Pregnant at Christmas: what can I eat and drink?

Being pregnant during the holidays has this magical little taste... A baby that comes to life in the pit of your belly during these long winter days, a whole family to announce the nice news! But behind the flashing tree and the songs of Mariah Carey lies the Christmas meal puzzle. Cheese, foie gras, oysters, alcohol... The list of foods forbidden during pregnancy is long. In question? The risks of listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, which can be found in the smallest mayonnaise made with raw eggs. The food subtleties are numerous as you can read in our article. With our sidekicks from the May team, we answer all your questions. Objective: to have a zen Christmas, at least on your plate. A small bonus, we give you all our secrets for trips without too much fatigue.
Enceinte à Noël : qu'ai-je le droit de manger et de boire ?

Mary: Let's talk about food during the holidays. This is a subject that garnered a lot of attention! During pregnancy, what can you eat at Christmas?

Léa, midwife and medical content manager at May: During pregnancy, there are plenty of dietary restrictions. These precautions aim to rule out toxoplasmosis and listeriosis. During the first medical consultation, serology is performed to learn if one is immune to toxoplasmosis. On the other hand, listeriosis affects all pregnant women. It is a rare disease that affects 300-400 people a year throughout France.

Here is a summary of the tips:

  • Raw oysters, shellfish, and seafood should be avoided. Indeed, Listeria, possibly present in these raw foods, is a bacterium killed by heat. As soon as you eat cooked food, the risk of listeriosis is eliminated. On the other hand, oysters that are often eaten raw present a risk. Cooked shrimp is ok.
  • Avoid uncooked smoked salmon. If it has been put in the oven, cooked in a quiche, for example, then we have the right.
  • For fans of foie gras: we say no to homemade foie gras, raw or semi-cooked. We say yes to foie gras cooked in a pan and to foie gras in pasteurized and industrial jars.
  • Cheese: in general, pasteurized cheeses are allowed, not others. Pregnant raclette is also allowed as the cheese is cooked! Listeria bacteria are killed with very cooked cheese so it doesn't matter if you eat unpasteurized cheese... as long as it's well heated and cooked.
  • For delicatessen dishes, it is advisable to cook them again before tasting in order to avoid bacterial contamination.
  • Cured foods need to be annealed.
  • Frozen dishes such as raw salmon or sushi present a risk of listeriosis. This bacteria is resistant to cold weather. It is not recommended to eat frozen sushi when you are pregnant. It is toxoplasmosis that is destroyed by the cold.
  • If you eat frozen vegetables, the risk of toxoplasmosis is avoided by freezing.
  • Desserts such as custard or uncooked Christmas log, made with raw eggs, should be avoided. In industrial preparations, cooks often use pasteurized raw eggs, so you have the right. Take a good look at the ingredients list.
  • Beware of homemade mayonnaise made with fresh eggs. Industrial mayonnaise is often made with pasteurized raw eggs and that's ok.
  • Fish, capons, turkeys and other meats are allowed as long as they are well cooked.

Mary: No alcohol and pregnancy now. Can you drink a small glass of champagne during the holidays when you are pregnant?

Lea: Throughout pregnancy, there is zero tolerance to alcohol, even at 8 and a half months! There can be repercussions from the beginning to the end of pregnancy due to any spirit (wine, champagne...). The risks are poorly formative and/or cerebral. They can affect the child with attention disorders, learning delays, and much worse. You take zero risks by banning glasses of wine and the like from the beginning to the end of pregnancy. The party will also be crazy with alternatives like JNPR.

Mary: For nursing mothers, what can they eat on New Year's Eve?

Lea: During breastfeeding, there are no particular dietary contraindications. It's great to eat everything on a balanced diet. Unless you have a specific avoidance regime when a specific allergy in children is suspected.

Mary: Are breast-feeding women allowed to drink alcohol?

Lea: It is always recommended not to drink when giving breast milk. It takes three hours for alcohol to be eliminated in breast milk. If you can get organized and without risk for the baby, why not have a drink. The risk is present with a toddler and breastfeeding on demand. Potentially, the baby can quickly ask and the three hours are not up... That's a lot of calculations to aim right! Some moms use a breast pump to replace the next feed with milk drawn before. Each one does as she wants.

Mary: Alcohol-free beers sometimes contain a small percentage, is that a risk?

Lea: You have to look at the labels carefully. The less you consume, the better. Dishes cooked with wine are also a tricky issue. Theoretically, when alcohol is heated, it evaporates. But how long has the dish been heated etc. And also... alcohol never really goes away from a dish. It's hard to measure. This is up to everyone's discretion.

Mary: For women who are less than three months away during the holidays, what do you recommend doing? Enjoy Christmas and tell your family the news or keep it a secret if you don't want to tell it?

Lea: It's a personal choice! Announcing a pregnancy early is possible if you want to, even if potentially, there is a risk. Whatever happens, it is a happy event, that of building something. If you are not comfortable, don't tell your family. It is difficult compared to the restrictions. One solution when you want to hide your condition is to say that you are planning to have a child!

Marie: how to manage fatigue and the rhythm of the holidays when you are pregnant?

Lea: Already, if you are tired, talk to your health professional to check for anemia (lack of iron). You can supplement yourself with iron in order to be in better shape.

Then listen to yourself! Set up nap times and go to bed earlier if possible. Let go of the non-essential: your body already makes a human being, it's exhausting. Adopt a cool program and clean yourself up.

Mary: What advice do you give to pregnant women to stay healthy during this period?

Lea: Surround yourself with caring people! The holidays can be a time when you see malicious people you don't have in your daily life. It's a stressful time when you take comments from each other. You have to surround yourself with people who want you well, just like in real life.

Pregnancy is a stage where you have the right to say no to certain numbers of things, such as a trip to the end of the world or toxic people around you.

You don't need to do this, but if necessary, bring up pregnancy fatigue to refuse some trips.

Mary: Is it safe to travel during this time?

Lea: Unless otherwise indicated by your doctor, there are no limits for traveling by car or train during pregnancy. On the other hand, car trips can cause tightness or contractions. The train is more comfortable. You can get up, move, go to the bathroom... Traveling during pregnancy is much more tiring.

Organize a lighter trip (by train, instead of by car), take regular breaks, get up and walk... It is beneficial for his health. Even for long trips, you might plan to stop with an overnight break so you don't have to make the trip all at once.

In any case, during the trip, stay hydrated and wear compression stockings from the start of pregnancy! This advice is valid outside of pregnancy. When you have problems with blood circulation in your legs, compression stockings relieve everyone. If you sit too much or on the plane, the majority of people come out with swollen ankles and shoes that are too small. The feet swelled up!

Another advantage is that compression stockings are covered by Social Security. So, go to your health professional, midwife, gynecologist or general practitioner to get it prescribed for you. Consider teleconsultation if you cannot travel!

There are all models of compression stockings: socks, socks, socks, socks, cotton, linen, bamboo and for all skin tones. We are far from grandma's ugly compression stockings that we hide.

Mary: What do you recommend taking with you when you travel?

Lea: For any trip away from home, we advise you to bring your medical file with checkups, ultrasounds... If necessary, you will have all the information at your fingertips. If you want, bring along your pregnancy pillow.

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