What is the Best Food For Pregnant Women?

Whether you just found out you’re pregnant or recently had a baby, you may be overwhelmed with questions and concerns about nutrition.  During your pregnancy, be sure your nutritional needs are being met for both you and your growing baby during each trimester.  Once your baby arrives, your diet is still very important, especially if you’re breast-feeding.  Your postpartum diet will also affect your moods and recovery.  Let SO Nutrition guide you through this exciting (and busy) time.

What Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

Raw and undercooked meats such as beef, poultry or seafood should be avoided. These may house bacteria such as toxoplasmosis or salmonella that is dangerous to both you and your baby.

These include:

• Oysters
• Clams
• Mussels

Deli meats are another category to check off your eating list. Frequently these are reported to be contaminated with listeria, known to cause both miscarriages and infect the growing fetus. This could be very dangerous to both mother and child even to the point of death. If you do choose to eat deli foods, be certain to heat until recommended temperature to kill the bacteria.

Mercury-containing fish such as:

Mercury has been linked to brain and developmental delays in newborns.

• Swordfish
• Shark
• King Mackerel
• Tilefish
• Canned tuna (only eaten in moderation)
• Fish used in Sushi

Seafood that has been smoked such as:

• Lox
• Nova Style
• Kippered
• Jerky

Raw and undercooked eggs should be avoided due to chance of salmonella bacteria contamination. If you purchase commercially packaged cooked dressings or mayonnaise these should limit chances of acquiring the disease.

Soft cheeses may contain listeria bacteria, so avoid your use of the following:

• Brie
• Camembert
• Roquefort
• Feta
• Gorgonzola

Any cheese that is not made with pasteurized milk (all soft non-imported cheeses made from pasteurized milk are considered safe)

Unpasteurized milk may contain listeria. Only consume milk that is pasteurized.

Alcohol: There is NO amount of alcohol that is known to be safe during pregnancy, and therefore alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can interfere with the healthy development of the baby. Depending on the amount, timing, and pattern of use, alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or other developmental disorders.

This is only a partial list of foods to avoid. SO Nutrition can help design a perfect pregnancy diet as well as a postpartum plan to keep you safe and on the path to a healthy pregnancy and beyond!

Postpartum Nutrition and Education

During postpartum days, you may become lax or even experience a sense of depression. At times, good nutrition plays a role in how well you will navigate these new and sometimes stressful waters. At SO Nutrition, we have assisted may women on their nutritional journey to get back on track with their bodies, healthy weight and understand how best to provide nutrition during breastfeeding.

 

Partner with SO Nutrition on your exciting Journey of Pregnancy!

Call us at (281) 684-4733 or fill out our form below to schedule your consultation.