Foods to avoid during pregnancy
What not to eat during pregnancy?
You're pregnant! Throughout these nine months, this good news must be accompanied by good eating habits. The recommendations are not made to annoy you, but because certain foods should be avoided or limited. Let's take stock.
These recommendations must be followed from the beginning of pregnancy and throughout it. Don't panic if you accidentally consume one of these "forbidden" products, it can happen! Be vigilant if you experience particular symptoms, and contact a health professional to take stock.
Prohibited or strongly discouraged products
Some foods are not recommended because they can make you sick or compromise the proper development of the fetus. Others are simply forbidden because their effects can be serious.
Zero alcohol from the positive test
You have the test in your hands, it is positive, you are jumping for joy! Tonight you have an outing with friends. If you want to toast to celebrate this great news, you will have to settle for a Virgin mojito, or any other non-alcoholic drink. Studies on the dangers of alcohol for the fetus are legion, and if it is not possible to know from what dose it has harmful effects on the child, it is better to stick to Zero alcohol. An important precautionary principle! Alcohol crosses the placental barrier, it is transmitted to the baby and can cause: miscarriage, malformations, stillbirth, fetal alcohol syndrome ... Even if you love to sip a small glass from time to time, the game is really not worth the candle.
Goodbye raw milk cheeses, sushi and cold cuts!
Listeriosis, salmonellosis and toxoplasmosis are the three diseases responsible for the dietary restrictions recommended for pregnant women. Even if these prohibitions seem a bit like an anti-raclette conspiracy , they are not! Dairy products that are not heat-treated or pasteurized are really risky, as are raw or undercooked meats, or sprouted seeds such as soybeans. In all cases, we avoid cut products, which can be found on the market or in food stores: their risk of contamination is higher than products sold in vacuum packs.
Hang in there, 9 months goes by quickly!
Foods to avoid as much as possible
Generally, it is not recommended when you are pregnant to consume :
- Charcuterie : rillettes, pâté, raw ham, sausage, liver mousse, salami, etc.
- All raw meats, in tartare, in carpaccio, smoked, marinated, as well as game
- All raw fish, including sushi, smoked or marinated fish
- Fish potentially containing high levels of methylmercury: eel, barbel, carp, swordfish, halibut, tuna, etc.
- Surimi, tarama and lumpfish roe
- Raw milk cheeses, unpasteurized or unthermized
- Raw shellfish, sea urchins and oysters
Why these prohibitions?
Obviously, the goal is not to annoy you, but these foods can harbor bacteria such as Listeria , which is responsible for listeriosis. During pregnancy, this infection can be transmitted to the fetus via the placenta, and cause a risk of miscarriage. Sometimes, contamination of the fetus can even cause serious health problems after birth. These precautions are therefore important!
As for salmonellosis, contamination in pregnant women can lead to a more severe form than in other adults. The bacteria can cross the placental barrier, which threatens the health of the fetus and can cause its death. Contractions can also occur, or even premature delivery in the most serious cases.
