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Does Eating Raw Eggs Cause Problems In The Growing Fetus?

Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2014

Question: I am 17 weeks pregnant with twins. I ate a sandwich at Wendy's....I asked for it to have no sauce....I checked before I started eating...it looked fine, towards the middle, it tasted a little different so I checked again....there was sauce on it....I asked what kind and was told garlic aoili and was shown the ingredients and it had eggs, which I guess would have been raw.....I am so scared.....what did I expose babies to? Toxoplasmosis? Listeria? Ecoli?

Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Babies have not been exposed to anything

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to Healthcare-Magic
Greetings of the day

Dear Ms XXXXXXX

Let me reassure you there is no cause for concern.
Eating raw eggs does not expose the growing fetus in the womb to anything. First and foremost its less likely that the eggs are infected, even if they are infected you will be exposed to Salmonella which usually causes gastro-enteritis ( diarrhoea) in mother. This infection does not enter blood. Even if any infection enters blood there is Placental barrier which does not transmit the infection to fetus.
Rest be assured, you can eat anything which you like and you do not have to be worried about it.

In case you require any further assistance, kindly get back to me will be glad to assist you.

Take care

Wishing you a very happy and safe motherhood.

Best Regards

Dr Deepak Kishore
MBBS,MS,MCH
Consultant Pediatric Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (5 minutes later)

I have alot of anxiety about foods to avoid....so much so it's affecting my ability to enjoy my pregnancy....
Are there foods to be avoided? I am going to a party tomorrow where they are serving lasagna....all the soft cheeses (ricotta) will be cooked so I guess that is OK?.....
I am constantly harassing my husband about food safety....if you touch something, can listeria and toxoplasmosis live on it? I just want to have healthy babies so badly

Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Enjoy all the foods you like during pregnancy

Detailed Answer:
Hi
There is absolutely no reason to be worried about safety of food. You can eat whatever you like, if the nutrition is good the babies will definitely be healthy. Also pamper yourself with good food, cherish your taste buds. None of the infections transmitted through consumption of infected food will affect the babies.
Enjoy the party.
Wishing you happy and healthy pregnancy.
We have been recently blessed with an XXXXXXX bless her.

Take Care

Best Regards
Dr Deepak

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar