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· 22 Nov 2021

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What Foods Can Affect Your Baby During Pregnancy?

#Pregnancy is a dream that many women pray for. Becoming pregnant is one of the most satisfying journeys in the life of also every woman. Getting pregnant is easy, at least for most women, but what follows can sometimes be overwhelming. Pregnancy involves a lot of hormonal and bodily changes that affect the health of a mother. From the moment you become pregnant, anything that goes into your mouth is shared with your growing baby. Even though some types of foods may not harm you, they may affect your baby hugely. One of the first things that women learn when pregnant is what they cannot consume. This can be a disappointment, especially if you are a sushi, steak, or coffee lover. Thankfully, there is so much that you can eat than what you cannot. All you just have to do is to learn how to avoid certain food types. Paying close attention to foods and drinks you consume can help you remain healthy and still protect your unborn baby. This blog is focusing on what foods to avoid and will explain the reasons. So, shall we?


Highly processed junk foods.

Pregnancy comes with different cravings for foods. These cravings can range from simple sugars to highly processed and fried foods. Pregnancy is a period where a mother is expected to eat nutrients rich foods to support her health and that of her unborn. An optimal eating plan during pregnancy should comprise whole foods with plenty of nutrients to cater to your needs and those of your baby. Processed junk foods are very low in nutrients and are high in calories, sugar, and added fats. All these things are unhealthy and do not add any benefit to the body apart from exposing mothers and babies to certain conditions, like diabetes. Of course, we expect a mother to gain some weight as long as she is pregnant, but eating junk foods can add you unnecessary weight. Excess weight gain is directly linked to many complications and risks like gestational diabetes. Too much glucose can also make the baby become too big (macrosomic baby) and also be predisposed to many diseases.


Unpasteurized milk

Raw milk and unpasteurized cheese can contain an array of harmful bacteria, including Listeria, Salmonella, E. Coli, and Campylobacter. These foods are prone to bacterial contamination and this can be very dangerous for the baby. When a mother consumes foods containing these strains of bacteria, the bacteria can cross the placenta and reach the baby. They trigger an infection that can severely affect the growth of the baby. These bacteria can get into the food during processing, preparing, and even storage. One thing you should know is that pasteurization is the best way to kill these bacteria without diminishing the nutritional value of these foods. Pregnant mothers should abandon the consumption of unpasteurized foods and instead choose pasteurized ones.


Undercooked meat.

Many people seem to enjoy eating the undercooked meat. They like it because it’s usually juicy and satisfying. Eating undercooked meat may increase your chances of getting some type of bacteria or parasites. Common bacteria found in meats are toxoplasma, E. Coli, Listeria, and Salmonella. These bacteria are also found in raw meats and, once ingested, they can threaten the life of your child. They can travel through the placenta and affect the baby, leading to stillbirth or severe neurological disorders like intellectual disabilities, blindness, and epilepsy. Many people think that cleaning meat can kill these bacteria because most of them live on the surface. But the thing is that some species of parasites and bacteria live deep within the muscles of animals and are harvested with meat. Meats like hotdogs, deli meat, and lunch meats may be contaminated with bacteria during processing, preparation, or storage, posing a health risk to pregnant mothers. Pregnant mothers should not eat processed meat products unless they’ve been reheated until steaming hot.


Some types of fish.

Fish is one of the most consumed products in the world. It is consumed in tons per day worldwide and people seem not to be aware of the harm some types of fish can cause. There are fish species that are loaded with mercury, a very toxic metal. When people are exposed to mercury, they stand a very great risk of developing some medical conditions, including cancer. Mercury exists naturally in polluted water and comes from untreated chemical waste that drains in these waters. Fish feed on foods found in these waters, which are also mercury contaminated. Eating such fish in higher amounts can be toxic to your nervous system, immune system, and kidneys, as well as unborn babies. When consumed by younger children, the fish may cause serious developmental problems with very severe effects, even in small amounts. Both pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid these fish. Fish that contain high levels of mercury include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, Bigeye tuna, marlin, tilefish, and orange roughly. Low mercury fish is safe for consumption, up to three times a week. Low mercury fish include anchovies, cod, flounder, haddock, salmon, tilapia, and trout (freshwater).


Alcohol.

Scientists link alcohol to so many health effects in people across all years of life. Doctors advise that it’s good to abstain from alcohol when pregnant to reduce the chances of miscarriage and stillbirth. You may think that drinking one bottle or glass is safe, but the truth be told, even an inconsiderable amount of alcohol can impair the development of your child’s brain. Women who drink alcohol so much during their pregnancy expose their young ones to a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome. Heart problems, facial deformities, and intellectual disabilities characterize this syndrome. Doctors do not advise taking any amount of alcohol when pregnant, so the best thing is to avoid it.


Caffeine.

We find caffeine in many products, like soft drinks, teas, and coffees. Doctors advise pregnant women to limit the amount of caffeine they take to less than 200 mg per day. When a pregnant mother consumes caffeine, it is absorbed quickly and goes through the placenta, reaching the baby. One thing you should know is that babies and their placentas lack the enzyme needed to break down caffeine. High levels can end up building up within their system. Scientists claim that caffeine restricts growth in unborn babies and also increases the risk of low birth weight on delivery. Low birth weight is when a baby is born having less than 2.5 kg and is highly linked to infant death and chronic diseases in adulthood.


Raw eggs.

Eggs are very high in many nutrients and are an excellent source of proteins. Eating eggs in your diet can make you healthy and give you some minerals. Raw eggs, however, are usually contaminated with salmonella bacteria and when ingested, they can cause serious health problems. How would you know that you have salmonella in your system? You can observe the following signs and symptoms, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Salmonella can leak into the uterus of the mother and cause premature birth or stillbirth. When I say raw eggs, I don’t mean typically eating eggs before they’re cooked, of course, no. I am referring to any food that contains raw eggs, and they include lightly scrambled eggs, homemade mayonnaise, homemade salad dressings, homemade ice creams, homemade cake icings, hollandaise sauce, and poached eggs. Instead of consuming these products, why not buy from your nearest food store? This is because the ones found in your store are made using pasteurized eggs, which are usually free of harmful bacteria. Also, to be on the safe side. Cook your eggs thoroughly and check labels when buying certain products.


Summary: Pregnancy is a journey that every mother undergoes. Some may call it interesting, while others fear it. When you’re pregnant, it’s good to be cautious of the food you eat because it can directly affect the health of your unborn baby. Avoiding foods like raw eggs, uncooked meats, raw sprouts, and many others can prevent you from acquiring bacteria and parasites that can harm you and your baby. If you’re pregnant or you’re planning to become a mother in the future, reading about foods and beverages that can affect the baby is important. Nowadays, we have so many parenting magazines, articles, and videos that can help you know what to eat and what to avoid for the safety of your child. Being a mother is a beautiful thing, and the baby deserves to be given all the love it deserves. Since no mother hates her child, let’s spread this information and save innocent children that are dying out there because of the foods their mothers consume. What are your thoughts on this?