Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy PREGNANCY While a well-balanced diet is important, you should also note down the foods to avoid during pregnancy.
Maintaining a healthy and well-balanced diet during pregnancy is just one part of what constitutes a healthy pregnancy diet. Knowing which drinks and foods to avoid during pregnancy is equally important too.
“During pregnancy, you are more susceptible to infections. And if you do get a bug, it may be harder for your immune system to fight it off. Bacterial infection and consumption of toxins during pregnancy may then lead to serious health problems for your baby,” say dietitians from the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), a member of the SingHealth group.
Dietitians further elaborate on the drinks and foods you should avoid during pregnancy as well as the reason why they should be avoided.
What not to eat during pregnancy:
Unpasteurised soft cheeses and meat pâtés/meat spreads
Unpasteurised soft cheeses such as camembert, brie and gorgonzola, as well as liver pâtés are not recommended during pregnancy. These foods may be contaminated with the bacteria called Listeria. Listeria may cause food poisoning and even lead to miscarriages and stillbirths.
However, you don’t have to say goodbye to cheese completely during pregnancy. Hard cheeses such as cheddar, swiss and parmesan as well as processed cheese are safe to consume during pregnancy – so long as they are made with pasteurised milk.
Raw and undercooked meat, eggs and seafood
It is best to avoid sashimi, eggs benedict and medium rare steaks when you’re pregnant. Eating raw or undercooked meat, eggs and seafood during pregnancy can expose you and your baby to bacteria that cause food poisoning such as Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria.
Cooking these foods thoroughly and at the right temperature can help eliminate the bacteria. When these foods are served, they should be hot, and not at room temperature. Bacteria in food can multiply in room temperature and make you ill.
Homemade sauces that contain raw eggs should be avoided too.
Large deep-sea fishes like shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish
In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend eating large fishes such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish during pregnancy. This is because they may contain methylmercury, a heavy metal that is toxic to the development of your baby’s neurological system.
In Singapore, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) monitors the mercury levels of imported fish. Hence, the batang fish or Spanish mackerel, commonly used in sliced fish soup, is safe to eat in moderation and as part of a varied diet during pregnancy.
It is not uncommon for expectant women to be extra-careful when it comes to their pregnancy diet. However, aside from a well-balanced diet, one should also be wary of the following foods and drinks. Dietitians from the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), a member of the SingHealth group, explain more.
What not to eat during pregnancy (continued)
Unwashed salads
Vegetables are generally good for you. However, unwashed salads or ready-to-eat salads are foods to avoid during pregnancy. This is because the vegetables may carry bacterial contamination from soil. In addition, salads that cannot be heated and are left at room temperature may be contaminated with bacteria.
So please exercise caution when buying pre-packed salads as you are more susceptible to food poisoning during pregnancy. In addition, avoid homemade salad dressings that may contain raw eggs.
Fresh juices
If you like to drink fruit juice, opt for the pasteurised option in the supermarket rather than fresh juices at the food court. Fresh juices may contain harmful bacteria. Even better, have a piece of fresh fruit instead!
Alcohol
Having alcoholic drinks during pregnancy may affect the development of the fetus and lead to slower physical growth and mental problems – a condition called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy may also lead to miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth.
However, it is okay for you to add small amounts of alcohol to your food during cooking. Just make sure you simmer your dish for at least 30 minutes, with the lid removed, to allow the alcohol to vapourise.
Caffeine
It is best to avoid caffeine during pregnancy as it is a stimulant which can increase your heart rate. This in turn may increase stress to baby and potentially increase your risk of miscarriage.
If you really need your daily caffeine fix during pregnancy, limit yourself to 300mg of caffeine a day – equivalent to 2 cups of regular coffee or tea. Cola drinks and beverages containing chocolate also contain small amounts of caffeine, so consume these in moderation.
Alternatively, you may have up to 2 cups of decaffeinated tea or coffee per day.
However, please take note that decaffeinated tea and coffee, just like regular tea and coffee, can inhibit iron absorption, and pregnant women have higher needs for iron.
Milk thistle and rooibos tea
There isn’t enough scientific evidence to suggest that herbal products such as milk thistle and rooibos tea are safe to use during pregnancy.
Milk thistle has been used historically to improve breast milk flow, and two brief studies of milk thistle consumption during pregnancy reported no side effects.
However, in theory, milk thistle may lower blood sugar levels. Hence, caution is advised if you have diabetes or hypoglycaemia.
In addition, milk thistle plant extract may have estrogenic effects. So, if you have hormone-sensitive conditions such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids, you should also avoid it.
If you want to improve your breast milk supply, you may take fenugreek or black cumin during breastfeeding. Both herbs are listed as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when used in moderation.
Diana Chan 