As an expectant Mum, you want to be sure that you are doing everything you can to ensure the delivery of a happy healthy baby. The fact that you are reading this means that you are already aware of the importance of good nutrition, eating the right foods, and knowing what pregnancy foods to avoid. Proper nutrition ensures normal foetal growth and development, and healthy uterine functions, placenta, and amniotic fluid. It also plays an important role for the mother, as eating the correct pregnancy foods helps maintain the hormonal balances in the woman’s body. It also helps to dampen mood swings, depression, and other behavioural concerns relating to pregnancy.
Conversely, consuming the wrong foods can increase the chances of birth defects, including low birth weight, disability, and poor foetal development, as well as increasing the possibility of miscarriage. Birth defects have increased dramatically in the past 5 decades, with approximately 1 in 5 children born with problems.
Therefore, knowing the right pregnancy foods to avoid is very important. Unpasteurised foods should be avoided as they can contain listeria, which can cause infections in your baby and can lead to miscarriage. Such foods include unpasteurised milk, some juices, and soft cheeses made with unpasteurised milk, like brie, feta, camembert and blue cheese.
Some studies have shown a link between caffeine and miscarriage, low birth weight, and premature birth. While these studies are not definitive, caffeine should be avoided where possible, as it’s a diuretic, which means it assists in eliminating fluids from the body. This can lead to dehydration for both mother and child.
Junk foods, fast foods, and highly processed foods are to be avoided as they give little or no nutritional value to you or your baby. Remember that a good pregnancy diet consists of all the essential minerals, proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, fatty acids and folic acid, consumed in a balanced way, and sourced from wholesome natural foods.
Seafood is an excellent source of proteins and omega 3 fatty acids, essential for your child’s healthy development. However be aware that certain large fish need to be on your list of pregnancy foods to avoid, as they contain high levels of mercury that can cause serious harm to the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system. Such fish include shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. Also raw shellfish such as oysters, clams and mussels, are to be avoided as they can be the source of serious infections. Finally, refrigerated smoked seafood should also be avoided as this type of seafood can contain listeria.
Raw eggs and any products made from raw eggs, such as mayonnaise or deli-style salad dressings are to be avoided, as raw eggs can contain salmonella, a bacterium that causes food poisoning.
Liver is an excellent source of nutrients, and is excellent for both mother and baby, but must be taken in moderation. Liver is very high in vitamin A, and an excess of vitamin A can harm your baby.
Raw meats like rare steaks and poultry are also pregnancy foods to avoid, as they can contain toxoplasmosis, coli form and salmonella, all which can cause food poisoning and other infections.
As a responsible mother-to-be, developing an awareness of the correct pregnancy foods to avoid will ensure that you are giving your baby an excellent chance of developing normally, and arriving into the world healthy and happy.
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