Very few things in life are greater or more precious than giving birth to a healthy and fit baby. In fact, during the nine months of pregnancy, it is every mother’s dream to conceive a perfect child. Though a portion of that outcome is out of your control, you can decidedly make decisions on the types of food to eat or avoid during pregnancy to make the process easier on you and the baby. That is what we will be covering in this article, as we go over the foods that expecting mothers should avoid or minimize during pregnancy.
Fish That Are High In Mercury
Pregnant women must by any means necessary, avoid substances with high mercury as it is very dangerous. The element itself is a highly toxic one and it is common in polluted waters. That is why it is easy for fish to absorb that element and then make their way to your dinner table. Don’t think that its effects are mild either, oh no. Taken in higher amounts, mercury can affect your nervous system, immune system, and kidneys. The effects of this can be fatal. It is also known for causing serious developmental problems in children, with adverse effects even in lower amounts.
Knowing your already budding love for your children, we’re sure you don’t want to put them in harm's way, even in the least. So, in case you aren’t familiar with your marine fish, just know to avoid fish like sharks, swordfish, king mackerel, tuna (especially bigeye tuna), marlin, and tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico, when you’re pregnant.
Undercooked Or Raw Fish
We know you like your sashimi and other various dishes that contain raw fish but trust us when we say that during the time you’re breastfeeding or pregnant, you want to set these delights aside. Put simply, raw fish is especially dangerous. You see, raw fish especially shellfish, have a high risk of containing bacteria or parasites such as norovirus, Vibrio, Salmonella, and Listeria. It goes without saying that these bacteria are especially bad for you and the CDC notes that the chance of having a listeria infection is up to 10 times more during pregnancy as compared to a normal time.
Also, there's a high chance that raw fish can become infected during handling, storing, and processing. These infections can be passed on to you when you eat the fish and eventually to your child through the placenta. In the parents, the infections cause dehydration and weakness. When passed to the child, they can increase the risk of preterm delivery, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and other serious health problems, according to the CDC. Scary right?
Undercooked Or Raw Meat
In the same breath, undercooked and raw meat is very bad for you if you are pregnant as it increases your risk of infection from bacteria or parasites, including Toxoplasma, E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella. These are not parasites to joke with as I’m sure you can tell. When it comes to these kinds of parasites both your life and the life you’re carrying are at risk. To avoid any fatal consequences just skip the undercooked and raw meat for a while and you’ll be okay.
Processed & Deli Meat
It’s going to seem like we’re trying to make vegetarians out of you but I assure you that’s not the case. It’s just that these deli meats and other processed meats have more issues than many realize. Let’s start with the deli meats. Did you know that hot dogs, lunch meat, pepperoni, and the like can become infected with various bacteria during processing or storage? They are simply more susceptible and we are pretty sure you don’t want that bacteria messing with your baby. In the same breath, processed meats can contain high levels of sodium and unhealthy fats. These are also not good for you.
Raw Eggs
I won’t even sugarcoat this one as it’s very important that expecting mothers hear this. Raw eggs can contain Salmonella bacteria and salmonella can lead to fatal consequences for your child. Symptoms of such salmonella infection include fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Sounds painful doesn’t it? Salmonella may also cause cramps in the uterus, potentially leading to preterm birth or stillbirth. That’s definitely an unwelcome outcome. Note that foods that commonly contain raw eggs include lightly scrambled eggs, tiramisu, raw batter, hollandaise sauce, homemade mayonnaise, some homemade salad dressings, homemade egg nog, homemade ice cream, some homemade cake icings, and eggs Benedict.
Processed Foods
This one goes unsaid but processed foods are horrible for expecting mothers. You see, highly processed foods tend to be low in nutrients and high in calories, sugar, and added fats, and they may increase the risk of weight gain. You don’t want to be on the other end of that. Taking such terrible foods at a time when you’re supposed to be getting all the nutrients you need is a very bad idea. Instead of eating these processed foods, it’s best to eat healthy foods and vegetables that will give you all the nutrients you need,
Unwashed Fruits & Vegetables
Unwashed anything is a bad idea, a very bad idea, especially if you’re pregnant. You see, the surface of unwashed or unpeeled fruits and vegetables may be contaminated with bacteria and parasites. These include parasites like Toxoplasma, E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria that can come from the soil or through handling. Again, these are all very dangerous parasites and they can result in things such as brain damage and death for the baby. Please take those few extra minutes to thoroughly wash your fruits and veggies or at the very least, peel them so that you are not found wanting and so that the baby is kept super safe.