Which Foods to Eat and Avoid During Pregnancy

When you’re pregnant, many people advise you to eat for two. However, you should be careful of what to eat and what not for the proper development of your baby in your womb.

You can consume certainly foods rarely, while some other pregnant women food needs to be avoided. Here are certain foods and beverages that you need to avoid when you’re pregnant:

Certain Types of Cheese

You cannot eat mold-ripened soft cheese like chevre, brie, and camembert, and other similar types. Also, avoid blue-veined cheeses like gorgonzola or Danish blue. These are made from mold can include listeria, a particular type of bacteria that’s harmful to an unborn baby.

While listeria infection (listeriosis) is rare, you must take precautions during pregnancy. This is because even a minor illness can lead to stillbirth, miscarriage, or other conditions.

On the other hand, you can eat cheeses like stilton, parmesan, and cheddar, as they are made from unpasteurized milk. Other types of cheeses (made of pasteurized milk) that you can eat are cottage cheese, cream cheese, mozzarella, goat’s cheese, paneer, halloumi, and cheese spreads.

- Pâté

You have to avoid all sorts of pâté, such as vegetable pâtés. This is because they include listeria.

- Partially Cooked or Raw Eggs

During pregnancy avoid eating partially cooked or raw eggs because there’s a risk of food poisoning caused by salmonella.

- Undercooked or Raw Meat

Also, avoid eating raw meat can cause toxoplasmosis, which is an infection that’s caused by a parasite found in meat, cat feces, soil, and untreated water. If preparing meat, make sure to cook it properly.

- Liver Products

Avoid eating liver or liver-based products like liver sausage or liver pâté, as it contains a lot of vitamin A that can harm your baby. 

- Supplements Including Vitamin A

Avoid consuming high-dose multivitamin supplements, vitamin A supplements, and fish liver oil supplements.

- Certain Types of Fish

While fish contains essential omega 3 fatty acids and protein that are recommended in pregnancy, certain types of fish with high mercury levels must be avoided. The high mercury content can affect the nervous system of your baby. So, it’s best to avoid eating fishes with high mercury levels, such as broadbill, shark, swordfish and marlin.

- Pre-packaged Salads

Avoid pre-packaged salads, like these, can increase the risk of listeria infection.

- Sushi

Avoid eating chilled seafood like sushi, raw oysters, sashimi, ready-to-eat prawns, etc. that increase the risk of listeria infection. If you want to enjoy sushi, it is best to try vegetarian or fully cooked varieties.

- Unpasteurized Milk

Don’t consumer unpasteurized goat’s or sheep’s milk or eat food that is made out of them, such as soft goat cheese. These products can also cause listeria infection.

- Alcohol

You must know there’s no safe alcohol level during pregnancy. Whether you are planning pregnancy, breastfeeding, or pregnant, avoid drinking alcohol, as it can harm your unborn baby.

- Caffeine

The increased level of caffeine can also increase the risk of low birth weight, miscarriage, and difficulty in birth. Caffeine is found in foods like tea, coffee chocolate, and some energy or soft drinks.

There’s no need to cut caffeine completely. But don’t consume more than 200 mg per day.

Conclusion

If you have consumed any of these foods or drinks that are not good during pregnancy, don’t panic. If it didn’t make you ill, it won’t affect you and your unborn child. Consult your doctor or midwife about what things you can eat and what foods to avoid during pregnancy.