Being immune to toxoplasmosis, can i eat raw fish and meat now?
Toxoplasmosis is in fact one of the risks with raw meats and fish, but another is listeria which is also very harmful to baby should you come in contact with it. Be careful, I recommend staying away from undercooked meats of all kinds during pregnancy, and don't worry, it's only 9 months then you can go back to eating whatever you want! Congrats!
Yet another question about Toxoplasmosis.?
I know the basics. I know that it is unlikely to get it because my cats are indoors, eat commercial dry food, and no undercooked meat. I haven’t been changing the litter box since I’ve been TTC. I have never been one to scoop the poop w/o washing my hands anyway. But here is my biggest question- What about just day to day activities with the cat. I’ve read things about not touching places where infected cat feces has been. People who think this is easy to do are obviously not cat owners or at least don’t have cats like mine that are everywhere and on everything all the time. But if the cat poop was infected and the cat goes in the box, it’s going to touch it. So is everything it touches contaminated? Can the oocysts live outside the feces? And are cats immune after getting it just one time? I am just miserable worrying about touching my cats. Does the cat’s tongue clean it off the fur if it gets infected feces on it? I am not considering getting rid of my cats, but they are testing my patience as I have been worried about this. Every time my cat jumps on the kitchen counter must I fully sanitize it? I will probably go and get tested soon, but I could never get one of my cats tested since he has SERIOUS issues with vets and wont stand to be touched by them. I have to give him tranquilizers just to get his rabies shot. I am looking for opinions and experiences of people who have been p/g with a cat, or even people who know someone who has actually had toxoplasmosis from a cat (I’ve yet to find any testimonies online from someone who has). Thanks.
Toxoplasmosis and Pregnancy - Ate raw food before I knew I was pregnant?
Hi there! I know this must be very stressful for you, but try to relax. Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy is relatively uncommon, and tends to manifest in mild (or sometimes more serious in some people) flu-like symptoms. Many people have been exposed to the bug at some point and developed an immunity already, especially those who have kept cats over a long period or been in contact with it another way. It's very sensible to take all the precautions you can now, to avoid contracting the illness - avoid raw foods, wear good rubber gloves whilst gardening, and have someone else change any cat litter you would normally be responsible for. If you have pets, especially a cat, some hygiene precautions are a good measure in general, but especially whilst you're expecting. For instance, wash your hands after petting an animal and obviously don't allow pets onto food preparation or eating areas. I became pregnant unexpectedly too, and there were a number of things I did that were 'non-optimum', such as eating rare steak or soft eggs, or drinking a little alcohol. It happens to many women because we don't always know what's happening straight away! The point is that now you know, you can take every precaution to ensure a successful, safe pregnancy and a happy, healthy baby. If you need further reassurance, talk to a doctor or midwife. If they feel a blood test would help, you'll then be in a position where you can move on from this anxiety and enjoy the excitement of being an expectant mother! Good luck with everything. :)
How to make raw fish safe to eat for sushi?
Is it safe to eat raw fish that I buy at the market...... This is not recommended, it is that it is risky to eat store bought fish as sushi due to the higher potential for parasitic or bacterial contaminants. Restaurants have sources that are different from the market, and specifically buy food items that are intended to be eaten raw (commonly referred to as ‘sushi grade’). Fish that you buy at the market is intended to be cooked, and is therefore not treated with the same care as what you eat in a restaurant. Anisakiasis is a particularly nasty and potentially fatal infection caused by microscopic larval worms that live in some marine creatures that can be avoided by thorough cooking, or certain deep freezing techniques. Toxoplasmosis has also been found in some raw seafood. While rare, it is one of the many risks inherent in uncooked foods. While some stores now specifically offer ‘sushi grade’ fish as well as their own sushi bars, it is best not to assume that any fish on display is safe uncooked unless specifically labeled as such.
Is it considered safe to eat sushi while pregnant?
