During pregnancy, it’s important to avoid certain foods and drinks that can pose a health risk to you or your baby, including alcohol, unpasteurized dairy products, raw fish, and deli meats. Fish with high levels of mercury should also be eaten in moderation. Consult with your doctor for a complete list of foods to avoid.
Pregnancy means certain sacrifices. Among these is giving up some foods that could pose a health risk to you or your developing baby. There are many foods to avoid during pregnancy to minimize risk.
First of all, while it’s not technically food, you should stay away from beer, wine, and other types of alcohol. These drinks can have a completely adverse effect on your child, can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, and even in the smallest amounts can reduce your child’s intelligence. Most doctors recommend that you not drink alcohol during pregnancy. However, some doctors recommend that you have a glass of wine or beer towards the end of your pregnancy if you are uncomfortable with Braxton-Hicks contractions. Only do this on the doctor’s recommendation and not at any other time.
Other foods to avoid during pregnancy that are actually drinks include water in developing countries. Drink bottled water instead. Also avoid unpasteurized juices, herbal teas (unless approved by a doctor), and keep caffeine from beverages low.
Although fish can be healthy, many types of fish are not considered wise to eat during pregnancy or should be eaten in smaller amounts. Canned tuna, most types of swordfish, mackerel, and many types of ocean fish can contain high levels of mercury. Fish caught in lakes or streams can have high levels of bacteria, which can also be unsafe. Check with your doctor which types of fish to avoid and which types of fish you can eat in moderation.
Often times there are many foods you can eat, but the foods to avoid during pregnancy may be raw variants of “edible” foods. For example, you shouldn’t eat raw fish or shellfish, or improperly cooked meats. This is especially true when it comes to things like deli meats and hot dogs. These can contain listeria, which can cause devastating pregnancy loss. All deli meats and hot dogs should be heated through, even if they are already cooked, to kill listeria bacteria.
Some additional foods to avoid during pregnancy include unpasteurized dairy products and most soft cheeses. Even if you crave Brie, stay away from him. Cheeses like Brie and Camembert may contain unsafe levels of listeria, which can put your pregnancy at risk. However, you can safely eat soft cheese like American cream cheese.
If you’re not sure which foods to avoid during pregnancy, talk to your obstetrician. They may have a list of common types of foods to avoid. If you or the father of the baby have a family history of food allergies, especially to things like peanut butter, even if you are not allergic to them, you may want to skip these foods during pregnancy. Some medical experts suggest that fetal exposure to even things like peanut butter may also increase the likelihood that the fetus will develop food allergies.
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