What Not to Eat and Drink in Pregnancy

Must Have Nutritive Values
1. Protein --60gm per day from three meals.

2. Carbohydrates --60 percent of your daily calorie intake.

3. Calcium --1200 mgs daily.

4. Iron --30 mg daily.

5. Vitamin A --not more than 10,000 IU per day.

6. Vitamin C --about 80 mg daily

7. Vitamin B6 --2.2 mg daily

8. Vitamin B12 --3-4 mg daily

9. Folic Acid --400 mcg daily

10. Fat --30 percent of daily caloric intake.

Below is a comprehensive, not exhaustive, list of certain food items which should be avoided during pregnancy.

1. No Smoking
Smoking is not only injurious for you but for your unborn baby as well. Exposure to the harmful smoke can result in several undesirable medical conditions such as spontaneous abortion, pre-term labor, low weight babies, or even fetal death. Even passive smoking can cause severe damage to the fetus.

2. No Alcohol
Alcohol is extremely harmful to your baby's development. When you consume alcohol, it crosses the placental barrier and goes to your baby too. So every time you drink when you are pregnant, your baby also does so which is very harmful.

Alcohol imposes variety of negative effects on your developing baby. Such babies are known to have a condition called “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)”. These babies are usually underweight and often have small eyes and head.

They might develop birth defects such as delayed development, certain heart defects, and vision or hearing problems. The most serious problem that they might face is mental retardation.

3. No Self Medication or Over-The-Counter (OTC) Drugs
It is best to avoid all over-the-counter medicines in the first eight weeks of pregnancy, when the heart, lung, and brain of the baby are being formed. Indiscriminate use of medication can cause devastating effects on the fetus.

There are certain drugs which are considered comparatively “safe” during pregnancy for various conditions. Talk to your practitioner in advance about what all you can take in case of emergencies.

4. No Undercooked or Raw Eggs
Eating raw or undercooked eggs is not considered safe during pregnancy because they contain salmonella, a bacteria which causes food-borne illnesses. Few signs of salmonella food poisoning may include fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.

5. Avoid Fish
Though, not all types of fishes are harmful during pregnancy, but it is better to avoid them altogether during this period. The reason being, fish contains high levels of mercury, which hampers the proper development the baby’s brain.

According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA), large predator fishes such as shark, tilefish, or swordfish are not to be eaten at all during pregnancy.

6. Avoid Vitamin A Supplements
By avoiding it is not meant that a pregnant woman doesn’t at all need vitamin A. As per FDA's guidelines, not more than 10,000 IU per day of vitamin A is required by a pregnant lady.

Vitamin A is vital for them as it helps in postpartum tissue repair, maintaining normal vision, and fight off infections. But a pregnant woman should not get too much vitamin A as its high doses can cause birth defects and liver toxicity.

7. No Caffeine
Caffeine consumption can lead to the risk of miscarriage and premature birth in pregnant woman. Hence, large quantities of beverages containing caffeine, like coffee and tea, should be avoided during this period.

A cup of coffee or tea in a day won’t be of much harm though.

8. No Unpasteurized Milk and Soft Cheese
Make sure that the milk you consume during pregnancy is pasteurized because unpasteurized milk may contain a bacteria called listeria, which may lead to miscarriages.

Similarly, soft cheeses such as feta, gorgonzola, Queso Blanco, and few others also contain listeria, which may infect the baby. It may also lead to poisoning in the blood.

A healthy pregnancy depends on a healthy diet. With a bit of caution, one can have a safe journey to this most important and very crucial phase of life.