Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

Almost all the women are aware, that they must follow a healthy and balanced diet plan throughout their pregnancy. Knowing that your baby eats what you eat, can force you to stick to your diet plan. But the normal diet plan, especially the one for controlling weight may not work during pregnancy. The need for calories increases during the pregnancy. You need to consume 300 calories more in pregnancy than in pre-pregnancy period. Also, there are certain foods which are normally beneficial for the body, but may be harmful for your fetus, hence are best avoided during pregnancy. Hence, it is imperative that you know what to avoid during pregnancy.

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

Raw Meat
Raw meat is a big no-no during pregnancy. Raw or rare meats contain lots of bacteria and salmonella, which are likely to cross the placenta. This can be very harmful to the fetus and may also induce some undesirable effects in the mother. Similarly, raw eggs in all the forms should also be avoided for the same reason.

Fish High in Mercury
Certain varieties of fish are rich in mercury. This mercury can cause brain damage in the fetus and result in the developmental delays of the child. Swordfish, sharks, king mackerel, tilefish, tuna etc. are the varieties of fish that are high in mercury. Similarly, shellfish such as shrimp, oyster etc. should also be avoided during pregnancy, particularly so, if they are undercooked. Smoked sea food is also not recommended during the pregnancy. Same goes for sushi as well, you might be a big fan of sushi, but it is best to save it for after childbirth.

Deli Meat
Deli meat in any form is largely responsible for serious problems during pregnancy, such as, miscarriages. Hence, it is best to avoid deli meats such as bologna, hot dogs, turkey etc. during pregnancy. Any kind of overcooked meat can be detrimental for your baby. If you must eat it, make sure you reheat it until it is very hot and steamy. This destroys the possible bacterial infection.

Soft Cheeses
The soft cheeses that are to be avoided under all circumstances include Feta, Brie and Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses, Queso Blanco, Queso Fresco and Panela. The only thing that makes them fit for consumption during pregnancy is pasteurization. As soft cheeses are very susceptible to bacterial infection, they may induce serious problems during pregnancy. Listeria infection is one such serious infection, that occurs due to consumption of cheese during pregnancy.

Unpasteurized Milk
Unpasteurized milk is again a food that needs to be avoided during pregnancy. The fetus is likely to contract a blood poisoning or an infection due to unpasteurized milk. Chances of Listeria or salmonella infection are aggravated by consumption of unpasteurized milk.

Caffeine and Alcohol
Caffeine and alcohol have the ability to cross the placenta and bring about harmful effects in the fetus. Although, a small cup of caffeine drink is harmless and gives the mother the required 'lift', same cannot be said about alcohol. Alcohol in all the forms, irrespective of its quantity is detrimental to the baby.

Besides the foods to avoid during pregnancy, the safe foods should also be eaten with extreme caution. It is important to eat right food, in right form and in right quantity during pregnancy. Moreover, the hygiene practices while cooking should be made more stringent during pregnancy.