Foods to Avoid in First Month of Pregnancy
If you are newly pregnant, you may have come to realise that there is a lot to learn! From learning about safe sleep guidelines, to how to correctly feed your baby when it is born, there is a lot of new information to take on.
But what about being pregnant itself? What do you need to know about that?
One important thing to learn about is the foods you should avoid during pregnancy, to prevent harming your baby.
In this article, we will discuss:
- Why is Eating Well in Pregnancy Important?
- What Does A Well-Balanced Diet Include in Pregnancy?
- Foods to Avoid in First Month of Pregnancy
- The Take-Away
Why is Eating Well in Pregnancy Important?
Eating well in pregnancy is linked to good brain development and healthy birthweight, and it can also reduce the risk of birth defects.
Eating well can also reduce the risk of anemia- which is more common during pregnancy due to needing to provide nutrients for your baby- and the effects of other pregnancy symptoms, such as morning sickness and fatigue.
In addition to the above, eating well in pregnancy can also reduce the risk of pregnancy complications, make postpartum recovery easier and increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
What Does A Well-Balanced Diet Include in Pregnancy?
In pregnancy, a diet that contains the following is considered to be well-balanced:
- iron-rich foods
- protein
- folic acid
- vitamin C
- adequate fat
- calcium
- whole grains
- fruits and vegetables
- other nutrients like choline
Dates are also recommended when you are pregnant. You can read our article When to Start Eating Dates in Pregnancy
Foods to Avoid in First Month of Pregnancy
Now that we have estblished what a good pregnancy diet contains, let’s take a look at what your diet should NOT contain whilst you are pregnant. Below are the foods to avoid in first month of pregnancy (and beyond).
Avoid Processed Meats
So, can pregnant women eat hot dogs? What about bacon? Or Salami?
When you are pregnant, you should avoid eating processed meats completely.
Processed meats, such as chorizo, hot dogs and salami are considered unsafe for unborn children.
This is because of the risk of listeria contamination.
Listeria can cause serious consequences for your baby, such as:
- Stillbirth
- Miscarriage
- Little-to-no interest in feeding
- Difficulty Breathing
- Vomiting
- Fever
Whilst listeria is unlikely to cause any serious health problems for you., if you have contracted listeria, it may present itself with the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Chills
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Muscle Aches
- Stiff Neck
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
If you are pregnant and you believe that your baby and you may have contracted listeria, or if a food item you have consumed a food item that has been recalled due to a listeria outbreak and you are showing symptoms, you should contact your doctor.
Liver and Pâté
Liver and liver products- such as liver sausage or pâté often contain excessive amounts of Vitamin A.
This can be harmful to your unborn baby.
All types of pâté, including vegetable versions, can have listeria in them. It’s best to avoid them.
Are you enjoying this article? If so, why not read our other article: can you get your nails done while pregnant??
Avoid Sea Food High in Mercury Content
Seafood is a brilliant source of iron, zinc and protein- which are crucial nutrients that aid in your baby’s development.
However, there are certain types of seafood which should be avoided due to their high mercury content.
High mercury content is not a cause for concern in most adults, however, if you are pregnant, these foods should be avoided.
This is because too much mercury can damage your baby’s developing nervous system and brain.
Examples of seafood that should be avoided during pregnancy are:
- Marlin
- Bigeye tuna
- Shark
- King mackerel
- Orange Roughy
- Tilefish
You should eat no more than 340 grams of seafood that is low in mercury content each week, to avoid any effects on the baby.
Seafood that is considered safe in pregnancy include:
- Anchovies
- Pollock
- Shrimp
- Trout
- Catfish
- Shad
- Tilapia
- Sardines
- Cod
- Herring
- Light canned tuna
- Pacific oysters
- Salmon
Avoid Raw Sprouts
Raw sprouts can cause food poisoning, E. coli and Salmonella.
Examples of raw sprouts include:
- Alfalfa
- Mung Beans
- Kamut
- Soy Beans
- Broccoli
To avoid any negative effects on your developing baby, it is advised to avoid eating them during pregnancy
Avoid Raw Eggs and Raw Meat
During pregnancy, you should not eat raw eggs or meat.
Eating raw or undercooked eggs and meat, including raw shellfish and raw fish, puts you at risk of contracting two serious infections that can lead to life-threatening illnesses, birth defects and miscarriage: listeriosis and toxoplasmosis.
It is important to ensure that your food is thoroughly cooked to prevent these infections- and that raw meat consumption should be avoided (yes, this includes sushi).
For more information on the safe preparation of meat, you can check out this food safety guide provided by safefood:
https://www.safefood.net/food-safety/check-meat-cooked
Avoid Unpasteurized Dairy Products and Juices
Like processed meats, unpasteurized fruit juices and dairy products may also contain the harmful bacteria, listeria, which is very harmful to your growing baby.
Examples of unpasteurized dairy products include:
- Unpasteurized milk
- Soft cheeses such as Brie, feta and goat cheese
Examples of unpasteurized juices include:
- Raw juices
- Fresh juice
- Cold-pressed juices
Avoid Excess Caffeine
Your healthcare provider may recommend limiting your daily caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams (mg) during pregnancy.
For reference, a 240 ml cup of brewed coffee contains approximately 95mg of caffeine.
Some studies have shown that a caffeine consumption of higher than 200mg per day can lead to infants being small for their gestational age or intrauterine growth restriction.
As well as caffeinated drinks such as coffee, you should note that there are some teas that cause miscarriage during pregnancy and should be avoided, such as sage tea and parsley tea.
Avoid Alcohol
No level of alcohol is considered safe during the entirety of your pregnancy.
Drinking alcohol during the first month of pregnancy can cause various issues, including:
- Miscarriage or Stillbirth
- Birth Defects
- Behavioural and Intellectual Disabilities (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders or FASD)
Some people also say that cinnamon can cause miscarriages. You can read our article Can cinnamon cause a miscarriage? to find out more.
The Take-Away
If you are pregnant and you are unsure about whether certain foods are safe, or unsure about how to maintain a healthy diet- you can consult with your midwife.
We also have an article on Things to Avoid During Pregnancy.
My name is Louise and I am the Digital Marketing and Administrative Assistant at MyBump2Baby. I have been writing in the parenting niche for over 2 years specialising in fertility, pregnancy, baby and baby name support articles.