Sushi...what do women do in Asia????

[cpatow]

Oh my LORDIE...my hubby and I went to sushi tonight and I was absolutely DYING to dip into some delictable Yellowtail Sashimi. Of course I didn't but I had to watch, painfully, as DH gorged himself on Tuna Tataki. I settled for eel (cooked), seaweed salad, lots of ginger in wasabi+soy sauce and (fried...bad bad, I know) calamari.

Our server was from Japan and is here studying to be a Chiropractor. He said he's read some new studies that suggest eating sushi is NOT bad after the first trimester and that in Asian countries pregnant women eat sushi all the time.

Not that this would make me run out and risk it, but it made me curious kind of similar to the whole alcohol debate. I have French and Danish friends who say their docs said a glass of wine a day is fine during pregnancy.

Any internationalists (outside U.S.) that can comment on your country's safe eating & drinking rules? I'm just curious what other global "rules" and opinions are out there and how they differ from the States.

:0)
Christina
21w5d (or is it 22w5d? I can never remember...how sad)

[stephie4]

agreeing with tahariel, thats what i was thinking, maybe the fish is cleaner/fresher there.

[tahariel]

My husband has the same thoughts about sushi, but my counter is that women in Japan can get fresh sushi straight out of the ocean and probably prepare it themselves fresh too. Our local wonderful sushi restaurant drives to Chicago every Saturday morning for their week's order of fresh seafood, but that's not nearly the same as fresh out of the ocean. Sushi is one of my biggest withdrawals with this pregnancy, but I feel much better (safe than sorry) getting my fix from the non-raw fish varieties and rolls. Luckily everything at that restaurant is delicious, so I don't feel like I'm missing out too much! You can bet that sushi carryout and a glass of plum wine will be one of my first menu requests after baby is born though!

[Lastminutemama]

Oh...forgot a few things: not too much coffee and tea and cola. These are also mentioned for women in the TTC stage. Caffeine can cause premature births and can effect the female fertility.
I used to drink load of coffee a day but drink only 2 cups a day now and fruit juice instead of cola...

[Lastminutemama]

Here are the rules for pregnant women in the Netherlands: no raw meat, no raw fish, no drinking, smoking or drugs (and I do not mean the drugs you get from your doctor;)), no medicine unless prescribed by doctor, no cheese made from raw milk. Even vacum packed smoked salmon is on the watch-out list!
I haven't even eaten sushi since TTC....just to avoid everything!

[sleepless_mom]

Yellowtail Sashimi is the best, maybe I'll have someone bring me some in the hospital! It's my one biggest craving, so far my will power is holding strong :0)

[Tanker Chic]

I have serious sushi withdrawals also.  Dh and I have gone a couple of times since I've been pg.  I do like you and stick to the cooked rolls. It isn't the same, but it is a good fix to get you through it.  

If sushi is properly handled theren't a lot of risk of getting food poisoning but if it is mishandled, you could become very sick.  Other food is often mishandled, but because they cook it, you aren't at as much risk.