contain the bacteria if the cat goes outside and if the cat catches mice or other rodents.
If you have been around cats throughout your life or even for the past few years, then there's about a 99% probability that you are immune to toxoplasmosis.
*aspartame, nutrasweet, Equal, Sweet & Low, sachrine, sucralose, asulfame K, and Splenda are all artificial sweetners. Aspartame/Nutrasweet is not only a carcinogen, but it is a neurotoxin. It has the potential to cause birth defects, neurological disorders, and cancers. <<<AVOID these toxic products!!!!>>>
Here is a link to more info on aspartame~
Here's one on sucralose~
*non-organics~ although it is ideal that we all eat a 100% organic diet, the truth is most of us cannot afford to. So the next best choice is to pick and choose wisely. The fruits and vegis that are sprayed w/ pesticides the most are~ grapes, strawberries, apples, bananas, oranges, lettuces, broccoli, tomatoes, and coffee beans... so try and buy these products organic. Also, there are some foods that unless organic are pretty much guaranteed to be a GMO (genetically modified organism). These are soy, tomatoes, & corn. So try and buy organic of these as well.
Next good choice you can make is organic meat and dairy. Organic meat and dairy won't contain hormones or antibiotics. there are some suppliers out there that are not organic but guarantee the meat or dairy is free of hormones and antibiotics.
If you cannot afford organic eggs, at least try to buy free range.
Here are some links about organics~



Here is a great link full of more links to info on a multitude of topics, such as GMO's, organic meat, pesticides, aspartame, farmed fish, etc:

*exercise~ you can continue whatever exercise program you were following before you became pregnant (with the exception of rock climbing, water skiing, boxing, etc). I am 6 months pregnant and still run on an elliptical trainer for 3-4 miles 5 days a week, lift weights 3-4 days a week, do ab crunches, stretches, and some yoga...
If you were not exercising before you became pg, then it's probably wisest to just stick to walking, or brisk walking 3-7 days a week. Light stretching would be great to add to that as well.
*caffeine~ 1st of all, choose organic! most health professionals agree 1-2 cups coffee or tea daily is okay. Of course no caffeine is healthiest, but evidence shows that 1-2 cups really is pretty safe. I drank 1-2 cups coffee or tea throughout my 1st pregnancy and gave birth to a very healthy baby! I currently drink a cup of coffee each day, as well as occassional green tea or chocolate. Since caffeine is a diuretic, do be sure to drink plenty of water.
*deli meats~ well I mentioned this w/ soft cheeses, but I must say (no offense) that deli meats, unless organic, or guaranteed free of hormones, nitrates, and other nasty additives are just plain unnutritious, and even harmful to your health!!
*Peanuts, not actually a nut, but a legume, are known to contain high levels of molds. Because of this they can contribute to the possible development of allergies for the baby. Most peanut butters also contain partially hydrogenated oils/trans fats. This ingredient is extremly bad for you! It is a known carcinogen. So if you do choose to eat peanut butter, choose one that does not contain this ingredient. A great alternative to peanuts is to eat other nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, etc... and a great alternative to peanut butter is almond butter.
Here are some links on the dangers of partially hydrogenated oils/trans fats:



*Seafood~ avoid tuna, even canned, because of the possibility of contaminants, specifically mercury. Other fish to avoid~ mahi mahi, Chilean sea bass, red snapper, grouper, flounder, walleye, shark, mackerel, swordfish, blue marlin, and salmon (unless the salmon is guaranteed wild caught). Farmed fish, unless from an organic fish farm, are most always fed scrap meat, hormones, and antibiotics, and live in polluted conditions.
Best bets for fish and seafood~ tilapia, orange roughy, catfish, sunfish, clams, shrimp and prawns, lobster, crab, mussels, etc
Sushi is most likely safe, as long as you choose fish from the safe list. If the resteraunt is near an ocean the fish is most likey extremly fresh and free of conatminants. Resteraunts that are landlocked are under regulation to put the fish through a freezing process to kill and bacteria or parasites. Eating sushi w/ the provided wasabi/soy sauce mixture, also helps kill any potential bacteria.
Pregnant women should also avoid ibuprofin and asprin. Many docs say okay to Tylenol/acetemenophene, but I avoid this product as well. Tylenol is a pretty toxic drug and wreaks havoc on your liver!!
Better choices than the synthetic and potentially toxic OTC and RX drugs that many docs freely give the okay to, are ~ homeopathics, flower essences, aromatherapy, some herbs, acupuncture, shiatsu, massage, proper diet, nutritional supplements, and daily exercise.
Also, read ingredients and choose wisely!

