What NOT TO EAT While Pregnant

Pregnancy is the most magical and emotional time in every mother’s life. As your body changes and grows to adapt to a different life, there are additional precautions that every mother should take while caring for and protecting her growing baby. When preparing for the happy moment of the birth of their baby, mothers need to consider their eating and nutrition habits. We’ve put together a quick and easy guide for new mothers not to eat while pregnant.

What NOT to Eat During Pregnancy – A Quick Guide for New Mothers

You’ve probably heard that there are some things you shouldn’t eat during pregnancy, and figuring out what you can and can’t eat can be nerve-wracking.

We know you are busy with a lot in the first trimester, so we’ve created this guide to make this a little easier! Here is a list of 7 foods mothers shouldn’t eat while pregnant:

1. Raw and uncooked meat

You should avoid raw or undercooked foods during pregnancy due to the high risk of E. coli and salmonella. These bacteria, along with your babies, can have a negative impact on your health.

What not to eat during pregnancy

These include foods like rare steaks or meats, raw seafood (shrimp, clams, and shellfish), and raw eggs (that means avoid cookie dough!).

2. alcohol

The CDC says, “There is no such thing as a safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy”. They do not recommend consuming any form of alcohol as it can lead to lifelong physical, behavioral, and mental disabilities in your baby (CDC).

Alcohol is dangerous because most liquids (including alcohol and caffeine) are transmitted to the baby through the umbilical cord.

3rd caffeine

What Not to Eat During Pregnancy - Coffee

Caffeine is one of the hardest things to avoid during pregnancy. It is not recommended for pregnancy because, like alcohol, it is transmitted to the baby through the umbilical cord.

However, you can consume up to 200 mg of caffeine per day. That’s about a cup of coffee.

4th Lunch meat

What not to eat during pregnancy

Expectant mothers should avoid lunch and sausage products as they can contain listeria. Listeria are the most common germs found in unpasteurized foods. It’s one of the few germs that can grow in your refrigerator. You should avoid cold cuts / lunches during pregnancy.

Eating foods that contain listeria carries the risk of miscarriages, stillbirths, and uterine infections. According to WebMD, you can make these foods safe by heating them until they are steaming.

5. Soft cheese

What not to eat during pregnancy

Soft cheese made from unpasteurized milk, like lunch meat, can be contaminated with listeria, causing miscarriages. According to the CDC, soft cheeses made from raw milk are 50% more likely to cause listeria than cheese made from pasteurized milk. We recommend avoiding soft cheese and all unpasteurized foods that may contain listeria.

6th High Mercury fish

What not to eat during pregnancy

Fish that are high in mercury should be avoided. High levels of mercury consumption during pregnancy have been linked to developmental delays and brain damage for the baby.

Are fish that are high in mercury; Sharks, swordfish, king mackerel and tile fish. Canned light tuna is moderate in mercury and can be consumed. Use moderation, however.

7th Potlucks

Potlucks are full of wonderful food. However, you should avoid potlucks during pregnancy as you do not know how the food was prepared or how long the food has been served. If food has been skipped, unrefrigerated, or uncovered, it is a food risk to you and your baby.

WebMD has a great “2 hour rule” that you don’t eat a potluck or meal that’s been at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

What not to eat during pregnancy

8th. Raw sprouts

Raw sprouts is a surprising addition to this list. These include alfalfa, bean sprouts, clover, and radishes as they can be contaminated with salmonella. These sprouts are safe to use in cooking, so make sure all of the sprouts are cooked.

9. Unpasteurized milk, cheese & fruit juice

unpasteurized milk

Pasteurization is pretty amazing. It prevents harmful bacteria from getting into your milk, cheese, and juice. Unfortunately, some people confuse organic with unpasteurized, which is particularly dangerous for pregnant women. The harmful bacteria in unpasteurized products like juice, milk, and cheese can be life-threatening to your unborn baby. Pasteurization is by far the most effective way to kill harmful bacteria and best of all, it doesn’t alter the nutritional value of the items.

During your pregnancy, it is important to take care of not only your mental and emotional health, but also your nutritional needs. While you are carrying your baby, provide the necessary nutrients for your baby to grow and develop in a healthy way. Eating a balanced diet high in fruits and vegetables while balancing food cravings and protein promotes a healthy pregnancy.

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My newest obsession – Stitch Fix Maternity

Pin For Later – Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy!


3 thoughts on “What NOT TO EAT While Pregnant”

  1. This post is so informative and helpful! As a soon-to-be mum, I appreciate all the advice on what not to eat while pregnant. It’s so important to stay healthy during this special time, and I’m grateful for this post!

    Reply
  2. nice Info… will share to my daughter …what to eat ..what not to eat in pregnancy is really important for tobe a mother.

    Reply
  3. A very informative read. Thank you for this good quality knowlege ,great work done.
    I will tweet your post and share this information with the world .

    Reply

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