Anyone Else Without Toxoplasmosis Antibodies?

[Amelia01]

hi

I'm 20+ weeks pg and on top of being ultra-diligent with being gluten-free and avoid all possible contamination (have been gluten-free for 1 year) I also need to be extremely cautious with all the foods that are no-no's in pregnancy.

I don't have the antibodies to toxoplasmosis, so am soaking all fruits and vegetables that I intend to eat raw/without skin in baking soda but when added to the no undercooked meats, no eggs/egg products that aren't fully cooked, no deli-meats, no unpasteurized cheeses, no mercury-laden fish etc etc etc I wonder really what is left on the menu.

I am finding it extremely difficult to eat out. It is hard enough with the gluten-free explanation but when crossing off half of the menu due to foods to avoid in pregnancy I am at wits end. And if I get served one more naked rubber chicken breast or an entire plate of grilled zucchini I am going to scream!

Is there anyone else in the same boat? Does anyone have any suggestions to how to get proper nutrition without putting baby at risk? Can baby and I maintain our almost exclusive diet of ice cream ?

thanks!

Amelia

[slmprofesseur]

Hats off to you. I ate everything! My favorite place was the Rancho Viejo- Mexican restaurant. I would order things with corn tortillas, beans, rice...

I put deli meat in the microwave...lol

My OB said salmon was ok at a max of 1-2x per month.

(I craved watermelon all the time!)

Have you considered a Greek salad? --Is feta cheese ok? I think its pasteurized.

I am probably not much help! But good luck!

Ps. is it a boy or a girl?

[cloesb]

no offense but you're going a little overboard. only 15% of the population has the antibodies - 85% are exactly in the same boat you are....thats why there are guidelines to follow. btw - those same guidelines apply to listeria which is actually more prevelant. even if you had the antibodies, you'd still have to eat the same way. if it makes you feel better only 800 babies out of 1 million get taxoplasmosis and those are moms that don't usually have good prenatal care. i've never heard of anyone soaking the fruit - but washing it is always important anyway. none of those restrictions are fun & with both my pregnancies i had to watch my sugar as well - it was aweful b/c i craved fruit. i felt like i couldn't eat anything.

just so you know - pregnancy hormones can make you super paranoid....i was out of control in my 1st pregnancy. i was worried about everything. it was completely different with my 2nd. just try to take a deep breath and relax - you're definitely doing the best you can....