Answer:

I avoided soft cheeses during my entire pregnancy last time. Just last week, I asked my doctor about it. He apparently had just done a big research paper on it, and told me that they are safe. He said that listeria is incredibly rare, and that it mainly affects those with a compromised immune system. His opinion is that they are totally safe.
Uncooked meats on the other hand he was more concerned about, as meat contains parasites (I think I'm paraphrasing correctly). He said to make sure that any meat I eat is thoroughly cooked. I don't eat red meat anyway, but he said to make sure hamburgers, steaks, etc. are cooked well done, not rare.
Bebeluna brought up the good point that I was going to make about deli meats - it's the not the listeria that I would really be worried about, but the general unhealthiness of it. They really are loaded with a lot of harmful things. It's much better to roast a turkey breast yourself and just slice it as needed.
I do try to eat organic as much as possible, but honestly, I think it's even more important to try to avoid common junk items, like partially hydrogenated oils. Start checking out the ingredients on the crackers, breads, spreads, etc. that you buy. Compare ingredients in different brands, see if you can find a substitute that doesn't have partially hydrogenated oils. Nitrates are really bad too - you will see this in a lot of prepared meats.
There are places online to get organic produce, but it does depend on where you live. You might want to investigate co-ops in your surrounding area, and also check out any farmer's markets.
And not to sound too Martha Stewart about this, but you would be surprised at how easy and cheap it is to make stuff from scratch. Make your own bread, and not only will you save money, but you will be assured that it only has good ingredients in it. And it will taste better and make your house smell divine!

Answer:

Aspartame is a personal peeve of mine. Quick story:
DH is educated as a chemist, used to be in research, worked at Rockefeller in NYC. Pretty good for a chemist, IYKWIM. So ... he heard a long time ago that the scientists who invented aspartame won't use it.
Does that tell you something?
:scream



Cat poop, everyone else has said this, I'll say it, too. You may want to get tested for the toxoplasmosis, then forget about it. As a momtomanycats (as I once was :)) you are most probably fine.
:eyes


Caffeine, well, DH wouldn't even let me have chocolate my first few pregnancies because of the trace amounts of caffeine in it. He has since realized that the joy&peace on my countenance when ingesting chocolate is worth whatever stress the poor babe'le is subject to ... and since I was sneaking it in all my other pregnancies anyway ... :LOL



Just eat as well as you can, take as good care of yourself as you can, and don't put anything you know to be harmful in your body ... and you should be fine.


Oh, and stressing about it can be just as bad or worse than some of the stuff you mentioned ... so relax.
:hippie

Answer:

The other big thing about deli meats is the amount of Nitrates. Those are bad for you. I only ate any seafood once a week or less. I don't think organic is as important as eating less processed foods (which would include deli meats :) )
Gossamer

Answer:

Just a quick note about seafood - whether or not the fish is fresh has absolutely nothing to do with its level of contaminants. If a fish has a high level of mercury, the mercury is still going to be there in one hour or one year. It doesn't matter. The main thing is to stay away from certain types listed above (although I believe orange roughy is also on the no no list) and to eat only SMALL fish. The bigger the fish, the more likely it is to have higher levels of contaminants.

Answer:

FWI: Tea has Caffeine in it.

Answer:

The worry about eating fish is very valid IMO, however, I think it's vital to get plenty of omega 3 fatty acids and there's evidence that many people are genetically predisposed to get them from fish and may not absorb enough from flax etc.
See:
While I was pg I used Carlson's fish oil. The oils are tested for mercury levels, so you can get the fatty acids you need w/o the worry of contamination.
I also ate wild salmon for the calcium, protein, etc.
Once a month I splurged on a big free range organic turkey and roasted it to have meat for sanwhiches, soup stock, etc.
I think it's really important to follow yr instincts. When you eat just ask yrself, would I feed this to my babe?
Coriy

Answer:

Originally posted by katt
FWI: Tea has Caffeine in it. Well, some tea does... black tea and green tea do; red (rooibos) tea does not, herbal teas, such as chamomile, peppermint, ginger, lemongrass, etc do not.
Yerba mate does.
Just read the labels.
Oh, and black tea has about 1/2 the caffeine, or less, of a cup of coffee,
a cup of green tea has about 1/4 to 1/3 the amount of caffeine a cup of coffee does,
and yerba mate has about 1/2...
all these teas also contain very beneficial, immune-boosting antioxidants.

Answer:

Originally posted by Mere
Just a quick note about seafood - whether or not the fish is fresh has absolutely nothing to do with its level of contaminants. True, but being fresh does have usually make a difference about parasites (which in a sense are a form of contaminant). The fresher the fish, the less likely it is to be 'contaminated' w/ parasites and other bacterias. This is mostly in relation to sushi, at least the raw varieties of sushi.

Answer:

Another thing about deli meats - aside from nitrates - they contain lots of sodium - of course, another thing that can lead to pre-eclampsia if taken in large amounts.