Food and Drinks to Avoid During Pregnancy



Food and Drinks to Avoid During Pregnancy

Raw Meats, Fish, Eggs – Raw meats carry the risk of being contaminated by bacteria that causes food poisoning including Salmonella. It also can transmit Toxoplasmosis and Listeria; both of which are know to cause preterm birth, miscarriages, fetal death and poor growth of the baby. So make sure to fully cook your beef, poultry, seafood and eggs.

Fish High in Mercury or From Highly Polluted Waters – Being exposed to elevated mercury levels in pregnancy has been shown to effect brain development in the fetus. Larger fish have higher levels of mercury so avoid fish like shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Canned tuna does have some mercury, but can be eaten in moderation. This means you can eat 2 servings/week of shrimp, tuna, salmon, and cod

Soft Cheeses and Deli Meats – Soft cheeses and deli meats can be contaminated by Listeria, a bacteria known to cause miscarriages. So avoid soft cheese like Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, Feta, Gorgonzola, Blue Cheese and Mexican style cheeses like Queso Blanco, Queso Fresco, unless it clearly states that it was made from pasteurized milk. And avoid deli meats unless thoroughly cooked.

Caffeine – Caffeine can be consumed in moderation. Too much though can lead to miscarriages and poor growth of the baby. The magic number is 200mg per day. This amounts to 1 cup of coffee and 1 can of pop.

Alcohol – No amount of alcohol is safe for the baby. Alcohol exposure has been linked to stillbirth, miscarriage and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome which is characterized by low IQ, heart defects, and developmental delay. Do not forget that it also is transmitted to the breast milk, so avoid its use if breastfeeding as well.

Liver – Liver contains high levels of vitamin A which has been linked to some birth defects. So enjoy, but only in moderation.

Artificial Sweetners – No studies of artificial sweetners have shown conclusive evidence that they cause any harm to the fetus. Despite this some organizations recommend caution in their use. As always, the safest thing to do is avoid it altogether.

Sources:

American Pregnancy Association:

MayoClinic:

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WebMd: baby/features/food-to-avoid-when-youre-pregnant

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