Mayo Clinic: Foods to Avoid While Pregnant

When it comes to pregnancy, what you don't eat can be as important as what you do.

According to an online article by the Mayo Clinic, here are some foods that all pregnant women should avoid:

• Seafood:
  

Seafood contains protein, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids that aid in a fetus' brain development. Some studies even suggest that skimping on seafood can cause poor verbal skills and slow development in a child. However, seafood should be eaten with caution during pregnancy because of the high levels of mercury in some fish. Merucury is a neurotoxin and will damage the fetus' developing nervous system. Fish that contains higher levels of mercury include swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish. Also avoid any raw seafood, like oysters or clams, and refrigerated, smoked seafood. Shrimp, salmon, pollock, and catfish are safer choices for seafood; however, pregnant women should only consume up to 12 oz. a week. Pregnant women can eat tuna, but are advised to eat no more than 6 oz. a week.

Click here to read another Mayo Clinic article about beneficial effects of eating fish while pregnant.

• Meat/Poultry: Changes in metabolism during pregnancy increases the chance that expectant mothers will develop food poisoning. With severe reactions, even a developing fetus can get sick. Pregnant women are advised to eat only meats that are steaming hot and to skip any meats that are cooked medium or rare. Deli meats should be avoided entirely due to the risk of developing listeriosis.

• Dairy: Pregnant women should not eat anything made with unpasteurized milk. Common dairy products to be avoided are cheese such as brie, camembert, blue cheese, and mexican-style cheeses like queso blanco, queso fresco, queso de hoja, queso de crema, and queso asadero.
  

• Caffeine: Women who consume caffeine while pregnant have higher rates of miscarriages and stillbirths. Caffeine can cross the placenta and increase the fetus' heart rate to dangerously high levels. Some reports suggest that up to 200 miligrams of caffeine can slow fetal growth. A doctor is the best person to recommend safe caffeine levels during pregnancy. Some doctors may advise women to avoid it entirely throughout pregnancy.
  

• Herbal Tea: There is little data on the effects of specific herbs on the developing fetus, thus, women are cautioned to drink herbal tea only in moderation. Red Raspberry Tea is known to cause contractions and should be avoided entirely.
  

• Alcohol: No level of alcohol is safe. Women who consume alcohol while pregnant put their babies at risk of developing fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause facial deformities, heart problems, low birth weight, and mental retardation. Alcohol should be avoided entirely. Women who consumed alcohol before they knew they were pregnant should consult with a physician.