How To Know Which Foods Are Unsafe For An Unborn Baby’S Development

There are certain vices that a pregnant woman must cut out of her life, such as caffeine or alcohol.  However, doctors also advise mothers that certain foods are also off limits to protect the health of the unborn baby.

The consensus is that pregnant women avoid most types of raw food.  This includes rare steak, sashimi, cured meats, smoked fish, some types of sushi and runny eggs.  Raw foods contain bacteria such as toxoplasmosis, a parasite infection found in many raw meats or untreated water.  Toxoplasmosis is generally safe for most people, but does pose a risk to the health of an unborn baby.  However, doctors state that toxoplasmosis in pregnancy is very rare.

Fish is another complicated food that women can indulge in, but they should limit the amount they do eat.  A healthy amount of fish is to limit the intake to two portions of fillets or four cans in one week.  There are high levels of mercury in fish, and too much mercury can affect the development of a baby’s immune system.  As a result, a mother should ensure she limits the amount of fish she eats.

Mothers are also advised to avoid any foods containing listeria, such as mould-ripened cheese, blue-veined cheese and cheese made with goat’s milk.  Pâté and some cold cured meats also contain listeria.  Listeriosis generally poses little risk to a person’s health, but on the rare occasion that listeriosis does occur in a mother with an unborn baby, it could lead to miscarriage.