Foods to Limit/Omit During Pregnancy

     Although the caloric needs for expecting mothers increase during pregnancy, that does not mean that everything must, or can be eaten in larger amounts. In fact, some foods must be limited or even excluded to prevent harming the fetus.
     According to the March of Dimes, the main foods of concern during pregnancy include raw meat, certain dairy products, fish, and drinks containing caffeine. First, we'll discuss the foods that should be completely eliminated from the diet during pregnancy. This includes raw meat, fish, and eggs, which can "contain harmful germs that can give you food poisoning, like salmonella infection" (March of Dimes). However, once these foods have been cooked thoroughly, the germs which cause illness will be killed, and they become safe. In addition to raw animal products, unpasteurized dairy products such as milk and cheeses should also be avoided. Pasteurization is a process where foods are heated to kill germs, so if a product does not specify this process, then these dairy products can give you food poisoning, such as listeriosis (March of Dimes). Raw sprouts, herbal products, and nonfood items (such as clay), should also be avoided, as these can harm the baby and yourself. Herbal products remain especially important since there's not enough information yet available concerning their safety.

 Picture from Nutrition: An Applied Approach, p. 481 (Salmonella)

 

     The foods that may be included in the diet, but should be limited, include fish that have small amounts of mercury, and foods/drinks which contain caffeine (as discussed in more detail in another post). Fish that have small amounts of mercury can harm your baby since this chemical can be passed directly to the developing fetus during pregnancy. Mercury is accumulated in fish through water, or consumption of smaller fish, which makes larger fish (such as swordfish) among the highest in mercury content. Mercury has been shown to cause brain damage and affect your baby's hearing and vision. During pregnancy, it is safe to eat between eight and twelve ounces a week of fish with a lower mercury content, such as shrimp and canned light tuna.

 Photo from Nutrition: An Applied Approach, p. 497

     Overall, I feel this article was pretty descriptive in listing foods of concern during pregnancy and describing their harmful effects. However, I was surprised not to see other dangerous organic pollutants listed which may have adverse health implications for newborns, such as dioxin or certain pesticides and growth hormones. Although these were not discussed, they should still be considered as harmful to your individual health, and therefore limited in case they may harm the baby, as well.
The implications of this study are crucial for expecting mothers, since these foods remain accessible within many markets and grocery stores. Therefore, it is important for individuals to possess the knowledge of their safety and avoid purchasing them during this period of time, or purchase them less frequent. If you wish to learn more, you can research teratogens, which refers to any "substance that can cause a birth defect" (Thompson & Manore, 2014, p. 514).
If you have been pregnant, have there been any foods you've avoided? Or if you know someone who was or is pregnant, do you know if they refrained from any foods? Share your experiences below!

References

Thompson, Janice, and Melinda Manore. Nutrition: An Applied Approach. 4th ed. San Francisco, CA: Peason Education, 2014. Print.

 March of Dimes. "Foods to Avoid or Limit During Pregnancy." Eating and Nutrition. March of Dimes Foundation, June 2014. Web. 27 Nov. 2014. <http://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/foods-to-avoid-or-limit-during-pregnancy.aspx>.