Foods to avoid during pregnancy
The chances of your unborn child becoming infected during pregnancy are small, but you should be aware of potentially risky foods to avoid.
Listeriosis
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The bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, which causes listeriosis, can cross the placenta and may be fatal for the baby. To prevent infection, avoid eating unpasteurized dairy products, especially soft mould-ripened cheeses such as camembert and blue-veined cheeses.
Liver
Because of high levels of vitamin A, liver and liver products such as pâté should be avoided.
Toxoplasmosis
This protozoal infection, which can be harmful to an unborn baby, is caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Cysts (dormant stages) of T. gondii are excreted in the stools of infected cats and can be passed to humans by handling cats or cat litter, by fruit or vegetables contaminated with cysts, or by eating the meat of animals that feed on food contaminated with cysts. Minimize the risk of infection during pregnancy by avoiding cats, by washing fruits and vegetables before eating, by avoiding any undercooked meat, and by wearing gloves when gardening.
Salmonella
This common type of food poisoning, due to Salmonella bacteria, does not usually harm the baby, but if severe in a pregnant woman it can lead to miscarriage or pre-term labour. You should avoid raw and undercooked eggs and undercooked poultry.
Other infections
You should avoid raw seafood, such as sushi and oysters, during pregnancy as they carry a risk of hepatitis and intestinal parasites.
Heavy-metal poisoning
Remove heavy metals from vegetables by washing them thoroughly with water or by removing their skin. Because they contain high levels of mercury, avoid eating shark, swordfish, and marlin. The mercury levels in tuna are lower, so the advice is to limit the amount of tuna you eat to no more than two steaks a week.
Alcohol and caffeine
It is best to moderate your alcohol and caffeine consumption during pregnancy. Excessive alcohol can lead to your baby being born with foetal alcohol syndrome and learning difficulties. A high intake of caffeine may increase the risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy.
The effects of alcohol are most severe in the first two months of pregnancy, when your baby's organs are developing. Just one episode of binge drinking at this stage of pregnancy is now thought to be as harmful to your baby as excessive drinking throughout pregnancy.
Pregnant women should reduce their intake of caffeine from all sources - coffee, tea, cocoa, and cola drinks - to 300mg per day (see Check your caffeine intake). More than this amount may interfere with your baby's growth and development and increase the risk of low birth weight.
Lisa Hark, PhD RD & Dr Darwin Deen
Posted 14.02.2011
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