Pregnancy is the time when every other person under the sun advises you to eat more. It is undoubtedly true that the requirements of your body increase during pregnancy and you should eat well. However, don't just gorge on food. Eat well, but eat intelligently as that keeps both you and your baby in shape.
You can find a long list of food items to eat that can be beneficial for you during pregnancy. However, there are also certain food items that may harm you and your baby while you are pregnant. These may cause impaired brain development, foetal abnormalities, development delays, pre-term deliveries, low birth-weight infants andmay even lead to miscarriages. Don't get scared. Just know what to eat and what not. Here are some tips on happy eating during pregnancy.
Food to avoid.
Raw meat: Resist from consuming uncooked and raw meat and seafood like sushi. That is because these expose you to a high risk of Listeria and Salmonella poisoning that can cause miscarriage. Listeria is also known to cause blood poisoning in foetus.
Deli meat: Deli meat may be contaminated with Listeria bacteria which results in miscarriage or even still-birth. If you cannot resist that hot dog, reheat it until it is steaming hot.
Refrigerated pates or meat spreads: The Listeria contamination is the reason why these should be avoided as well. It is safe to eat the canned or shelf-stable versions only.
Raw eggs: These may contain Salmonella. Avoid food that might contain raw egg Like raw cake batter, raw cookie dough, homemade ice cream, custards, mayonnaise, unpasteurized egg nog or Hollandaise sauce as well as some ceasar salad dressings.
Soft cheese: They are yummy, agreed, but try to stay from them for a while. Avoid Feta, Brie, and Camembert cheese, blue-veined cheese, Queso Blanco, Queso Fresco and Panela. They are safe to eat only if they are labeled “pasteurized”.
Liver: Although liver is a rich source of iron, it contains a high levels of Vitamin A which can be harmful to the baby when eaten in excess and lead to severe birth defects like bulging fontanelles or vision impairment.
Unpasteurized milk and juices: In other words, raw milk and untreated juices stored for a long time should be avoided. It is advisable to have Milk and juices available in tetrapacks as they have been pasteurized.
Alcohol: Many foetal abnormalities and birth defects have been documented and associated with use of alcohol during pregnancy.
By practicing a few restraints till the time your baby comes to the world can lead to a healthy and problem free pregnancy.
