Off limits! 5 foods you should avoid during pregnancy

From the first time you visit the doctor to confirm your pregnancy until your last prenatal appointment, your health care provider will continually remind you of foods that you can and cannot eat.

Trust us, we know just how hard it can be to fight off the urge to indulge on a delectable plate of your favorite sushi or sip on a glass of wine after a hard day at the office. However, you should remain vigilant in staying away from these foods because they can cause severe damage to your unborn child.

If you were to get food poisoning during your pregnancy, you could directly hurt your baby while also end up becoming violently ill yourself – both of which are bad.

5 foods to avoid stay away from during pregnancy

Of course, you know what you should be eating on a regular basis, such as omega-3 fatty acids, choline, fiber and calcium, but it seems as though the list of what you should be staying away from is always changing (save for a few of the obvious choices). Here’s a list of some of the foods you’ll want to avoid during your pregnancy:

Caffeine: So many of us today are addicted to caffeine that cutting out coffee, soda and tea cold turkey can cause you to go through withdrawal, which isn’t any fun since you’re already feeling bad thanks to your good friend, morning sickness. Your OB/GYN will tell you to stay away from high doses of daily caffeine during your pregnancy. This means you shouldn’t drink more than two cups of regular coffee or tea or five 12-ounce cans of caffeine-filled soda, as these can increase your risk of miscarriage. You should completely steer clear of energy drinks.

Alcohol: Although our grandmothers likely drank when they were pregnant with our parents, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a statement in 2005 that encouraged all pregnant women and women who may become pregnant to avoid any alcohol consumption. There is no safe level of alcohol during pregnancy because it immediately crosses the placenta and becomes a liquid that your baby also consumes. Drinking alcohol can you put your baby at an increased risk of developing fetal alcohol syndrome and suffering from learning disabilities, disorders in the central nervous system and physical abnormalities.

Fish: You’ll want to avoid consuming any fish that may contain mercury because the neurotoxin can impair fetal brain development. The foods on the “do not eat” list include tilefish, king mackerel, swordfish, albacore tuna, sushi, shellfish and shark. Should you get the urge to eat tuna during your pregnancy, stick to the canned light tuna because it has low mercury levels. There is one fish that you’ll want to eat plenty of – salmon. It’s a good source of omega-3 fatty acids so be sure you’re consuming a good amount of it.

Soft cheeses: This may surprise you the most, but soft cheeses like Brie, goat, Camembert, feta, queso blanco and blue varieties aren’t good for you during pregnancy. Avoid anything that’s unpasteurized because it could be contaminated with listeria​, which can cause food poisoning. Women who get food poisoning during their first trimester are more likely to suffer a miscarriage. Cheeses like cheddar and Parmesan are still OK to eat because the process of making it naturally kills off any bacteria.

Meat: We’re not talking hamburgers or steak at a restaurant when we say to stay away from meat. We mean that you should stay away from cold cuts because deli products can become contaminated with listeria and cause you to get food poisoning. If you want to eat meat from the deli, heat it until it steams so that you can ensure the bacteria have been killed.

Are there any other foods you’re avoiding during pregnancy? Tell us below!

Morning sickness is no fun. Here’s a free download on things you do to stop morning sickness before it starts, or  reduce its symptoms.