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What Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy
by Hillary Bender
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Overview
You know what foods you are supposed to eat when you are pregnant: plenty of vegetables, fruits, protein and fiber. These are all building blocks for a healthy pregnancy, but what about the foods you should avoid---those that could harm both you and your baby?
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Undercooked Meat, Poultry and Eggs
Before you were pregnant you may have ordered your steak medium-rare, but now that you are expecting be sure to order all of your meat well-done. Undercooked meat and poultry can contain harmful bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella that can cross the placenta and give you a nasty case of food poisoning. Remember to skip those few foods that contain raw or undercooked eggs, like Caesar dressings, hollandaise and homemade eggnog (commercially manufactured eggnog made with pasteurized eggs is fine).
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Seafood
Although some types of fish are good for both you and baby, there are certain types of fish you need to avoid. Fish high in mercury like shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and orange roughy, have been linked to both developmental delays and brain damage. Canned tuna has smaller amounts of mercury but can be enjoyed in moderation. To further avoid harmful bacteria, stay away from raw or undercooked seafood like oysters, clams and lox. And when you go to your favorite sushi bar be careful to not to order uncooked rolls.
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Unpasteurized Dairy and Juices
While trying to get as much protein for your babies growing brain and muscles, bypass the soft cheeses like Brie and feta. Any unpasteurized soft cheese, like blue cheese and queso fresco, can contain harmful bacteria like Listeria. Listeria can cross the placenta and lead to infection or blood poisoning, which can be life threatening to your baby. Milk and juice can also be unpasteurized, so skip unpasteurized apple cider and fresh-squeezed orange juice.
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Beverages
Put away your wine glasses for now, ladies. Alcohol can enter your baby's bloodstream and takes twice as long to leave it. But you don't need to rid of your coffee cups just yet---a few cups of coffee throughout your pregnancy can be just fine. But remember, caffeine is a diuretic, which means that it causes your body to get rid of excess fluids---something you can be harmful when you are pregnant. Make sure that you are drinking plenty of water. Can't live without your daily Starbucks? Don't stray over 200 mg of caffeine a day.
