A well balanced meal during your pregnancy ensures that you get enough energy and nutrients for your baby to grow and develop, and for your body to cope with the changes taking place. Pregnancy is the time when you can eat anything to satisfy your food cravings. However there are foods that should be avoided during pregnancy which include: (1) Raw meat, shellfish and eggs- A pregnant woman should avoid sushi and other raw fish, especially shellfish (oysters, clams). These can be polluted by raw sewage and can contain harmful microbes that can lead to severe gastrointestinal illness. They should aslo avoid eating raw or undercooked meats, poultry and eggs because these can increase their risk of a number of food-borne illnesses (including listeriosis, E. coli and Campylobacter infections, salmonellosis and toxoplasmosis). (2) Many deli meats that could be undercooked and harbor bacteria. During pregnancy, it’s a good idea to reheat deli meats until they’re steaming. (3) Fish that contain mercury or have been exposed to pollutants- High levels of mercury can harm an unborn baby or young child’s developing nervous system. Some game fish (including bluefish, striped bass, salmon, trout and northern and walleyed pike) may be contaminated by mercury and other industrial pollutants such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). Some studies suggest that exposure to high levels of PCBs before birth may contribute to learning problems, decreased IQ and reduced birthweight. (4) Unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses and pate- Certain soft cheeses, ready-to-eat meats and unpasteurized milk can cause a form of food poisoning called listeriosis. Listeriosis is caused by a bacterium (Listeria monocytogenes) and is especially dangerous during pregnancy.When a pregnant woman is infected with listeriosis, she may have a miscarriage, premature delivery or stillbirth, or her newborn baby may become seriously ill and may die. (5) Unwashed, raw vegetables- Raw vegetable sprouts and fresh (unpasteurized) fruit and vegetable juices can carry disease-causing bacteria (such as Salmonella and E. coli), making them unsafe choices for pregnant women. If a pregnant woman can pass a Salmonella or E. coli infection on to her fetus, the baby can develop diarrhea, fever and, less frequently, meningitis after birth.
