foods to avoid in pregnancy

During pregnancy, a few things will stress you out, but eating should not be one of them. Unfortunately, much of the advice you receive from friends and family focuses on what is and is not safe to eat during pregnancy. This well meaning advice is often based on popular old wives’ tales and is enough to confuse anyone. This article is designed to dispel the rumours and provide some clarity on the issue, highlighting the foods to avoid in pregnancy, and those that are safe to enjoy in pregnancy.


Foods to avoid in pregnancy

Blue-veined cheese and soft cheeses

During your pregnancy, it is important to avoid eating soft blue-veined cheese and soft cheeses with a white rind. This is because they may contain harmful bacteria, such as Listeria, which can cause listeriosis. Listeriosis is a very rare condition, but even a mild form of the disease is dangerous to pregnant women, as it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or even severe illness in your newborn baby, read more here. However they are safe to eat when cooked.

(Read more about Listeriosis here.)

Pate

As with blue-veined cheese and soft cheeses, all types of pate – even vegetable pate – are a potential source of Listeria, which can cause listeriosis and should, therefore, be avoided at all costs in pregnancy.

Cold cured meats, such as salami

As these meats are ‘cured’ rather than ‘cooked’, women could develop toxoplasmosis if they are eaten during pregnancy. Although very rare, toxoplasmosis can cause pregnant women to have a miscarriage or stillbirth, or even cause serious complications with the baby’s development (congenital toxoplasmosis). Freezing the cured meat for a minimum of four days before you eat it can reduce the risk of toxoplasmosis. Cooked packaged meats such as ham or corned beef are safe to eat.

(Read more about Toxoplasmosis here)

Raw or undercooked meat

Undercooked meat is also a potential source of the parasite Toxoplasma Gondi, which can cause toxoplasmosis. All meat should be cooked thoroughly so there is no trace of blood when it is cut.

Liver

Liver is a very rich source of vitamin A (retinol), which can have adverse effects on your baby’s growth if consumed in large amounts.

Fish

Pregnant women are advised to avoid the following types of fish during pregnancy, as they all contain high levels of mercury, which can negatively affect your baby’s nervous system development:

  • Marlin
  • Raw shellfish
  • Shark
  • Swordfish

Raw or undercooked fish

Contrary to public opinion, it is actually safe to eat sushi dishes, as long you know that the fish has been frozen first. Freezing the fish ensures that any unwanted bacteria has been killed and will not harm you or your baby. It is important to always ask your waiter or check the label if you are purchasing it from a supermarket. If you are unsure, however, it is always best to leave it.

Soya

Soya contains a group of plant chemicals called phytoestrogens, which, according to some theories, may affect the fertility and sexual health of your baby if consumed in large amounts during pregnancy.

Unpasteurised milk (cow, goat or sheep’s milk)

Milk that you can buy in the UK supermarkets will be pasteurised, so you do not need to worry.  However, it is not safe for pregnant women to drink unpasteurised milk, unless it is boiled first.

Vitamin A

Large amounts of vitamin A (retinol) in pregnancy can harm your baby. Therefore, high-dose multivitamin supplements, fish liver oil, or any supplements containing vitamin A should be avoided in pregnancy.


Foods to restrict in pregnancy

Alcohol

There is overwhelming evidence to suggest that relatively small amounts of alcohol can increase your risk of miscarriage during pregnancy. Indeed, The Department of Health recommends that you do not drink any alcohol for the first trimester of your pregnancy.

You are advised to avoid alcohol for the whole of your pregnancy. However, if you do choose to drink, there is no evidence to suggest that 1-2 units per week will do your baby any harm.

What does 1 unit of alcohol look like?

  • 76 ml of standard 13% wine (a small glass is 125 ml)
  • 250 ml of standard 4.5% beer (half a pint is 284 ml and a pint is 568 ml)
  • 250 ml of standard 4% alcopop (a standard sized bottle is 275 ml)
  • 25 ml of standard 40% spirits (this is a single shot of spirits)
  • 218 ml of standard 4.5% cider (half a pint is 284 ml and a pint is 568 ml)

(Source: Drink Aware)

Caffeine

It is considered safe to consume a maximum of 200 mg of caffeine daily. However, high levels of caffeine in your diet during pregnancy can put you at a greater risk of miscarriage. In addition to this, it can also lead to your newborn baby being underweight, which can increase the risk of health problems as they grow up.

What does 200 mg look like?

