During pregnancy it is essential to eat healthy for you and your baby.  Not only do you need to pay attention to nutrition content, but there are also certain foods to avoid.  Everything you eat your baby also eats so it is imperative to eat healthy for your baby.

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

During pregnancy it is essential to eat healthy for you and your baby.  Not only do you need to pay attention to nutrition content, but there are also certain foods to avoid.  Everything you eat your baby also eats so it is imperative to eat healthy for your baby.

Consuming raw meat is never safe, but in pregnancy the bacteria from raw meat can be very dangerous to your baby.  If you like your steaks rare, it's better to be safe and choose to get them cooked more during pregnancy.  Sushi hasn't been proven to be safe or unsafe during pregnancy so it is best to avoid it until after the baby has been born.

Lunch meat seems safe since it is cooked, but it can contain listeria.  Listeria can cause miscarriage early in a pregnancy and later cross through the placenta and infect the baby.  It can cause blood poisoning and be very harmful or fatal for the baby.  If you must eat lunch meat, heat it until steaming to kill any listeria.

Excess mercury levels in seafood and fish can be harmful no matter what, but during pregnancy even low levels can harm the baby.  Be sure to check the mercury content for the type of seafood.  Avoid locally caught fish and seafood to be safe.  Excess mercury during pregnancy can be linked to brain damage and developmental delays in the baby. 

Raw eggs should also be avoided as well.  They can contain salmonella which can seriously harm you and the baby.  Be sure to fully cook any eggs you eat.  Also be sure that mayonnaise, Caesar dressing, and other sauces do not contain raw eggs.

Excess caffeine consumption has been linked to early miscarriage.  After the risk of miscarriage has passed, it's still a good idea to limit caffeine intake to under 300 mg of caffeine per day. 

Alcohol is not safe during pregnancy in any amount.  It can cause a serious illness called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.  It can lead to developmental delays and decreased intelligence in the baby. 

Vegetables are very safe to eat, but be sure to wash them completely.  Bagged salad should also be washed.  Unwashed vegetables can harbor bacteria from the soil they were grown in.  Your baby is too small to fight against these bacteria.