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5 foods to avoid during your first trimester

06/02/2014 by Pregnancy Editors 7 Comments

foods to avoid during first trimester

5 foods to avoid during your first trimester.

Morning sickness tends to be most intense during the first trimester, but if you know how to handle it, you can have a more pleasant pregnancy. Every woman in different, and some have more severe symptoms or longer periods of morning sickness than others. Read on to find out what foods you should avoid in your first trimester.

1. Deli meat
Put away the roast beef sandwiches and Italian subs for nine months: Deli meat is a big no-no for pregnant women. Deli meat is notoriously prone to being contaminated with listeria, a type of bacteria found in water and dirt, according to American Pregnancy. Listeriosis, sickness caused by eating meat contaminated with listeria, is most common among pregnant women, suggesting that they are more susceptible to it, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Listeria is capable of crossing the placenta and can hurt your baby, resulting in a potentially fatal infection or blood poisoning. If you just have to have that hoagie, make it a hot one and be sure that the meat is thoroughly cooked before taking a bite.

2. Some fish – probably your favorite
This might just be the most gut-wrenching culinary omission for some pregnant women. Certain types of fish contain high levels of mercury, which can cause your growing baby to become developmentally delayed in the womb and lead to brain damage. Here are some you should avoid:

  • Swordfish
  • Mackerel
  • Smoked salmon
  • Raw shellfish

In general, mothers-to-be should avoid any raw or undercooked foods to reduce their risk of food poisoning.

3. Spicy Foods
Stay away from spicy foods! In the first trimester, your sense of smell goes into overdrive, which could put you off of spicier fare. Eating spicy foods can also cause diarrhea. Also, pregnant women are prone to heartburn, which spicy food only exacerbates.

4. Soft cheeses
Deli meat isn’t the only kind of food that listeria may contaminate – soft cheese is another. Numerous types of soft delicious cheeses, such as brie, gorgonzola and roquefort?, are made with unpasteurized – or raw – milk. Anything made with the aforementioned substance is a definite no-go during pregnancy. The smell might put you off it anyway.

5. Caffeine
Yes, caffeine. Your daily cup of coffee will have to be put down while your baby is developing. Whether your traditional beverage of choice is coffee, soda or tea, all caffeinated drinks are bad news while you’re pregnant. Drinking the equivalent of 200 milligrams or more cups of coffee per day can increase a woman’s chance of miscarriage two-fold, according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Caffeinated beverages can also mess with your body in unwanted ways when you’re already going through some immense changes. In addition to harming the baby, they can cause heartburn and insomnia.

You don’t have to miss out on saying ”cheers!” with friends and family while you’re sporting your baby bump. Get access to irresistible mocktail recipes that would make anyone ask, ”wait, what are you having?” Just click below!

Filed Under: Pregnancy Health

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jan says

    12/17/2016 at 1:54 PM

    my girlfriend is pregnant nd it is still early days she is one month pregnant. nd according 2 doctors she will have baby twins nd I need 2 give her my 100% support bt please help me with more information or which books can I buy 2 learn more

    Reply
  2. Jessica says

    05/05/2017 at 2:27 PM

    I went to Barnes and nobles and bout 2 book that my husband picked out for him and one for me , our first baby

    Reply
  3. Pregnancy says

    02/13/2018 at 4:54 PM

    I read this during the first year of my second child’s life and it deeply resonated with me. It was so refreshing to hear from someone who absolutely loved their child but was struggling with their new role, new identity as a mother.

    Reply
  4. Ashley Evans says

    01/28/2019 at 6:14 AM

    The caffeine part is incorrect. My doctor says as long as I consume less than 200 mg I’m fine and I’m 8 weeks. Modify your info

    Reply
  5. bk says

    03/20/2019 at 7:47 PM

    your doctor is wrong. caffeine is bad for the fetus.

    Reply
    • Whwi says

      03/24/2019 at 4:30 PM

      “Your doctor is wrong” that is such a stupid thing to say. You are going to trust the internet over a doctor who has went to school for this stuff. Caffeine is fine to drink under 200 mg. I’m in my second trimester and I’m just fine and so is my baby. Also spicy food isn’t bad unless you suffer from heartburn

      Reply
  6. Betty says

    02/07/2022 at 4:07 PM

    I think have learned a lot from this ,am 3 month pregnant

    Reply

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