Is the tuna I ate going to harm my baby? Urgent!!!?

Question

I am almost 8 weeks pregnant and during these past 2 months I've had canned tuna twice and fresh tuna that was fried and at another time when it was cooked, that was about 24 oz altogether. Is that going to be detrimental to my baby's health??!!! I live in the Caribbean right now.

Answer 1

no.... back in the days eatting fish if you lived need a lake or stream was how you ate.... those babies lived to be okay... so will you..

Answer 2

New studies from the Food and Drug Administration advise that pregnant women should not consume tuna during pregnancy as it contains high mercury. I too consumed a lot of tuna in the first two months of pregnancy....I am 38 weeks along now. But, the important thing to remember is that you only had a small amount, 3 times...that is nothing. Some eat tuna every day. You know now not to eat it, but don't get yourself so worked up about it. I would only be concerned if you ate it every day for your entire pregnancy.

Answer 3

Although you are not really suppose to eat tuna because of the high level of mercury in it. 24 oz of tuna should not hurt your baby. They say it is safe to eat tuna once a week but usually not any more than that.

Congrats and Good LUck

Answer 4

No, relax, you are fine.

Tuna is high in methylmecury, an environmental pollutant, and may cause intellectual problems in your baby if too much is consumed during your childbearing years, while pregnant, or while breastfeeding. There have been contradictory studies on this subject, though.

The seafood/fish highest in methylmercury, which should ALWAYS be avoided are shark, tilefish, King Mackerel, and swordfish.

But it is Ok to have a small amount of tuna once or twice per month. However, I wouldn't have it more than that and I would skip a month, since you ate 24 ounces in two months.

There are seafood choices that are low in methylmercury, including cod, tilapia, shrimp, scallops, crab, lobster, and salmon. Don't know how available they are in the Carribean though.

Good luck!

Answer 5

The only thing I ever heard that would be a problem with Tuna is Mercury. Mercury levels in Tuna are considered safe for everyone to eat. I also doubt that Mercury would be able to cross the placenta boundary to effect you baby in any way.

In general, I think tuna is a great food and one that you should continue as part of your diet.

Answer 6

No, its not.

You can have tuna about once a week without trouble. Better if its once every other week. You can look up the mercury charts. The ones you REALLY need to avoid are things like shark, sword fish, and soft shell crabs.

Also, the baby doesnt share your blood stream and body until about 8-10 weeks when the placenta is formed and finally functional.

Answer 7

My doctor told me I could eat a can of tuna two or three times a week without harming the baby, she did say stay away from Albacore tuna though

Answer 8

As long as the tuna was thorughly cooked you should have no problems. One thing you got to watch out for is mercury poisoning.

In March 2004, FDA and EPA revised its advisories on mercury in fish for pregnant women and young children. Generally they are advised to eat no more than 2 meals of low-mercury fish per week - one can of light tuna or half a tuna steak is considered one meal. FDA recommends to limit albacore white tuna to one meal per week as it is higher in mercury. So check the labels when purchasing canned tuna.

Here is a site that can explain some things about fish and pregnancy.

Answer 9

By following these 3 recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.

Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.
Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.
Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.
Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.
Follow these same recommendations when feeding fish and shellfish to your young child, but serve smaller portions.

I'm almost 9 months now, and I have avoided all fish except crab, shrimp, oyster and ocasionally salmon.
This should make people realize we are polluting our own food.

Cooking does not take out or reduce the amount of mercury in the fish.
The amount you ate should be fine, as long as you have a halthy diet.
A good forum to visit is at mothering.com under discussions. lots of moms to be with lots of information. Good luck and congrats!

Answer 10

You can have tuna once a week, twice if you are eating the chunk light tuna in the can.

I'd avoid albacore tuna steaks, though, since those are notoriously high in mercury.

Answer 11

I ate fresh fish and canned fish until around 23 weeks. My doctor said after that, that fresh fish might not be good for the baby. But canned fish eaten once in awhile such as tuna was fine.
I'd ask my doctor. My doctor was more than willing to explain everything to me. Good luck.