Pregnancy is a very exciting time in a woman's life. However, it can also be a confusing time, especially for first-time expectant mothers.
The hormonal changes in your body can cause some strange food cravings, and there are thousands of articles online that give you advice on pregnancy.
It's likely that your doctor has given you a vitamin supplement and discussed with you all the healthy foods you should eat, but have they discussed with you what you shouldn't eat?
However, some doctors overlook this important information, and for this case, we have compiled this list of 10 foods to avoid when pregnant.
1. Animal liver.
The liver and products made from the liver contain high levels of vitamin A. While this is a good thing for most people, you don't want to eat it during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Excessive intake of vitamin A-rich foods has been linked to birth defects, so be sure to monitor and limit your vitamin A intake. Avoid any supplements that your doctor hasn't given you, such as fish oil supplements or multivitamins that contain vitamin A.
2. Raw or half-cooked eggs.
Eggs are a great source of protein, and as long as the eggs are cooked, nothing can stop you from eating them.
You may have always liked the texture and taste of loose eggs, but raw or half-cooked eggs may contain salmonella, which can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea that affects your unborn baby.
You should also wash your hands after handling the eggs, as Salmonella is also present on the eggshell. In addition, you should avoid foods made from raw or semi-cooked eggs.
3. Tea and soda.
Although there seems to be no consensus on the amount of caffeine a pregnant woman can handle, caffeine can cross the placenta, meaning it can affect your baby's heart rate.
Many doctors recommend that caffeine intakes should not exceed 200 mg, but others say that caffeinated beverages such as tea, carbonated drinks, etc. should be eliminated altogether.
4. Alcohol.
Drinking alcohol can greatly increase your baby's risk of fetal alcohol syndrome, which can lead to developmental disabilities or lead to miscarriage.
In the first trimester, drinking alcohol greatly increases the risk of miscarriage, while in the second and third trimesters, alcohol can be very harmful to your baby.
Don't think it's "just beer" or "just wine" and it's not so harmful, and don't drink any alcoholic beverages during pregnancy.
5. Immature or semi-ripe papaya.
If you want to get pregnant, or if you're already pregnant, you should avoid eating green, unripe papaya fruit.
Eating raw papaya or only partially ripe papaya is like an abortion pill, which means it can cause you to spontaneously miscarry your baby.
Immature papaya may cause uterine contractions. Green papaya may be a very popular dish, but you should avoid eating them until your baby is born.
6. Smoked, pickled, sashimi or high mercury fish.
Fish is a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but not all fish are created equal, and some fish may be contaminated with mercury.
Mercury is a neurotoxin that causes abnormal development of your baby's brain and central nervous system.
Of course, do not eat smoked fish, pickled fish or sashimi during pregnancy.
7. Dairy products made from unpasteurized.
When you are pregnant, you should avoid unpasteurized milk and its products, which means they may contain very dangerous listeria.
Listeria can cause stillbirth, miscarriage, premature birth, or serious illness in newborn babies. But you can consume any dairy product that is fully sterilized.
8. Raw or undercooked meat.
Are you obsessed with the taste of a five-point cooked steak? Never eat raw meat or poultry products during pregnancy. Eating meat that is not fully cooked exposes you to infectious parasites that can cause toxoplasmosis.
Undercooked meat can still contain this dangerous parasite, so you should not eat any meat that is not "cooked thoroughly.")
9. Chocolate, cocoa products and coffee.
As with tea and carbonated drinks, coffee contains caffeine that may affect unborn babies.
Excessive caffeine intake can lead to miscarriage or low birth weight. It can also lead to dehydration. Avoid drinking coffee in the first trimester to reduce the chance of miscarriage.
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, should also be avoided during pregnancy as it also contains caffeine.