If you’re pregnant, you probably know there are some important lifestyle changes you need to make to ensure you and your baby are as healthy as possible.
Taking a prenatal vitamin, seeing an OB-GYN regularly and preparing for your baby’s arrival all rank high on the list, but there are some definite guidelines you need to familiarize yourself with, too, when it comes to what you can eat and drink during pregnancy.
In addition to the hard-and-fast no-alcohol and limited-caffeine rules, doctors also recommend pregnant women stay away from certain foods because pregnancy puts them at a heightened risk for listeriosis, a serious infection caused by eating foods contaminated with the bacterium listeria, said Dr. Lily Hahn, an OB-GYN with St. Elizabeth Physicians.
Listeriosis can by asymptomatic or it can cause mild flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches, diarrhea and fever.
For women in the early stages of pregnancy, listeriosis can lead to miscarriage; later on, it can result in stillbirth or pre-term delivery.
So, what can cause listeriosis?
Soft cheeses, unpasteurized milk, undercooked seafood, eggs and cold cuts are all on the no-no list, although you can eat lunchmeat if it’s steamed or heated first. Also, cooked sushi is fine, but stay away from any sushi with raw fish in it. Finally, eating smaller fish such as shrimp and catfish is OK, but avoid bigger fish that have higher mercury contents, such as shark and swordfish.
If you have concerns or symptoms of listeriosis, make sure you call your doctor right away. He or she might prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection and monitor your pregnancy more closely to make sure your baby doesn’t develop complications.
