Eating During Pregnancy: Food and Drinks that May be Dangerous

Pregnancy can be a very confusing time for mothers, even ones who have been through it before. The list of foods to avoid seems to be constantly changing as more information comes out on what can cause dangers to an unborn baby. The following is a list of various substances to avoid while pregnant. While not complete, it should give you a starting point to help you have a healthy pregnancy. As always, you should bring any questions to your doctor or health care provider at your next prenatal visit.

Alcohol is a big no-no when it comes to pregnancy. Just about any substance you put in your mouth will go to the baby, and just like you wouldn't put vodka in a bottle for an infant to drink, you probably shouldn't drink it yourself when you're pregnant. Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause a myriad of problems in babies, and warnings about it are everywhere. Alcohol is probably one of the most widely known substances to avoid in pregnancy, but it still needs to be mentioned because it is so important to eschew it. However, if you had a few drinks before finding out you were pregnant, don't beat yourself up about it. Many, many women have been in the same boat, and their babies came out just fine. Worrying about it now will only stress you out, and that is also not good for the baby. Once you know you're pregnant, however, it's definitely a good idea to be the designated driver for the next nine months.

Mercury and other heavy metals. Lead, mercury, and other industrial chemicals have polluted the oceans, especially in the last hundred years. Unfortunately, this means that they have also polluted the organisms that live in the oceans, namely, the fish. This tends to cause much confusion for pregnant women because fish is widely regarded as a healthy food for pregnant women to eat, and so many studies have shown the benefits to the baby of getting a maternal diet rich in fish. What's a woman to do? The answer, it turns out, is to think small. Small, as in small fish. While all fish are likely to have some heavy metal contamination, it's not an equal problem all over. The oceanic food chain is simple. Little fish eat plants and plankton, teeny organisms that swarm the oceans. Bigger fish eat the little fish, and so on. While the smaller fish end up getting a little bit of heavy metal contamination, they tend to be eaten before they can really build up large amounts. Bigger fish who eat those little ones will end up ingesting the heavy metals those fish ate and storing it in their own bodies. As this goes up the piscene food chain, the biggest fish end up with a disproportionally large amount of mercury contamination. So, for a pregnant woman to eat fish safely, without having to worry about heavy metals hurting the baby, the best option is to eat the littler fish, and avoid the bigger ones. In this case, bigger ones include mackerel, swordfish, tuna, and so on. Salmon is generally considered safe in moderation, and smaller fish like sardines, herring, and anchovies are just fine.

Then again, even when you go by the smaller is better rule of thumb, there is one more complication to fish. This one is more related, however, to how the fish is prepared than what it is. Sushi and sashimi, when made with uncooked fish, should be avoided during pregnancy. While somewhat rare, uncooked fish can harbor a variety of really unpleasant parasites, and they can wreak havoc in a pregnant woman, potentially harming the baby. Also, many fish popular in sushi are those mercury-containing ones, making it a double no-no. If you absolutely must have sushi when you're pregnant, try either sticking to the vegetable rolls, or the ones made with cooked fish. Broiled salmon skin rolls, broiled eel rolls, and the like are not only delicious, but they contain healthy omega-3 oils, which have been shown to be very good for your baby. Salmon skin is especially good, since it contains a high fat content. But, again, make sure it is cooked thoroughly to kill any parasites.

Speaking of parasites, another concern for pregnant women is listeria. While also rare, this parasite lurks in undercooked meats, such as deli meats. This usually doesn't cause a severe problem, but in pregnancy, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth defects. In order to avoid it, it's important to make sure that any processed meats, including bacon, ham, hot dogs, and deli meats, are thoroughly cooked. By thoroughly, it's a good idea to get it to a minimum of 160-180 degrees, or to just avoid it. Avoiding them altogether is a good idea in other ways, since processed meats tend to be full of unpleasant preservatives, which aren't good for the baby in the first place.

Just like preservatives, another substance that is just plain bad for the baby is trans fats. Sometimes called 'partially hydrogenated oils', trans fats are bad for everyone, and not just pregnant women. They lower your HDL, or good cholesterol, raise your LDL, or bad cholesterol, lower your metabolism, increase insulin resistance, and put you at higher risk of heart attack, type II diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Really, no one should be eating them at all, and many places in Europe have already banned them. Unfortunately, they lurk in many places, and, especially when you're pregnant, it's important to read the nutrition information before you put food in your mouth. Due to labeling laws in the US, a company is allowed to label a product as '0 grams trans fat,' even if there are trans fats within, provided that the amount per serving is less than half a gram. With even tiny amounts of it considered harmful, this is deceptive at best, and dangerous at worst. Suppose you eat half a box of cookies, or nine servings, with half a gram per serving? Suddenly, you've eaten four and a half grams of trans fats, when you thought you weren't getting any. It's important to look at the ingredients. Trans fats can be labeled as 'partially hydrogenated' or 'hydrogenated' oils, or as vegetable shortening or margarine. It's generally a good idea to avoid any foods which include one or more of those ingredients in the label. There are healthier alternatives for just about all of the foods that are made with those these days, and they tend to not only be healthier, but to taste better.

With all the foods that are dangerous to eat for pregnant women, you'd think that the things they drink would at least be safe. Sadly, that's not the case. Drinks have just as many substances that are not recommended for pregnant women as foods. Caffeine is one of those. Caffeine is not recommended for pregnant women because of its nature as a stimulant. Not only will it wake you up, it will also wake up your baby. It also constricts blood vessels, which can decrease the amount of oxygen you and your baby are getting. It's generally considered to be safe for pregnant women in amounts up to 350 mg a day, or about 2 small cups of coffee. However, if you can survive with less, it's encouraged. After all, caffeine is habit-forming and the last thing you need is a newborn infant with a caffeine habit.

Herbal supplements are everywhere these days. They are found in pills, herbal teas, energy drinks, and health food stores, and are touted as practically being miracle solutions for a variety of problems. So, of course, they must be safe for pregnancy, right? Wrong. Very, very few herbal substances have been examined by the FDA for safety, and very little is known about the effects they have on adults, let alone on unborn babies. Many herbs can cause stimulation or contractions of the uterus, and in some cases, they can be strong enough to cause miscarriage. In other cases, they may contain dangerous stimulants or have other unknown effects. Herbal supplements are NOT recommended for pregnant women at all, and should not be taken. The same holds true for many herbal teas, which, again, may contain substances that can cause uterine contractions. It's generally best to speak to a doctor about it for clarification, and to stop taking any herbal substances until after speaking with him or her to verify safety.

Pregnancy is a very special time in any woman's life, and it is the start of a whole new life for your baby. It also only lasts nine months. It's best to speak with a health care professional about what foods and supplements you should avoid during it, and to try to stick to the recommendations given. After all, when you're pregnant, it's not just you eating and drinking. Everything you put in your mouth also goes into your baby's mouth, and it's important to start him or her off the very best you can. And who knows, after nine months of eating well, you might have the beginnings of a much healthier lifestyle to work with. Best of luck, and have a happy, healthy pregnancy.