One of the most widely known facts about being pregnant is that there are certain foods to avoid during pregnancy. To help you navigate this, we rounded up all the information about the foods to steer clear of that may complicate your pregnancy or cause harm to your baby.
When we are pregnant, nearly everything we consume is passed on to our growing baby. Turns out, your immune system is weaker during pregnancy and that means you have more of a chance of getting food poisoning. Food poisoning while pregnant can lead to serious health consequences for your baby, and potentially premature birth, miscarriage and stillbirth. Other bacteria and parasites — like Listeria that can be found in items like hot dogs — can affect your baby even if you don’t feel symptoms.
Other things, such as alcohol, are directly harmful to a baby’s developing brain. Alcohol in the blood goes straight to the baby through the umbilical cord and can cause disabilities, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Drinks and foods to avoid during pregnancy
Are all diets considered a healthy pregnancy diet?
- A high-fat diet that’s low on carbs, the ketogenic diet is considered unsafe for pregnant people because the lack of glucose and other nutrients can be harmful to the baby’s development.
- Vegetarian and vegan diets are considered safe for the most part but you should talk to your doctor about consuming more iron, vitamin C, B12 and folic acid.
The safest route — for you and your baby — is to check with your doctor before starting any type of diet, or if you’re unsure about food and drink you’re consuming.
