Things you need to know

Many things can affect your health or the health of your baby more than you may anticipate. Therefore, it is important to know what is best for the mother and the baby during pregnancy.

To prevent heartburn and other complications during pregnancy, the following are the list of foods to avoid during pregnancy.

Avoid unpasteurized dairy products

Any milk, cheese or other dairy products that have not been pasteurized should be avoided at all costs. Low-fat dairy products like skim milk, cottage, and mozzarella cheese are healthy and can be included in your diet unless they have been clearly labelled as pasteurized or made with pasteurized milk. Unpasteurized products could lead to foodborne illnesses.

Avoid seafood that contains mercury

Intake of omega 3 fatty acids from fish is healthy, and it acts as a building block of a baby’s brain and retina. In women, omega 3 fatty acids help in preventing perinatal depression and anxiety. 

However, some fishes are high in mercury and need to be avoided as it could harm the baby’s developing nervous system. Avoid fishes like tuna, king mackerel, swordfish, shark, marlin and tilefish.

Avoid raw and undercooked meat 

During pregnancy, you are at a high risk of food poisoning, and the reaction to it might be more severe. Avoid eating raw or half-cooked meats, refrigerated pates, meat, and spreads to prevent foodborne illness. Hazardous bacteria can be found in raw eggs. Avoid meals like eggnog, uncooked batter and raw or partially cooked eggs.

Avoid unwashed fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables that are not cleaned properly should be avoided to eliminate any bacterial infection. Avoid sprouts of any raw kind like alfalfa, mung bean, radish and clover. Also, avoid consumption of raw papaya, which contains a chemical called papain that may lead to miscarriage. 

Limit the intake of caffeine and herbal drinks

It’s questionable how much caffeine is safe to consume during pregnancy. Your doctor might recommend avoiding caffeine or limiting your caffeine intake while pregnant. Also, the effect of herbal teas on the development of the body is not clear, so unless the healthcare provider suggests it would be the best step to avoid it.

Avoid smoking and alcohol 

As no amount of alcohol or smoking has been proven safe during pregnancy, the safest step would be to avoid smoking and drinking completely. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy may lead to higher risks of miscarriage or lead to other defects in the baby’s development.