Pregnancy And Red Meat

[jd_1984]

With all the do' and dont's on various websites and advice from various outlets. I am wondering, would anybody who is, or has been pregnant, deprive themselves of a very occasional (once in 6 weeks or so) steak or favourite piece of red meat.

[murraymints]

I would not think that would be harmful..a proper balanced diet..a doctor will suggest any supplements if needed at all ...

[Canary42]

Red meat every six weeks - yes, go for it. Frequent consumption is what the "experts" counsel against isn't it ?

(Mind you, I've never been pregnant, so am possibly speaking out of turn)

[jd_1984]

I have read a variety of "expert" opinions some say regular consumption may not have any adverse affect, some say it will. Others say a little now and then is fine. It becomes a personal choice, but what do you base your choice on, which "expert"??

[murraymints]

too many "experts" around..just go with a sensible diet..I never really eat much red meat anyway..fish, chicken and lots of veg/pasta based dishes for me...just avoid the soft cheese etc

[Mosaic]

JD, if you come from a background where red meat is eaten, and you've eaten it without ill effects, then continue as before. Maybe avoid 'au bleu' steak (well who wouldn't anyway?).
You will find that as a pregnant woman you are the recipient of everyone's opinion, fad, crackpot idea and old wives - isms. And this continues for the rest of your life.

[Canary42]

Guilty as charged Mosaic :-D

[rockyracoon]

Blimey, doesn't advice change with alarming regularity. When I was pregnant, 14 years ago, I don't remember being advised against red meat at all, just to stay away from anything with raw eggs, unpasteurised milk, booze and fags.

I'd have thought the iron in the meat would be welcome.

[murraymints]

rocky think folk are concerned about what other things might be present in red meat these days with cattle rearing methods chemicals etc ?

[ummmm]

You're also advised to restrict the amount of fish you eat nowadays.

[murraymints]

really ummmm ?? why ? do you know ?

[ummmm]

I can't really remember. Something to do with toxins. It was a midwife that told me.

[Sqad]

It's all to do with mercury levels in some fish ^^^^^

[Retrochic]

There is some concern over levels of mercury in some kinds of fish (tuna I think). Surely the only concern about eating too much red meat is the possibility of parasites? If you buy farm assured british beef then the animal will not have been reared with 'chemicals' -same with lamb.

Well I've had four healthy children and just kept eating the same things I had done. Frankly quite a lot got puked back up in the first three months. I cut out all alcohol . Now they say less meat and fish and no soft cheese or peanut butter... blah blah... no wonder children are born with food intolerances.

[murraymints]

ah..right..mercury poisoning..like those old fillings dentist used to give us ??

[ummmm]

Mercury did spring to mind but I wasn't sure.

[Cloverjo]

I always thought it was the risk of actually vomiting so hard that we put the foetus at risk that we had to guard against in prenancy, not what was in the food itself. I would happily eat red meat while pregnant. My midwife told me to be careful about eating KFC. I remember asking the server how long the chicken had been in the heater and then eating it anyway. I think you'll be fine.

[ummmm]

I've never heard that, Jo, and I vomited the whole way through my first pregnancy.

[Cloverjo]

Oh dear, Ummmm, that must have been tough.
I just assumed it was the vomiting that that was the problem, not the actual food. I still don't see how the food itself can harm the foetus.

[Retrochic]

Cloverjo -are you serious? You don't know how the food can harm the baby? Everything you eat and drink when pregnant goes through the fetus one way or another - including salmonella,parasites alcohol, drugs and nicotine.

[pixie374]

Agree with retrochic. The "advice" will.change again next week. Just common sense and keep yourself (herself) as healthy as you can. Is this for your new wife?