Food During Pregnancy

Some should be consumed less and some should be avoided completely.

Meat:
– Deli meat should be cooked until steaming hot to avoid contamination with Listeria which might cause miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and fetal newborn diseases.
– Avoid refrigerated meats unless steaming hot.
– Turkey and cold cuts: only consume sealed, prepackaged. And if it was in the refrigerated section, it should be heated to steaming.
– Organ meat: Like liver. eating too much might cause Vitamin A toxicity, so the Pregnant lady should not eat it more than once a week.

Egg:
– Raw eggs: should be avoided because it can be contaminated with Salmonella.
– Well cooked eggs: 1 – 2 servings daily, depends on your cholesterol level.

Fruits:
– Papaya specially unripe: it should be avoided as it may cause contractions leading to bleeding or miscarriage.
– Dates: eating one to two per day is OK.
– Eat fresh or frozen fruits whenever you can and choose jarred over canned.

Spices:
– It safe to eat cinnamon in moderation. 1 gram a day. (equal to quarter of a teaspoon)

– It is safe to eat ginger, and it helps in nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, this includes ginger tea, ginger candies and cookies. It should be in moderation. It is better if fresh, up to 1 gram a day, equal to 4 cups (950 ml) of packaged ginger tea.

Over consumption of ginger may cause gas, heartburn, bleeding.

– There is no enough evidence that fennel seeds are unsafe during pregnancy, and at the same time no enough evidence that they are safe completely.
It is always advisable to check with the doctor.
Small doses of fennel seeds such found in foods as spices or flavor (as a food additive) are likely safe.
Over consumption during pregnancy may cause uterine contractions.
It is better to avoid fennel tea as it may contain higher amount of fennel.
Fennel supplements should be avoided.

– Using Rosemary occasionally as a condiment is considered safe.
Consumed as tea or in high doses may induce uterine contractions
It is unsafe in medicinal amounts.

– Anise is likely to be safe when consumed in amounts typically found in foods as culinary herb.
High consumption may stimulate uterine contractions.

– It is safe when turmeric is consumed in small amounts, in amounts typically found in meals (fresh or powder).
Large amounts of turmeric may cause bleeding or contractions.
medicinal quantities such as capsules or supplements should be avoided.

– Fresh or dried Chamomile is safe if consumed in moderation.
One to two small cups a day is usually considered safe (15 gram or less of the chamomile extract).
Excessive consumption can cause some side effects, such as uterine contractions.

– Because of the uncertainty around the safety of hibiscus tea during pregnancy, It is best to avoid it due to the possibility of some risks.
Hibiscus supplements are likely to be unsafe.

Cheese:
– Avoid eating soft cheeses like soft blue cheese, soft goat cheese and Roquefort cheese.
– It is safe to eat soft blue cheese and soft goat cheese if cooked well.
– It is safe to eat hard cheeses like cheddar, and Parmesan.
– It is safe to eat mozzarella, feta, cream cheese, ricotta, Halloumi and cheese spreads made of pasteurized milk.

Fish: All kinds of fish and shellfish should be cooked well before eating.
– Pregnant women should avoid High-Mercury Fish such as sharks, swordfish, and king mackerel. The consumption should be limited to 1 – 2 servings per month.
– Under cooked or raw fish should be avoided.
– It is OK to eat fish with low Mercury level like Salmon, catfish, Tilapia, Shrimp and crayfish. Serving should be limited to 2 – 3 servings a week equal to 226 – 340 gram. And must be cooked well.
– It is safe to eat lobster and crabs once a week and should be cooked well
– It is safe to eat cooked sushi.
– Shellfish and oyster should be cooked well to be safe to eat.

There are two types of Tuna mainly:
1. Tuna (LIGHT and canned) (lower mercury). Serving should be limited to 2 – 3 servings a week equal to 226 – 340 gram. And must be cooked well.

2. White Tuna consumption (higher mercury) as displayed in the attached picture should not be more than 6 ounces a week which equal to 170 gram.

Other:
– Caffeine: The I should not exceed 200 mg a day (equal to 2-3 cups of coffee). High intake may affect fetal growth, and cause high risk of low birth weight.
– Avoid unwashed products.
– Avoid unpasteurized milk and cheese.
– Mayonnaise should be made of pasteurized eggs in order to be safe to eat like the ones prepackaged from the supermarket.
– Pickles: eat in moderation specially spicy and salty pickles.
– Avoid taking high doses of fish liver oil supplements and Vitamin A supplements.
– It is safe to eat honey during pregnancy.
– It is safe to eat ice cream made of pasteurized milk and egg.