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hi i also eat cooked sausage and other meats, the only food i stay away from is fish like clam fish and tuna, i think sausage is fine though.

I was also told about fish in regards to mercury, but sausage here and there should be fine. I was also told that with hotdogs and other cold cuts they contain nitrates and to go easy because of that. You also should be aware of unpasterized anything. Examples of these are goats milk, feta cheese, apple cidar. Anything UNPASTERIZED should be avoided while pregant. As well as artificial sweetners like aspartame. Good luck.

Some sausage, usually the sealed up prepackaged manmade sausage not the stuff you get in the fresh meat section, has nitrates as well. Just take a glance at the ingredients when you buy.

Thanks Girls! I have had canned tuna too..yikes! So that is bad too? Oh boy I'd better smarten up! Kristin

Hi Kristin, I love fish too! There are some fish that you must stay away from while pregnant. Those are : Tuna steaks Sea ba__s Oysters (Gulf of Mexico) Marlin Halibut Pike Walleye White croaker Largemouth ba__s These are large fish and thus have concentrated amounts of mercury in their systems. The safest fish to eat while pregnant are : Trout (farmed) Catfish (farmed) Shrimp * (see sidebar) Fish Sticks Flounder (summer) Salmon (wild Pacific) Croaker Blue crab (mid Atlantic) Haddock As for canned tuna, it is ok once a month while pregnant (although the FDA says once a week but FDA standards arent always the best or safest). A really good website to go to is http://www.mercola.com/2001/apr/25/mercury_fish.htm. Also there are pasterized feta cheeses, blue chesses,goats milk and apple ciders that are safe. It just takes a little education and a bit longer at the grocery store to check labels :)

Hi, thought I'd chime in since this has been one of my pet peeve about pregnancy. Straight from my hospital's newsletter and website - DON'T EAT: 1) Raw or undercooked meat, chicken, or fish (sushi, raw oysters, clams and other raw shellfish); Cook ready-to-eat meats, such as hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats (ham, bologna, salami, corned beef) until they are steaming hot; 2) Refrigerated pates, meat spreads, or smoked seafood; Canned or shelf-stable pates, meat spreads, or smoked seafood may be eaten; 3) Raw eggs or foods that contain raw or lightly cooked eggs (soft-scramble eggs, Caesar dressing, mayonnaise, or Hollandaise sauce); 4) Soft cheeses and unpasteurized dairy foods (brie, feta, blue cheese, and soft Mexican cheeses); Hard cheeses, processed cheeses, cream cheese, and cottage cheeses are safe.; 5) Large fish (shark, swordfish, tilefish, & king mackeral) or fresh water fish caught in untested waters; Up to 12oz a week of canned light tuna, shellfish, wild salmon, pollack, catfish, smaller ocean fish, and farm-raised fish are okay; 6) Raw sprouts, especially alfalfa; 7) Unripe papaya, and 8) Too much liver. Hope this helps.

how much mayonnaise? I have been eating this my whole pregnancy. Yikes I love it , I have not ate anything on that list except for one hot dog and it was cooked. Is anyone else eating mayo?

Gee..I have had feta,blue cheese,brie,cream cheeses,mayo,cooked sausage,smoked salmon,tuna, also had ahlf a diet coke yesterday...all in moderation. But, I think I will be more careful from now on.. Kristin

Why are these foods considered bad? I can understand raw fish or unpasturised cheeses..but papaya and sprouts? Did not know that.

I guessing with MAYONNAISE, they're talking about homemade mayo with raw eggs (at least I hope so). Pretty sure processed mayo is pasteurized. "PAPAYA is sometimes recommended for soothing indigestion, which is a common ailment during pregnancy. Although a fully ripe papaya is not considered dangerous, a papaya that is at all unripe contains a latex substance that triggers uterine contractions and may cause a miscarriage." RAW SPROUTS can be a source of toxoplasmosis along with unwashed fruits & vegetables. My guess is that it is more difficult to thoroughly clean sprouts. Most common source of toxoplasmosis is cat feces (so have someone else change the litter box or use disposable glove) and outdoor soil that cats commonly use. Cream cheese, cooked sausage, shelf-stable smoked salmon, and light tuna are all okay.

Well, I just noticed last night after eating for three days that the onion dip I use for my chips has MSG in it. At least I think so because there was an ingredient monosodium glucomate? So, that is the end of that now, lovely..................

Hi MellyMel, there is no evidence that MSG is harmful to a developing fetus. The FDA rates it "Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)" along with sugar, salt, and baking soda. It does contain sodium, but less than ordinary table salt. In sensitive individuals, MSG can trigger headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbances, nausea, and vomiting. For this reason, you may want to avoid it. Course, being pregnant, you may be suffering these symptoms anyway. If you're not sensitive to MSG, I say munch away. The chips are probably worse for you anyway. :-)

Thanks CaliTrish!! I didn't know that information. I don't think it bothers me in that way, because I have always been able to eat Chinese Food and such, although now if I eat Chinese it is at a place that does not use MSG in their food. :) Well, I don't think the dip will hurt me as long as I'm not going through a whole or 2 dips a week!!! LOL! And yes, I'm sure the chips will hurt me more!! But I LOVE those salty Ruffles with my onion dip!! MMMMMM