Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, some foods that you used to enjoy may not be safe for you to eat. Some may contain high levels of certain chemicals and harmful bacteria that can have serious side effects on your baby. Some foods may contain such things as listeria, salmonella, E. Coli and methyl mercury, which may potentially harm your unborn baby.

Other foods and beverages may be alright to consume, but in smaller quantities during pregnancy. While other foods and drinks may best be avoided all together while you are pregnant, to keep your baby healthy and developing properly. For example, alcohol can lead to learning disabilities in your baby and lead to low birth weight. More on that below.

Also, food preparation plays a big role in keeping your unborn baby safe. Poor food safety preparation can mean exposure to harmful substances, which may lead to food poisoning and infection.

Alcohol

It's best to avoid alcohol completely during pregnancy. No level of alcohol has been proven to be safe, so avoid all alcoholic beverages including beer, wine, hard liquor, wine coolers and mixed drinks during pregnancy (and while you are breastfeeding). Anything you eat or drink goes directly through your bloodstream and passes through the placenta to your unborn baby, therefore, if you consume alcohol, so does your baby.

Drinking during pregnancy can cause a condition called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which is characterized by many physical and mental birth defects including learning disabilities, physical abnormalities, emotional problems, hyperactivity, mental retardation and heart defects or murmurs.

Alcohol has also been linked to preterm delivery and low birth weight babies, as stated above, but worth mentioning again.

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