There are some foods you should avoid when you are pregnant because of the health risks they present to you and your unborn baby. Read on for a guide.
As well as focusing on a healthy diet when you are pregnant, avoid
the following foods which might make you or your baby ill.
Some types of cheese
Cheese is a great source of protein and calcium but avoid soft,
mould-ripened cheeses like Brie or Camembert, blue-veined cheese,
or soft unpasteurised cheese. These may contain listeria, a
bacteria which can harm your unborn baby.
Paté
Paté, including vegetable paté, can contain listeria.
Raw or soft-cooked eggs
Eggs are safe to eat if the yolk and the white are cooked solid.
Raw or partially cooked eggs, and foods containing them such as
homemade mayonnaise, can contain salmonella which can cause food
poisoning.
Raw, cured and undercooked meat
Meat should be thoroughly cooked. Raw, undercooked, or cured meats
increase the risk of food poisoning and toxoplasmosis, a parasitic
infection, which can affect your baby's development.
Liver
Large amounts of vitamin A can harm your baby so avoid liver or
liver products like paté. Take care over vitamin or mineral
supplements too. Only take supplements specifically formulated for
pregnancy.
Some types of fish
Oily fish are a good source of vitamins, minerals and protein and
high in omega 3 fatty acids, which help your baby's nervous system
develop. However oily fish, such as mackerel, may contain
pollutants so eat no more than two portions a week, but do still
include it in your diet. The Department of Health advise against
consuming shark, swordfish and marlin while you are pregnant as
they may contain high levels of mercury which can harm your baby's
developing nervous system if eaten in large amounts. Mercury may
also be present in tuna so limit the amount you eat to two 170g
(raw weight) steaks or four medium-sized cans a week.
Raw shellfish
Raw shellfish sometimes contain harmful bacteria and viruses that
can cause food poisoning.
Undercooked ready meals
Ready meals may be contaminated with the listeria bacteria or
toxoplasma parasite. Cooking at high temperatures kills both so
make sure meals are piping hot throughout. Always eat ready meals
by their use by date.
Alcohol
Current advice is to avoid alcohol. If you do drink, limit alcohol
to one or two units no more than once or twice a week.
(1 unit = half a pint of normal strength larger, one small glass
of wine, or a small measure of spirits).
Caffeine
Too much caffeine can lead to low birth weight and is also linked
with miscarriage. Limit your intake to 200mg a day. This is
equivalent to:
2 mugs of instant coffee
1 mug of filter coffee
2 mugs of tea
5 cans of cola
4 (50g) bars of plain chocolate
What about peanuts?
New advice from the Department of Health states that if mothers
would like to eat peanuts or foods containing peanuts during
pregnancy or breastfeeding, then they can choose to do so as part
of a healthy balanced diet. This is irrespective of whether they
have a family history of allergies (although mothers with a peanut
allergy should, of course, avoid peanuts and foods containing
peanuts).
Previous information from the Government advised that
if there is a history of allergy in the child's immediate family
(mother, father or siblings) e.g. asthma, eczema, hayfever, food
allergy or other types of allergy, then women should avoid eating
peanuts in pregnancy. This is because it was thought that
eating peanuts would increase the risk of peanut allergy
developing in the baby. This advice was changed in August
2009, based upon the latest science.
Find out more about
healthy eating in pregnancy