"Bacterial toxins, contained in certain foodstuffs or caused by poor preparation techniques, can pass from your blood to your baby's via the placenta. Also, during pregnancy your natural immunity is slightly lower, because of metabolic and circulatory changes in your body. This is why it's paramount to minimize the risk of food-borne infections.
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During pregnancy there are certain foods you should avoid to limit your chances of developing a food-borne infection. The most common infections caught from contaminated food are listeriosis and salmonellosis; less common is toxoplasmosis."
Listerosis:
The bacterium that causes listeriosis is Listeria monocytogenes, which is widespread in the environment, especially in soil. A third of all cases of listeriosis occur during pregnancy and ssevere cases, which are rare, result in miscarriage or preterm labor and newborn infections such as meningitis or a baby being stillborn. Possible sources of listeria, and therefore foods to avoid, include unpasteurized soft cheeses (such as Brie), blue-veined cheeses (such as Stilton), unpasteurized sheep and goat's milk and their products, cooked foods chilled for reheating, ready-prepared coleslaw, hot dogs, and under-cooked poultry. So avoid all these foods during pregnancy.
Salmonellosis:
Because salmonella bacteria are hardy and can withstand light cooking, any potential source, such as eggs and poultry, should be thoroughly cooked to destroy all traces of infection. It's sensible during pregnancy to exclude raw and under-cooked eggs and foods that may contain raw eggs, such as home-made mayonnaise, mousses, or ice cream.
Toxoplasmosis:
This infection, caused by the organism Toxoplasma gondii, can potentially lead to brain damage or blindness in your baby. It is a particular risk in your last trimester. The organism is carried in the feces of animals, particularly outdoor cats, but is present also in soil and in raw and under-cooked meat and poultry. Therefore, make sure that all the meat or poultry you eat is cooked thoroughly: Only eat pork for example, it it's "well done." In addition, wash all vegetables and fruit thoroughly; wash your hands after stroking pets; avoid dealing with cat litter trays; wear gloves when gardening; and wash your hands before you prepare or eat food.
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Do I need to restrict my salt intake?
Many women are casually advised by friends or family to restrict their salt intake to prevent "swelling" of feet and ankles. However, this is not a current medical recommendation. Edema (swelling) is actually the result of water retention, caused by hormonal activity. Pregnancy hormones also increase the amount of sodium you lose in your urine. So don't overuse salt, but don't limit your intake either.
Are fish and shellfish safe?
Fish are good sources of nutrients, so aim to include them in your diet. However, you should take care with some types. It's best to cut out raw fish and uncooked shellfish altogether. Also, limit your intake of large fish--like swordfish, tilefish, kingfish, and king mackerel--to once a month. These fish can contain high levels of methyl mercury, a chemical that can harm a baby's developing nervous system.
Will eating nuts give my baby an allergy?
There have been suggestions in recent years that if a woman consumes peanut products while she's pregnant, her baby may become predisposed to developing a peanut allergy. For these reasons, women with food allergies or strong family histories of food allergies might want to avoid nuts and peanuts during pregnancy and while nursing. For women without these histories, there is no need to eliminate peanuts and other nuts from your diet.
Health First:
Foods to avoid--It can be confusing to keep track of everything you can and can't eat during pregnancy, so here's a list of the foods that you should avoid:
- All unpasteurized cheese; feta cheese; mold-ripened cheese such as Brie and Camembert; and blue-veined cheese such as Stilton and Danish Blue, even if they're pasteurized.
- Sheep and goats' milk and their products.
- All fresh pates, whether meat, fish, or vegetable; canned pates are fine.
- Unheated cooked-chilled meals and precooked poultry foods that can't be reheated safely.
- Raw or under-cooked eggs or products containing them, including some desserts, and home-made mayonnaise or hollandaise sauce.
- Raw meat dishes such as steak tartare or Parma ham.
- Raw fish, including sushi.
- Raw or under-cooked shellfish such as oysters, mussels, cold prawns, and crab.
Pgs. 110-112
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