The standard guidelines from sources like the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the CDC, and the FDA advise women to avoid sushi (when it is raw fish) while pregnant. However, the actual science and data behind this guidelines isn’t all that straightforward.Pregnant women should avoid sushi for two reasons:Exposure to mercury, which is bad for the development of the fetus. This risk is higher in certain fish and is present regardless of whether the fish is raw or cooked. The main correlation with sushi is that a lot of fish popular for sushi is also high in mercury, like tuna.Exposure to harmful diseases: note that there is a big difference between diseases that make the pregnant women sick, but don’t directly harm the fetus, and diseases that directly harm the fetus. The two diseases which are really dangerous for the fetus are listeria and toxoplasmosis. Listeria is found in all kinds of foods, but pregnant women are cautioned to avoid raw cheeses, deli meat, and some other foods (sometimes sushi) to avoid listeria. Toxoplasmosis is found in animal feces, which is why pregnant women are told to avoid cat litter and gardening. On the other hand, most diseases you might get from eating sushi or things like raw eggs are things like food poisoning and salmonella; while these will make the pregnant woman very sick, which is bad, they do not directly attack the fetus.My understanding is that pregnant women in Japan often eat raw sushi, knowing that the fish there is likely to be very fresh and therefore not likely to result in disease.Emily Oster is an economist who wrote a book with her research about what is / is not safe during pregnancy. She reviewed all the primary research herself and noted that a lot of the guidelines that seem really wide-sweeping and scary (i.e., don’t eat any sushi) are based on studies that show pretty low actual risk. See: Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know: Emily Oster: 8601419237265: Amazon.com: BooksUltimately, whether or not sushi is safe isn’t totally clear, but there is a lot more to it than simply “don’t eat any sushi at all.”
I want Sushi & I'm pregnant?
So I have been craving Sushi for the past two weeks, but I'm not sure if its safe to eat. Do you think it would be okay to get the Harris Teeter kind that they box up for you? I'm thinking Salmon, Eel, or California Roll. What do you think? Is it too Risky?
Can you get toxoplasmosis from eating raw or undercooked sea scallops?
The advice from the CDC is "Do not eat raw or undercooked oysters, mussels, or clams (these may be contaminated with Toxoplasma that has washed into sea water)." So I would say that you could get toxoplasmosis from eating raw or undercooked scallops.
Common things to avoid during pregnancy?
You can have 1-2 cups of coffee a day. Any more than that is not usually recommended. Some fish is okay, but stay away from swordfish and those type fish as this contains higher levels of mercury. 1-2 cans of tuna a week is also okay, but is not advised to take more. If you get constipation, it is not recommended to take laxatives (unless recommended by a doctor) but diet high in fiber or fiber supplement, and stool softeners. Laxatives are just too harsh and can cause dehydration. Tylenol is okay, and suedophed is okay. Aspirin and Advil are not usually recommended. Of course with all of these make sure you ask your doctor. He/she may also have a list of okay medicines to take during pregnancy and what should be avoided. Excercise such as walking, swimming, pregnancy yoga, pregnancy pilates and those type excercise is okay. I think my biggest recommendation is to try not to look at pregnancy as an illness and you can do most of the things you did before you were pregnant. Of course alcohol, cigarettes etc, shouldn't be done if you had did them before, but in gerneral there are not alot of things you shouldn't be doing. :) Let me guess first time mom? I am as well. It is good to be concerned with what is happening to your body and baby, but just remember to eat as healthy as possible and live a healthy lifestyle. Congratulations, and try not to worry too much (I know easier said than done). Oh, also avoid deli meats and hot dogs that are cold. If you do choose to eat them, make sure they are cooked until steaming. This could cause listeria if they are not steamed. Sushi and raw meats can have bacteria so you need to avoid it as well. If you have a cat, make sure you do not clean out the litter box. This can cause toxoplasmosis and is dangerous for baby. If you are the only one who can do it, make sure you wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after changing the litter box. 18 weeks pregnant with first