Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

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Some foods should be avoided during pregnancy because of the risk of damage to the fetus or miscarriage. Damage can be caused by the bacteria listeria, salmonella, E coli, and the element mercury in foods eaten by pregnant women.

1 Listeria
- 1.1 To reduce your risk
- 1.2 Foods to avoid
2 Salmonella and E coli
- 2.1 To reduce your risk
- 2.2 Foods to avoid
3 Mercury in fish
4 Artificial Sweeteners
5 Are you newly pregnant?

[edit] Listeria

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause a gastrointestinal illness called listeriosis and is marked with nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, confusion, loss of balance and diarrhea. In the most extreme cases it can be fatal to the mother. Often the bacteria is present but does not cause the mother any ill effects but it still can harm the baby. Symptoms can take days to weeks to appear. Pregnant women are more likely to get listeria than other healthy adults.

Listeria is unusual in that it thrives at refrigerator temperatures, unlike other foodborne bacteria. Pregnant women and their unborn children are very susceptible to the illness. If listeria is contracted in the first trimester of pregnancy, it may cause miscarriage. Later in the pregnancy listeria can cause premature labor and birth defects.

Listeriosis can be contracted by eating certain refrigerated, ready to eat foods. It also can come from eating contaminated food processed in an unsafe manner and by eating vegetables that are contaminated with soil or manure.

[edit] To reduce your risk

To avoid listeria follow these precautions:

Keep your refrigerator at 40 degrees or lower and the freezer at 0 degrees. Verify the readings with a thermometer.

Put up foods that have been out of the fridge or freezer within 2 hours and throw it away if it has been out longer. If the air temperature is above 90 degrees, throw them out after one hour.

Use up all perishables as soon as possible after purchasing them. Buy smaller packages more often to ensure freshness. Check the expiration dates on the foods that you eat. Throw out any food that has passed the use by date.

Clean your refrigerator regularly with hot water and dish soap followed by a rinse. Don’t forget to wash the walls and the underside of the shelves and wipe up any new messes right away.

[edit] Foods to avoid

List of foods to avoid during pregnancy because of the risk of listeria:

Hot dogs and lunch meat unless they are reheated until they are steaming hot.

Soft cheeses such as feta or brie, blue cheeses, or any cheese made with unpasteurized milk.

Refrigerated pates or meat spreads.

Fish sold in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.

It is safe to eat canned meat and fish and pasteurized milk products. Hard cheese, cream cheese and cottage cheese are all safe to eat.

[edit] Salmonella and E coli

Salmonella and E coli are bacteria that are found in the intestines of animals. Foods contaminated with the bacteria that are then eaten can cause illness ranging from mild diarrhea to serious disease such as typhoid fever. Commonly salmonella and E coli will cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever 18-36 hours after exposure and lasts 2-3 days. The affected person can carry the bacterium in their body for months afterwards. Extreme cases of salmonella poisoning can infect the blood and internal organs. Salmonella also can be transmitted by the handling of animals so avoid touching animals such as ducklings and chicks and especially any reptiles like turtles and iguana.

[edit] To reduce your risk

To avoid salmonella during pregnancy:

Wash your hands frequently and especially after using or cleaning the bathroom, after changing a diaper, after doing laundry or after touching pets or their things.

Wash your hands before, during and after preparing foods. Wash your hands when you switch from preparing one type of food to another.

Wash everything that came into contact with raw meat, and do not use any surface that has come into contact with raw meat before it has been sterilized.

Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.

No pets in the food preparation area, and do not clean any pet cages in the kitchen sink or bathtub.

Reptiles should not roam freely in the house.

Cook all foods to the proper temperature.

[edit] Foods to avoid

Foods to avoid during pregnancy because of the risk of salmonella:

Raw vegetable sprouts.

Unpasteurized fruit and vegetable juices.

Undercooked or raw meats and eggs.

Unpasteurized milk.

[edit] Mercury in fish

Mercury levels in fish have been found to be rising and the FDA advises that pregnant and nursing women limit their consumption of fish. Mercury is toxic and can harm the nervous system of babies and infants. Mercury builds up in the fatty tissues of fish. Larger, long living fish have the most mercury and the FDA advises against eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish while pregnant or nursing. The safest fish to eat are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish. The FDA states that 12 ounces per week can safely be eaten per week if a variety of fish are eaten. Only 6 ounces of albacore tuna are recommended per week. Never eat raw fish, and follow all local advisories for sport fish.

[edit] Artificial Sweeteners

When pregnant, you should only consume artificial sweeteners in moderation. Currently there is a lack of conclusive evidence on the effects on these substances on the unborn baby, so it is always better to err on the side of caution.

Artificial sweeteners contain many calories, but few vitamins or minerals. It is wise to substitute any foods that may contain them with healthier alternatives, so that your baby does not miss out on any of the essential nutrients needed to grow and thrive within the womb.