The safety of your food is a top priority during pregnancy. Everything you eat is absorbed into your bloodstream, then passed through the placenta to nourish your child. Cheese can be part of a healthy diet during pregnancy, but be cautious about the types of cheese you choose. Look for low-fat cheese that has been pasteurized.
Safe Cheeses
During pregnancy, read food labels carefully and purchase only cheeses that are marked as pasteurized. This means that they have undergone a heating process that destroys certain microorganisms. Generally, hard cheeses, as well as mozzarella and cottage cheese, are considered safe.
Dangerous Cheeses
Avoid soft cheeses unless they are labeled as pasteurized. Stay away from feta, brie, bleu cheese, Camembert and Mexican cheeses, including queso blanco, fresco and panela. Imported soft cheeses can contain listeria, a bacteria that has the ability to cross into the placenta and infect your baby.
Listeria
Listeriosis begins with symptoms that mimic the flu. If left untreated, listeriosis may lead to miscarriage, infection, premature delivery or death of the fetus. If you experience these symptoms, contact your doctor right away. Treatment with antibiotics may save the life of your growing baby.
Other Health Considerations
When selecting a cheese to eat, read the nutrition label and choose cheeses that are low-fat. Dairy products, particularly cheeses, can contain high amounts of fat, which can lead to excess weight gain. Your body needs about 300 extra calories during pregnancy. Gaining too much weight, however, can lead to a premature birth or overly large baby. It also puts you at risk for diabetes and hypertension.
Benefits
Include cheese as part of a well-balanced diet during pregnancy. Cheese is a good source of calcium, which your body needs in excess while pregnant. Calcium is essential to maintain your health, including the skeletal and nervous systems. Your baby needs calcium to develop bones and teeth. Most prenatal vitamins do not provide all of the calcium you need, so seek out sources of calcium in your diet, such as low-fat, pasteurized cheeses.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Pregnancy Nutrition; 2011
- American Pregnancy Association: Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy; November 2007
- American Pregnancy Association; Listeria and Pregnancy; 2011
- March Of Dimes: Weight Gain During Pregnancy
- "Mayo Clinic: Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy"; Roger W. Harms, M.D.; 2004
