Ask Pregnancy Question

Jack:

It isn’t safe to eat RAW FISH.
You are asking whether something containing only COOKED SHRIMP and COOKED CRAB is safe?
Isn’t it a bit obvious?

Motherhood is cool!:

Get use to not being able to eat things that you normally would for a while.

You can’t eat anything that has a shell…no shrimp, no crab, no lobster. The only SAFE seafood for you right now is swordfish and tuna, and even those are in moderation.

It’s only 9 months, why risk it!

Bailey's Mom :-):

I did some research, and I also included some comments from other people on this matter, I hope you find it helpful!!! And to put your mind at ease and to clear up any confusion you might have on this matter !

Larry Pickering, infectious disease specialist

I would say no. Although the chances of getting a parasitic infection from eating sushi are slim, the consequences are severe enough that you wouldn’t want to take the risk.

Parasites live in the meat of raw fish. While sushi chefs are very careful, that doesn’t mean they detect every single parasite. And because pregnancy suppresses your immune system, you’re much more susceptible to serious illness from any food-borne organism.

A parasitic infection probably couldn’t get through the placental barrier, but a parasitic infection could give you liver or gastrointestinal problems that might then affect your baby. Some parasitic infections can lead to anemia or serious malnourishment in the mother or even cause miscarriage.

There’s also the risk of eating fish that has a marine toxin in it. Bluefish, mackerel, mahi-mahi, and tuna can carry a histamine toxin that may cause flushing, dizziness, and burning of the mouth and throat.

Melinda Johnson, dietitian

Cooked, yes; raw, no. Raw sushi may contain bacteria that can make you sick during pregnancy. Your immune system is suppressed during pregnancy so your body won’t attack the growing fetus, but this means you’re more susceptible to getting sick from food.

A food-borne illness could lead to symptoms as minor as a mild bout of the flu or severe enough to cause miscarriage or other fetal damage.

Member Comments

I had sashimi and sushi to celebrate my first pregnancy. I’m Asian, and it’s what we do! Well, after my ob-gyn stared at me blankly for a sec and then emphatically said, “No more until your baby is born,” I stopped. Her reason had more to do with issues of food handling and prep than the sashimi itself. It’s one thing if you eat right where it’s caught and you know the quality, but why risk it? Baby comes first. Also, we need to keep in mind the high levels of mercury in the larger fish, like tuna (my stomach’s growling as I write this), so it’s best to stay on the safe side. I had my friends and family bring sashimi and sushi rolls to the hospital when I delivered. It was the best ever. Right now I’m enjoying cali rolls, eel rolls, shrimp rolls, etc.. I’m getting by! Was tempted to taste and toss my hubby’s spicy salmon, but refrained.
posted 11/21/2007 by Anonymous

My sister in law, who is asian, says pregnant women in asian countries have ate sushi and other seafoods for hundreds of years and their children have turned out fine. Since its part of her culture she ate it while she was pregnant and everything was fine. But there is always that low risk, and with our food supply today… our red meats, spinach…. what else has been found with saleminila (sorry dont know to spell it). So there is a risk in any thing we eat today it seems.
posted 10/02/2007 by dd&kikismom

There is no real risk big risk in eating sushi or sashimi…as most Japanese mothers continue to eat it through out their pregnancies. As for the freshness of the fish…being pregnant you don’t have to worry about that either since that’s the exact reason why pregnant women have a very strong sense of smell! Just remember that if you can smell fish…don’t eat it! And FYI: a california roll is not sushi…since it was actually created in the US and uses no raw fish it’s safe. Well as long as it’s not left out in the heat for hours. (Living in China for 5 years and lived in Japan before that!)
posted 12/17/2007 by China-Doll

My doctor told me that sushi and sashimi is fine as long as I avoid the high-mercury fish. Eating raw fish is just as dangerous as eating, say, red meat since that can be contaminated as well. The fear that surrounds eating sushi and sashimi during pregnancy seems more like paranoia.
posted 11/26/2007 by daffodils32

It’s my understanding that sushi sold i the US has to be flash frozen before ebign served and that this process kill anything in there. My OB practically laughed when I asked if I coudl eat it. He said– do they have babies in Japan? Nough said. He went on to say to enjoy it i moderation, avoiding high mercury fish in large quantities. He stressed I shoudl only eat plaecs I had long experince with (I live in a Southern Cali beach town and have a very upscale place I’ve frequented for a decade) he also told me not to eat raw bottom feeders or raw shellfish. Makes sense to me.
posted 4/06/2008 by katywithchild

I can’t eat seafood because I’m allergic to it, but I am of Japanese origin and have lots of friends still in Japan. Yes, women still eat raw fish in Japan while pregnant, but you also have to realize that eating sushi in Japan and eating sushi made here in North America is different.

Rachel D:

Oh don’t listen to the woman who said it isn’t safe at all, with things in shells. That’s incorrect. As long as it’s cooked your good. I ate cooked sushi as well. I know of other women who did the same and had healthy babies. It’s insane how overly cautious people are these days. It’s all for a very good reason of course, but we shouldn’t all go crazy.

YAY my Eggo is Preggo!!:

If you are in the US, the sushi that is prepared for you contains flash frozen fish, therefore it is ok to eat. Still don’t go eat it every day, but in moderation it is fine. I have actually found one sushi that is cooked, its called crunchy sushi, it has cucumber, crab, cream cheese, and maybe avocado. Just make sure to ok this with your doctor, and when find a place around you that gets their fish in that has been flash frozen.

Also the lady saying that shrimp and such is not good is wrong!

Fish with High levels of Mercury Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish

12 oz. (~2 meals) of Low-Mercury Fish per week shrimp, crab, cod, clams, scallops, canned light tuna, canned salmon, pollock, and catfish etc.
Note: Albacore “White” tuna contains more mercury. Limit 6 oz (~1 meal) of albacore tuna per week.

This came from the 2nd website below, it explains sushi and pregnancy.

in the United States pregnant women are scared away from Sushi. “Don’t eat any raw fish, it can harm you. There are bacteria, there are parrasites.” But none of these warnings is specific about which bacteria and which parasites are not safe in Sushi during pregnancy. And they often fail to mention that fish eaten in a Sushi restaurant in the US is usually flash frozen by the distributers before it gets to the restaurant. Any parasites or bacteria in the fish is usually killed during the process