There are many reasons to be extra careful about what you eat when pregnant. One reason is that toxins tolerated by adults can lead to birth defects in an unborn baby; another is that your immune system is slightly weakened and the foetus is highly susceptible to damage caused by common food-borne bacteria. Depending on how much of a believer you are in health-food you can go to greater or lesser lengths, but there are a number of foods that most Doctors will advise pregnant women to stay away from. Fish like tuna, shark and king mackerel are likely to contain high levels of mercury and are never a good idea in high doses. Raw meat is another definite no-no, so steak tartar and carpaccio is out for the duration. E coli is known to lurk in undercooked hamburger meat, so that’s another food you might want to stay away from. Furthermore, experts say foods containing raw eggs can put you at risk for salmonella and that, sadly, some soft cheeses, especially mouldy and unpasteurised ones are out of bounds. The links below contain informative articles detailing the further specifics of what to avoid.
BabyCentre Australia
"Diet For A Healthy Pregnancy"
"In an ideal world – free of morning sickness or food aversions – a well-balanced diet would be all an expectant mum ever needed. But in the real world, a vitamin-mineral supplement may be good insurance that a pregnant woman will be able to meet her nutritional needs. Ask your midwife or doctor to recommend a vitamin supplement." …read the full article
Dr. Spock
"Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy "
"Some foods that are fairly safe under regular circumstances can be dangerous to eat during pregnancy. Others are best avoided regardless of whether or not you are pregnant. Below is a list of foods that you should steer clear of in pregnancy." …read the full article
NSW Food Authority
“Pregnancy”
When you’re pregnant, hormonal changes in your body lower your immune system which can make it harder to fight off illness and infections. Preventing foodborne illness and protecting yourself from other food risks during pregnancy is extremely important." …read the full article
Web MD
"Eating Right While Pregnant "
Healthy eating in pregnancy, and enough of it, is very important for your baby to grow and develop. You should consume about 300 more calories per day than you did before you became pregnant.…read the full article
Joanne Stone and Keith Eddleman
Excerpt from The Pregnancy Bible.
"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. " …read the full article
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Babble Australia
“Don’t Touch The Brie”
Babble Australia
“Cravings”
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