Expecting a baby provides great excitement for the soon-to-be parents. You prepare for everything baby clothes, your baby’s room, where to give birth but your baby’s health is most essential. During pregnancy, it is very important to remember what the mother eats, and the baby eats too. Your baby will benefit from eating healthy and nutritious foods. However, you should also watch out for foods that might harm you or your baby. Here are lists of foods to avoid a safe pregnancy:
1. Fish high in mercury
While fish, especially oily fish is abundant in Omega-3 fatty acids good for the brain and the heart, some fish may contain high levels of mercury which can be very harmful to you and your baby. Pregnant women are recommended to eat two portions of fish in a week but should totally avoid fish with very high mercury content.
Fish with highest mercury content
Fish big are very likely to contain more mercury because they live longer, so they take in more mercury in their bodies.
Fish advisable for consumption in pregnant women:
Lowest in mercury
Low in mercury
2. Patés
All kinds of patés, made from fish, meat and even vegetable should be avoided when pregnant. Eating pates may cause listeriosis, a type of food poisoning caused by the bacteria Listeria most present in pates compared to other foods. Although listeriosis is a rare type of poisoning and the risk of being affected is low, you must take extra precaution for it can cause miscarriage, premature birth and even death of your baby.
3. Uncooked or undercooked food
Foods such as meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, and eggs should be thoroughly cooked. Raw foods may contain bacteria and viruses that will cause food poisoning which can be extremely harmful to your baby. Meats should be cooked until there is no sign of blood, eggs should be cooked until the egg white, and egg yolk is firm. Cook shellfish such as clams, lobsters, and mussels up to 145 ° F. Instead of buying sushi, homemade are more advisable.
4. Unwashed Vegetables
Vegetables are nutritious, and a must-eat but should be washed thoroughly to avoid being exposed to Toxoplasmosis, a rare but severe infection of the blood. Toxoplasma, a parasite, contaminates the soil where the vegetables are planted may contaminate the vegetables as well.
5. Unpasteurized Foods
Unpasteurized foods especially dairy, such as milk and soft cheeses should be avoided. They may also contain Listeria and cause food poisoning. Soft cheeses such as Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, Feta and Gorgonzola and Mexican style cheeses should be avoided unless the label clearly states the milk used is pasteurized.
6. Caffeinated Beverages
Coffee and soft drinks should be avoided during the first trimester of your pregnancy and should be taken in moderation after. Some studies associate caffeine with miscarriages, underweight babies, and premature birth. Instead of beverages with caffeine choose fresh fruit juices, pasteurized milk and most importantly water.
7. Alcoholic Drinks
Alcohol, even in moderate amounts will never do anything good throughout the nine months of pregnancy and even when breastfeeding. Completely refrain from alcoholic drinks. Alcohol intake can harm your baby’s development and may cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. FAS are conditions resulting from being exposed to alcohol when you are pregnant. Your baby may suffer from vision impairment, physical deformities, learning disorders, mental retardation and behavioral problems. FAS may differ from child to child, but these defects are not reversible.
