Foods you should avoid during pregnancy

Bringing a new life into the world requires a lot of changes to your own! There are exercises you should do, positions you should sleep in, and food you’re supposed to eat. Your little one relies completely on what nutrients you put in your body, so eating pizza and ice cream all day might not seem so tasty anymore. No matter how much you want to indulge in your favourite sushi or milkshakes, it’s time to start being conscious about what you’re feeding your baby.

What’s the problem with food and infection?

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Hormonal changes are constant during pregnancy, which will become clear when every single other aspect of your body starts changing. Importantly, they may alter your immune system which would make you more susceptible to infections. Regarding food (the big worry!), the main concern is Listeriosis which is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.

Infection is uncommon, however, if an infection does happen during pregnancy there is a chance your unborn child could become infected as well. If this were to happen, the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth increases.

Foods to avoid during pregnancy

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No need to become too worried though, a simple way to avoid this is by cutting out some risky foods including:

• Soft cheeses e.g brie, camembert, blue cheese, feta and ricotta (may be safe if cooked and served hot)
• Processed deli meats, chicken and poultry
• Chilled seafood e.g sushi, oysters and tuna
• Pate and different meat spread
• Pre-cut salads and fruit
• Seeds sprouts
• Soft serve ice creams and any drinks like thick shakes or milkshakes made with it this
• Raw or undercooked eggs and freshly made mayonnaise dressings (higher risk of salmonella)
• Raw or undercooked meat (higher risk of toxoplasmosis)

The NSW Government Food Authority provides a list of foods to avoid and eat with caution during pregnancy.

We know, the thought of cutting out brie for 9 months is not ideal. The cheese parties and glorious charcuterie boards will have to be on pause, but it’ll be worth it in the end.

Not only will this keep your baby safe it will also encourage you to maintain a healthy diet – win-win!

Undoubtedly, this will be hard to do at first but just make the effort to be extra aware of your eating and keep the benefits in mind. The cheese and milkshakes will be more than welcome in a few months!

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