Nutrition is a vital factor in maintaining health during pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby. Dr. James F. Balch and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C., authors of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," recommend eating a diet low in bad fats and cholesterol while eating a balanced, nutrient rich diet. Alcohol, nicotine and caffeine should be avoided. In addition, there are a variety of foods that should not be consumed during pregnancy.
Proper health care is crucial during pregnancy. See a health care professional on a regular basis throughout pregnancy.
Foods Containing Listeria
According to the American Pregnancy Association, an organization dedicated to educating the public about healthy pregnancy, listeria is a bacteria that may be transmitted to the baby through the placenta. Listeria can cause potentially fatal blood poisoning, infection and miscarriage.
Foods that can potentially be infected with the listeria bacteria include unwashed vegetables, deli meats, smoked seafood and unpasteurized dairy products and juices. Cheeses that may contain unpasteurized milk may include blue cheese, feta, brie, camembert and some Mexican-style cheeses. The Mayo Clinic recommends carefully reading the labels on all of these cheese to ensure that they were made with pasteurized milk before consuming.
Seafood
Do not eat seafood products that contain high levels of mercury. According to the Mayo Clinic, some seafoods may be beneficial to development during pregnancy. However, those seafood products that contain high levels of mercury can potentially cause damage to your baby's nervous system. High mercury seafood products to avoid include shark, king mackerel, swordfish and tilefish. Seafood products that contain some mercury and that should be limited to 12 oz. per week include salmon, shrimp, light canned tuna, cod, catfish and pollock.
Shellfish should also be avoided during pregnancy. Clams, oysters and mussels are all shellfish and should not be consumed during pregnancy.
Use caution when consuming fish from local waterways. Salmon, bluefish, trout, pike, walleye and striped bass have the potential to harm a developing fetus when they are exposed to pollutants in the water.
Undercooked Meat and Eggs
Avoid consuming undercooked meat and eggs during pregnancy. According to the Mayo Clinic, pregnant women are at greater risk for becoming ill from eating undercooked meats because of the metabolic changes that occur during pregnancy. In some cases, bacteria related food poisoning may effect the fetus as well.
The Mayo Clinic recommends avoiding pre-stuffed raw poultry, meat spreads and pate. To ensure that meats are thoroughly cooked, use a meat thermometer and wait for the juices to run clear. Eggs should be cooked until both the whites and the yokes are firm. Do not consume eggnog or hollandaise sauce because these products are made with partially cooked or uncooked eggs.
References
- "Prescription fo Nutritional Healing"; James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.; 1997
- American Pregnancy Association: Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy
- The Mayo Clinic: Pregnancy Nutrition- Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy
