Maximum Weight Gain of 10 kg
In Japan, doctors believe that overweight mothers-to-be may have a higher risk of pregnancy or childbirth complications. Hence, all expectant mothers are told to diligently watch their diet and limit their weight gain to 10 kg during pregnancy.
Back where I came from, this may be are encouraged to eat for two (or even three or even four). Thus, they were gaining weight faster than their Japanese counterparts. As for me, I ate in moderation as I secretly hope to return to my pre-pregnant body with the least effort possible.
Eventually, my maximum weight gain was 9 kg. Though after delivery I was only 2 kg heavier than I had previously been, my joy was brief. I soon realized that it was taking forever to lose that extra weight. Sniff ~~>_<~~
Sushi – the food to avoid?
In many parts of the world, pregnant women eating sushi are not only frowned upon but strictly forbidden. Since I am unable to resist sushi, I am glad to be in Japan. Like any Japanese mother-to-be, I continued to eat raw seafood throughout my pregnancy. Even shortly after childbirth, the hospital threw me an Oiwai Gozen (celebratory feast) to celebrate the safe delivery of my son, and sashimi was on the menu.
I’m American. I had both my kids in Japan. I remember I asked my doctor if it was okay if I ate sashimi and sushi while pregnant, because I LOVE the stuff. He looked at me as if I were crazy and said of course! The only negative comment I ever heard about watching what you eat is watching for fish that has higher mercury content — like some salmon.
There is always the off chance of food poisoning, but I think in Japan the chance of food poisoning from raw fish is only a tiny amount more likely than poisoning from any other food. In OTHER countries, where sashimi isn’t as common, I’d expect it to be more of a problem (less experienced chefs!).
I thought this was all hilarious, especially since everyone back home was saying “Of course you can’t eat raw fish!”
I did get lots of speeches about watching my weight gain. I’ve never had a light build — I’m part Japanese, but my build definitely comes from my heavier-set northern European ancestry, except for my waist-to-hip ratio — and I’ve struggled with my weight since college.
Interestingly, with my first son, I had a bad time and surgery afterward and a limited diet for several days. (My doctor was REALLY worried about the water gain I had over the three weeks.) I didn’t get the special dinner. With my second son, I had him so quickly, I had gained less weight over the pregnancy — not just less water, less weight period — that they gave me the special dinner, no restricted diet or anything, and I was out of the hospital in four days. My husband thought it was wacky food, but I was thrilled — and there was salmon sashimi and smoked salmon in it!
Oh Kim, glad u belong to the Sushi & Sashimi Circle of trust! Pregnant or not, they will always be on the top of my food list. ^_^ Actually other than raw seafood, like most people in the world, I’ve yet to get use to the idea of eating raw meat. With the recent news on raw beef food-poisoning incidents and deaths, I guess I will never try (and definitely no no no horse meat for me – raw or not!!!) 😛
Dionnie-san so cannot eat sashimi during pregnancy is a myth? Ha! Great! Dun think so much. I not pregnant yet. Hee hee
Must let me know when you pregnant ah! b^_^d faster faster!