Cravings are hard to avoid no matter who you are or what stage of life you’re in — but do you know what foods to avoid when pregnant? If you’re feeling new worries and anxiety early on in your pregnancy, it’s TOTALLY normal and I’m here to take away a layer of stress when it comes to what not to eat.
It’s important to be aware of potentially harmful foods but there’s no need to freak out. Keep reading and I’ll break it all down. You might be surprised by a few foods on the list!
1. Alcohol
It’s recommended to avoid drinking alcohol during pregnancy or if you might become pregnant. Alcohol has been known to cause miscarriage, stillbirth and a variety of other disabilities. Some doctors are supportive of a minimal amount in the first trimester but always check with your doctor before having any.
2. Caffeine
Caffeine doesn’t need to be completely avoided but the recommended amount of caffeine during pregnancy is 200mg. This is equal to about two cups of coffee and might be significantly less than what you consumed pre-pregnancy.
When you drink caffeine during pregnancy, it passes through the placenta to your baby. You may actually feel more sensitive to caffeine in pregnancy too and it’s surprisingly a drink most women end up avoiding during the first trimester. Some can’t stomach it while others can only tolerate a small amount only after they’ve eaten.
If you’re looking for alternative options with less caffeine, try drinking decaf coffee or tea. There are lots of options when it comes to tea and if you’re experiencing morning sickness, ginger tea may help you!
| Food / Drink | Average Amount of Caffeine |
|---|---|
| Brewed Coffee (8oz) | 95 mg |
| Black Tea (8oz) | 47-90 mg |
| Green Tea (8oz) | 20-45 mg |
| White Tea (8oz) | 6-60 mg |
| Soda (12oz) | 30-50 mg |
| Dark Chocolate (1oz) | 12 mg |
| Milk Chocolate (1.55oz) | 9 mg |
3. High Mercury Fish
High mercury fish is another food to avoid during pregnancy. Mercury can accumulate in your bloodstream and too much can lead to damage of your baby’s developing brain and nervous system. Make sure you talk to your doctor if you have questions about whether or not a type of fish is safe to eat.
- Fish to Avoid: Swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tilefish, shark, tuna (bigeye), mahi mahi
- Safe Fish to Eat: Salmon, tilapia, shrimp, cod, catfish, scallops, trout (freshwater), tuna (canned light, white tuna, yellowfin), clams, crab, Atlantic mackerel, haddock, flounder
4. Raw Eggs / Raw Meat
Raw or undercooked eggs (don’t forget foods made with raw eggs such as mayonnaise) and raw meat should be avoided during pregnancy due to the risk of salmonella poisoning. Salmonella is a common bacterial infection that causes fever, stomach cramps, fever, chills, muscle pains and diarrhea.
Pregnant or not, the salmonella symptoms are the same but if the pregnant woman gets really sick, it can pass to the bloodstream and lead to sepsis or pass through the placenta to the baby. It’s rare but still a risk.
5. Raw Seafood and Sushi
Any kind of raw or undercooked seafood should be avoided during pregnancy because it can contain harmful bacteria. Eating these types of foods can put you and your baby at a higher risk for listeria, salmonella or food poisoning which can lead to miscarriage, premature labor or other complications.
6. Deli Meat
Deli meat is also on the list of foods to avoid while pregnant due to the risk of listeria bacteria. A listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, uterine infection and preterm delivery.
It’s safest to avoid deli meats altogether but some doctors are comfortable with the meat being heated until it is steaming. The belief is that the heat kills any bacteria. Check with your doctor before consuming any deli meat.
7. Unpasteurized / Soft Cheeses
As with deli meats, unpasteurized or soft cheeses such as brie, feta, blue cheese, Mexican queso and queso blanco should be avoided during pregnancy due to a risk of listeria.
Cheeses that are safe during pregnancy include hard cheese (cheddar) and semi-soft cheese (mozzarella). Cream cheese and cottage cheese are also safe to consume.
8. Pre-Prepared Foods
Pre-prepared foods like whole, cooked rotisserie chicken and turkey breasts, even when stored in a refrigerator case, should be avoided during pregnancy because listeria can survive in cold temperatures. Sandwiches fall into this category too. If the chicken was recently cooked and is under the warmer, you should be ok.
There are so many do’s and don’ts of pregnancy, but this list of foods to avoid when pregnant should take out the stress you may be feeling. You may even find that your tastebuds and cravings change during pregnancy and you no longer drool over sushi or a deli sandwich.
If you want to save this list for later, you can save the pin on Pinterest by clicking on the picture at the top of the page.
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