Foods to avoid during pregnancy-advice on avoiding food born bacteria while pregnant

When you're pregnant you are more vulnerable to food-born bacteria. Some bacteria found in food products may cause serious infection, then you need to be extra specially careful when it comes to what you eat.

What I put below is a summary of some of the nasties along with what foods to cut out so that you avoid them.

Listeria can cause a mild flu-like symptoms during pregnancy, but can result in miscarriage, still-birth or a serious disease in a newborn baby. It is best to avoid blue cheese such as Stilton and soft ripened cheeses such as Brie and Camembert, even though they made with pasteurized milk.

Salmonella can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. This will not affect your baby directly unless you become dehydrated as a result of it. Foods to avoid raw or partially cooked are eggs as homemade mayonnaise, mousses and ice cream.

Campylobacter can cause you have stomach cramps and diarrhea. You can avoid this by clear guidance under cooked meat and unpasteurised milk.

To conclude this brief list, there are also other bacteria that can cause food poisoning and affect you and your baby. Generally, you will find these in seafood raw or cold then give it a wide berth.

All things being said, I don't want you to be too scared. The risk of diseases above is rare. For example, Listeria affects only 1 pregnant woman around 20000 and wife very few catch toxoplasmosis. However it is useful to know that the parasite can be found in vegetables dirty, soil and cat feces. Therefore, make sure to wear gloves if you are planning on doing any gardening or changing cat litter tray.