Pregnancy is an amazing time in a woman’s life. Nurturing and growing this new person can certainly feel amazing. During this time, you want to make sure that you are feeding yourself and your developing baby the best possible foods. To help keep you both safe, the following are some foods and beverages which are NOT safe for consumption during pregnancy:
Alcohol: There seems to be a lot of news lately about having a drink or two during pregnancy, but there are warning labels on beer, wine, and alcohol bottles for a reason. Drinking during pregnancy can lead to frightening complications for your baby. It’s best to shelf any drinking until after your baby arrives.
Related Post: Drinking While Pregnant
Raw eggs: Not that many of us normally consume these in our diets, but they are used in the some of the homemade dressings for Caesar salads and homemade milkshakes and ice-cream. Raw eggs can contain the bacteria salmonella and can make you very sick. Eggs are an excellent source of protein. Just remember that any eggs consumed should be fully cooked.
Raw fish and seafood: No one loves sushi more then I! But raw fish and seafood can have bacteria and parasites; nasty things to consume while pregnant. Make sure all shellfish is cooked until it is firm and that fish is cooked through. Some fish, even fully cooked should be limited to two servings per week while pregnant because of the risk of high mercury levels. These include tuna, shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, mahi-mahi, and grouper. Healthier, low-mercury, seafood choices include shrimp, crab, salmon, pollock, cod and tilapia.
Unpasteurized dairy, soft cheeses, and deli meat: These foods often contain the bacteria Listeria. Studies have shown that women who consume unpasteurized dairy have a much higher risk of becoming very sick and may pass along this bacterium to their fetus (Jackson). All non-pasteurized or raw dairy (and apple cider) should be avoided. Examples of soft cheeses are brie, feta, goat, Mexican cheese, farmer’s cheese, and camembert. Don’t toss the whole cheese drawer out yet! You don’t have to avoid all cheeses. Pasteurized cheeses can go be a good source of calcium. Deli meats, including hot dogs, can be eaten as long as they are cooked in a microwave, but limit these and other processed meats as they tend to be high in saturated fats and sodium. Stick with well-done, lean cuts of fresh meats whenever possible.
Caffeine: Caffeine doesn’t need to be completely avoided during pregnancy, but 200 milligrams per day should be the cutoff point. That equals about one, 12-ounce cup of regular coffee. Remember that caffeine is also found in tea (except herbal), some soft drinks, chocolate, and coffee-flavored ice creams.
Seeing that you are on the Mommy Posh website, you’re the kind of woman that wants to look and feel good about yourself. Feeling healthy means you feel fabulous, so enjoy this special time in your life by taking the best care of you and your soon-to-be addition with the healthiest diet you can provide.
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Guest Blogger Darcie Sosa is a Dietetic Technician at Everyday Health.
Too much celery is another bad thing for women who are expecting. A stalk here or there is fine, but a lot of times expectant mothers who are trying not to gain too much will eat the stuff because it’s low calorie. It can actually lead to miscarriage and premature birth if eaten in large quantities, and yet that information doesn’t get passed around enough.
Thanks for your comment. Alot of pregnant women are so unaware of the things that are bad for them. Thanks for sharing. Keep em coming.