  • Mug of instant coffee: 100 mg (2 mugs)
  • Mug of filter coffee: 140 mg (1 mug)
  • Can of cola: 40 mg (5 cans)
  • Can of energy drink: 80 mg (2 cans)
  • Mug of tea: 75 mg (2 mugs)
  • 50 g bar of dark chocolate (most UK brands): 25 mg or less (4 chocolate bars)
  • 50 g bar of milk chocolate (most UK brands): 10 mg or less (20 chocolate bars – not that we advise you to eat this many as that much sugar brings its own problems!)

Remember, caffeine can also be found in cold and flu remedies. Check with your GP which over-the-counter medicines are safe to take.

Alongside the adverse effects caused by caffeine, the tannins found in most caffeinated drinks inhibit the absorption of important minerals such as calcium, zinc and iron. It is, therefore, a good idea to replace all or most of your caffeinated drinks with caffeine free alternatives, for example decaf tea or coffee, red-bush (rooibos) tea, herbal teas (see more about herbal teas below), or fresh vegetable juices.

Fish to restrict

During pregnancy, it is important to limit the amount of tuna you eat, since it contains more mercury than other fish. If you do not restrict your intake, this could affect the development of your baby’s nervous system. In addition to this, oily fish may contain more pollutants, such as dioxins and polychlorinated diphenyl (PCB).

  • No more than two fresh tuna steaks per week (140 g cooked or 170 g raw)
  • Maximum of four tins of tuna per week (140 g per tin)
  • No more than two portions of oily fish per week (salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines, pilchards and fresh tuna – tinned tuna doesn’t count as an oily fish)
  • No more than two portions a week of dogfish, crab, halibut, sea bass, sea bream, turbot

Herbal and green teas

The Food Standards Agency recommends that women should not drink no more than four cups of herbal or green tea a day during pregnancy.

Rice

Recent evidence has revealed that rice and rice products have been shown to contain high levels of inorganic arsenic, which is able to pass through the placenta and could cause neurological and kidney damage in babies. There is currently no UK guideline on how much rice is safe to eat, but it is a good idea to replace some of your rice intake with other grains, such as quinoa, millet, barley, rye, or oats.

Read your food labels!

Each of these artificial food additives are associated with DNA damage and linked to birth abnormalities when consumed in high amounts:

  • Sodium benzoate (E211)
  • Sulphur dioxide (E220)
  • Quinoline yellow and sunset yellow (E104)
  • Saccharine (E954)

It is also important to look out for Aspartame (E951), which is a very common artificial sweetener, particularly in diet drinks. Aspartame is associated with birth defects and and could damage an unborn baby’s brain if consumed in large amounts.


Foods to enjoy in pregnancy

Hard cheese, and soft cheese made from pasteurised milk

All hard cheeses can be eaten during pregnancy. This includes those made with unpasteurised milk, including blue cheeses, such as Stilton. Soft cheeses, made with pasteurised milk, are also safe to eat during pregnancy. They include:

  • Cottage cheese
  • Cream cheese
  • Feta
  • Goat’s cheese
  • Halloumi
  • Mozzarella
  • Paneer
  • Processed cheeses, such as cheese spread
  • Ricotta

Fish

The following fish cooked thoroughly are safe for pregnant women to eat.

Shellfish:

  • Crab
  • Crayfish
  • Lobster
  • Clams
  • Shrimps
  • Mussels
  • Oysters
  • Prawns
  • Scallops
  • Winkles

Smoked fish:

  • Smoked salmon
  • Trout

White fish:

  • Cod
  • Coley
  • Flounder
  • Gurnard
  • Haddock
  • Hake Plaice

Peanuts

Peanuts and food containing peanuts are safe to eat when you are pregnant and breastfeeding. New evidence suggests that eating nuts during pregnancy can reduce the chance of nut allergies in your child. Do not, of course, eat nuts if you are allergic to them!

Yoghurt

Home made yogurt is safe if its made with pasteurised milk.

Eggs

The guidelines on raw, undercooked and soft-boiled eggs have recently changed. Tighter hygiene standards within UK hen farms mean that British ‘Red Lion’ has approved eggs are now free from salmonella – a potentially deadly bacteria which has been previously associated with eating raw eggs. As a result, pregnant women are now safe to eat eggs with runny yolks, and any food that is uncooked or only lightly cooked and contain raw eggs.

However, non-hen eggs, such as duck and quail eggs, and hen eggs from outside the UK should always be cooked thoroughly.

This video provides takes an in depth look at how to Optimum Nutrition in Pregnancy-  Learn how to be at your best in Pregnancy.

On Saturday 25th July, Rosie’s partner Andy tragically passed away. He wasn’t ill and his passing has come as a devastating blow to all of his family and friends. Rosie will be taking compassionate leave to look after their children. She hopes to return to private practice when her children start school in September.

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