THINGS TO AVOID

There are plenty of things you need to add to your diet to have a healthy pregnancy, but there are also things you need to avoid.

Are There any Food to Avoid?

There are foods that may cause problems for the well-being of you and or your baby. Here is a list of things to avoid to increase your changes of a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby:

Raw Meat or Deli Meat: Uncooked seafood and rare or undercooked beef or poultry should be
avoided because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis or salmonella.
Deli meats may be contaminated with listeria.

Fish with Mercury: Fish that contain high levels of mercury should be avoided. Mercury consumed
during pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays and brain damage. A sample of these
types of fish include: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Canned, chunk light tuna generally
has a lower amount of mercury than other tuna, but still should only be eaten in moderation.

Raw Shellfish: The majority of seafood-borne illness is caused by undercooked shellfish, which
include oysters, clams, and mussels. Cooking helps prevent some types of infection, but it does not
prevent the algae-related infections that are associated with red tides. Raw shellfish pose a concern
for everybody, and they should be avoided altogether during pregnancy.

Raw Eggs: Raw eggs or any foods that contain raw eggs should be avoided because of the potential
exposure to salmonella.
Soft Cheeses: Imported soft cheeses may contain bacteria called Listeria, which can cause
miscarriage. You would need to avoid soft cheeses such as: Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, Feta,
Gorgonzola and Mexican style cheeses that include queso blanco and queso fresco, unless they
clearly state that they are made from pasteurized milk.

Are there other things that I should avoid during pregnancy?

Caffeine: Although most studies show that caffeine intake in moderation is OK, there are others that
show that caffeine intake may be related to miscarriages. Avoid caffeine during the first trimester to
reduce the likelihood of a miscarriage.

Alcohol: There is NO amount of alcohol that is known to be safe during pregnancy, and therefore
alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can interfere with the
healthy development of the baby.

Illicit Drugs: Various illicit drugs like marijuana and cocaine have been associated with miscarriage,
low birth weights, and fetal abnormalities.

Compiled using information from the following sources:
Mayo Clinic Guide To A Healthy Pregnancy Harms, Roger W., M.D., et al, Introduction.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, http://www.fda.gov/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov
Eating for Two: The Complete Guide to Nutrition during Pregnancy Abbott-Hess, Mary, et al, Ch. 4, 5
and 7.
William’s Obstetrics Twenty-Second Ed. Cunningham, F. Gary, et al, Ch. 8.