Which foods should be avoided by a pregnant client due to the possible risks to their unborn baby?

Every day, at least one pregnant patient tells me she’s tired or grumpy after giving up coffee, sushi, or another favorite food or drink to protect her growing baby. While such sacrifice is a noble gesture, it’s unnecessary for most women.

In fact, there is just a handful of foods and drinks we recommend that women totally avoid during pregnancy. With a little common sense, women can enjoy a wide menu without endangering their own health and the health of their babies. 

3 common food and drink concerns during pregnancy

The following are general guidelines for the three foods and drinks my patients ask about most often. Every woman and every pregnancy is different, so I encourage women to talk to their doctor about dietary-related questions or concerns.

1. Caffeine

Moderate caffeine consumption – less than 300 mg per day, or right around two 8-ounce cups of coffee – is considered safe during pregnancy for most women. However, women who are breastfeeding during pregnancy might want to cut back on coffee, tea, and soda if the child becomes fussy or has trouble sleeping.

2. Alcohol

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can be a touchy topic. Moderate to heavy drinking can contribute to pregnancy complications and birth defects, but the risks associated with low alcohol consumption are less understood. Because we can’t be sure whether alcohol is safe or in what quantities, it should be avoided all together.

3. Fish

Eating seafood that is high in omega-3 fatty acids is healthy during pregnancy when prepared properly. The current guidelines suggest that pregnant women can safely eat three servings a week (up to 12 ounces total) of shrimp, salmon, catfish, and other fatty fish. It’s even safe for most pregnant women to eat sushi in the U.S., provided it’s prepared in a clean environment. However, some fish is high in mercury, including king mackerel and swordfish. It’s not safe to consume mercury in high amounts during pregnancy because it increases the risk of birth defects. 

While most foods and drinks are safe during pregnancy, a handful of foods should be avoided to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses, or diseases caused by toxins, viruses, and bacteria. Below are tips to reduce the risk of three foodborne illnesses that harm pregnant women and their babies.

3 common foodborne illnesses and how to avoid them

1. Food poisoning

Food poisoning often is caused by consuming foods that are contaminated by viruses, toxins, or bacteria, such as salmonella. While diarrhea and vomiting are unpleasant for anyone, food poisoning during pregnancy also can cause headache, fever, and dehydration, which can result in hospitalization.  

2. Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite that can be carried in raw or undercooked meats. Some pregnant women experience mild symptoms; others experience none. However, toxoplasmosis can cause pregnancy complications such as miscarriage or stillbirth or health problems for the baby, including blindness or cognitive issues.

3. Listeria

Pregnant women are more susceptible than the general public to infection from Listeria, a bacterium found most frequently in deli meats, hot dogs, unpasteurized milk products such as soft cheeses, and unwashed produce. Regional outbreaks also have linked Listeria to less likely foods, such as hummus and ice cream. Symptoms of infection, if any, are often vague and flu-like. Untreated Listeria infection can increase the risk of premature delivery, miscarriage, and stillbirth.

Common sense food safety can help pregnant women avoid foodborne illnesses. Follow these tips to reduce the risk:

● Be aware of foodborne outbreaks in your area

● Clean food preparation surfaces and utensils before and after use

● Fully cook all meat dishes

● Keep cold food cold, and hot food hot

● Wash raw fruits and vegetables before cutting or eating them

Stay on top of health care news. Subscribe to our blog today.

  1. UC Davis Health
  2. Blogs

Good Food As Good Medicine

Good Food As Good Medicine

Which foods should be avoided by a pregnant client due to the possible risks to their unborn baby?

It’s well known that a mother’s diet during pregnancy is very important to the health of her baby. Expecting mothers need to consume more vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are helpful for a fetus’ growth and development. However, there are also some foods pregnant women should avoid.

UC Davis Health registered dietitian Katherine Stone shares foods to eat and avoid during pregnancy:

5 foods to eat during pregnancy

  1. Produce containing Vitamin C, like oranges, strawberries, bell peppers, and broccoli, support the baby’s growth and improves iron absorption.
  2. Foods that have iron, such as beans, lentils, green leafy vegetables, meat, and spinach all support the mother’s body in making more blood for both mom and baby.
  3. Foods rich in calcium, including pasteurized dairy products (yogurt, cow’s milk and hard cheeses) as well as almonds, broccoli, and garbanzo beans will help support development of bones and teeth.
  4. Foods containing Omega-3 fatty acids (EHA and DHA) such as sardines, salmon, trout and canned light tuna. Or choose a prenatal supplement with Omega-3s if you don’t like fish.
  5. Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated supports the proper delivery of nutrients through the blood to the baby and may help prevent constipation, hemorrhoids and urinary tract infections for the mother.

5 foods to avoid during pregnancy

  1. Stay away from unpasteurized dairy products (soft cheeses and milk) and refrigerated ready-to-eat meats like deli meat. These foods may have bacteria that cause the foodborne illness listeriosis, which may cause flu-like symptoms, nausea, diarrhea, and miscarriage, as well as still birth and preterm labor.
  2. Any food in a dented can increases risk for botulism, a foodborne illness that can cause neuromuscular deficits for expecting mothers.
  3. Consuming raw seafood, like sushi or raw oysters, increases risk of salmonella, a foodborne illness that can cause fever and nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping and diarrhea for pregnant women, as well as intrauterine sepsis that can affect babies.
  4. Fish with a high mercury content, such as swordfish, shark, orange roughy, marlin and king mackerel can cause damage to the nervous system of the mother and brain damage or hearing and vision problems for the baby.
  5. Alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy. Alcohol has been shown to negatively affect a baby’s growth and development.

Additional resources:

  • American Pregnancy Association: Pregnancy Nutrition
  • USDA: Nutrition During Pregnancy
  • ChooseMyPlate.gov: Nutritional Needs During Pregnancy
  • UC Davis Health Birth Center
  • Celebrating new moms with delicious and healthy Mommy Meals

By Good Food Is Good Medicine|SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

Share this

What food should be avoided during pregnancy?

Examples of raw or undercooked foods to avoid include sushi, sashimi, ceviche and raw oysters, scallops or clams. Avoid refrigerated, uncooked seafood. Examples include seafood labeled nova style, lox, kippered, smoked or jerky. It's OK to eat smoked seafood if it's an ingredient in a casserole or other cooked dish.

What should a pregnant woman avoid eating for safety reasons?

People at Risk: Pregnant Women.
Advice Regarding Seafood. ... .
Don't Drink Unpasteurized Juice or Cider. ... .
Avoid Raw Milk, Raw Milk Soft Cheeses, and Other Raw Milk Products. ... .
Cook Eggs Thoroughly. ... .
Don't Eat Premade Meat or Seafood Salad (Such as Deli Chicken or Tuna Salads) ... .
Do Not Eat Raw Sprouts. ... .
Avoid Undercooked Meat and Poultry..

What food makes pregnancy high risk?

During high-risk pregnancy, one needs to give up on refined carbohydrates such as white bread, junk food or highly processed desserts. Instead, one can have whole grain food such as wheat, oats, corn, barley, jowar, brown rice, etc.

What are 3 things to avoid while pregnant?

What to Avoid During Pregnancy.
Alcohol..
Fish high in mercury..
Unpasteurized foods..
Raw seafood and eggs..
Raw sprouts..
Prescription acne medications..
NSAID pain relievers..
Botox and chemical peels..