Food items which should be avoided during pregnancy

When you’re carrying, the food which you eat and drink directly affects the health of your baby and some of  the food items have the potential of  endangering your unborn child’s life. So during pregnancy you should not only have a balance diet, but also try to avoid the following food items which you might have been regularly eating or drinking during the pre - pregnancy period.

Raw   eggs –     Raw eggs can be  infected with salmonella bacteria, which can be killed only by thorough cooking. But many of the icecreams, puddings, custards, salad dressings and sauces have raw egg as an ingredient. Pregnant women should strictly avoid these.

Raw fish -    Raw shell fish, sushi and other smoked or uncooked fish dishes is a strict no to expecting mothers as these may contain parasites or bacteria.

Raw or undercooked meat –     When you are expecting, your risk for getting bacterial infection is more, hence extra care and precaution should be taken. During pregnancy you should altogether avoid eating of partially or undercooked meat as these pose risk of  Salmonella, E. Coli, toxoplasmosis etc. It is better to avoid  stakes or grills as the meat may not be cooked properly from inside.

Unpasteurized  milk products –   Unpasteurized milk may be infected with listeria, which can be a serious threat to an expecting mom. Listeriosis is extremely dangerous, as this can cause miscarriages and stillbirth. Before consumption, do not forget to check the label of the milk products to confirm that it is pasteurized. Certain types of cheese like Brie cheese, feta cheese and blue cheese are made from unpasteurized milk, so give it a skip.

Processed deli meats –    Processed deli meats like sausages, mortadella, salami, hotdogs should be avoided at all costs, but if you are bend on eating these, see that it is cooked properly in optimum temperature, even if it is mentioned on the packet that food is precooked as they may still be infected with Listeria.

Liver and liver products –  Liver contains a high amount of Vitamin A, which has been linked to birth defects, hence avoid excessive intake of these products

Raw sprouts –   FDA has advised not to eat sprouts without cooking as bacteria can enter the sprouts and doesn’t  leave even after washing.

Fish with high mercury content –  Sea food  is  rich in Omega 3 fatty acids which is good for the fetus, but fishes like King Mackerel, Sword fish ,Shark etc. has high levels of mercury which can harm the child’s nervous system and cause brain damage.

Caffeine/alcohol -  Intake of Caffeine found in coffee, tea,  soft drinks and energy drinks  in moderation is considered fine. But excess consumption is said to increase the chance for miscarriage and low birth weight. So it is better not to take chances and stay away from caffeine at least during the first trimester. No level of alcohol can be termed safe during pregnancy. Alcohol elevate the risk of miscarriage and still birth, cause heart defects, mental retardation and curb brain development.

Fruits  -   Some fruits like pineapple, papaya and grapes are known to be bad during pregnancy. Pineapples contains bromelain  which can soften the cervix leading to premature delivery, so you should have this fruit only in limited quantities.  It is better to avoid  unripe and semi ripe Papaya as this  contains latex which can trigger uterine contractions. Also you should take care to wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly, so as to avoid bacterial infections. Fresh juice is good during pregnancy, but it is not safe to drink fresh fruit juices from outside, make it a point to prepare them fresh at home.

Aspartame  -   Aspartame is found in artificial sweeteners used by diabetic patients and calorie conscious people. But recent studies have shown that this do more harm than good. It may also trigger a miscarriage.

MSG – commonly known as ajinomoto or Chinese salt is not only bad for pregnant ladies, but also for children.

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

www.giftivf.com

bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

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Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.