⛔️Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

1. Undercooked or Raw Fish

Raw fish can cause several infections. These include norovirus, Vibrio, Salmonella, Listeria, and parasite.
Some of these infections only affect the mother, leaving her dehydrated and weak. Other infections may be passed on to the unborn baby with serious, or even fatal, consequences.
Pregnant women are especially susceptible to Listeria infections. In fact, pregnant women are up to 20 times more likely to get infected by Listeria than the general population.

2. Undercooked, Raw and Processed Meat

Eating undercooked or raw meat increases the risk of infection from several bacteria or parasites.
These include Toxoplasma, E. coli, Listeriaand Salmonella.
Bacteria may threaten the health of the unborn baby, possibly leading to stillbirth or severe neurological illnesses, including mental retardation, blindness, and epilepsy.

3. Raw Eggs

Raw eggs can be contaminated with Salmonella.
Symptoms of Salmonella infections are usually experienced only by the mother.
They include fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea.
Pregnant women should always cook eggs thoroughly, or use pasteurized eggs.

4. Organ Meat

Organ meat is a great source of several nutrients. These include iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and copper, all of which are good for an expectant mother and her child.
However, eating too much animal-based vitamin A (preformed vitamin A) is not recommended during pregnancy.
It may cause vitamin A toxicity, as well as abnormally high copper levels, which can result in birth defects and liver toxicity.
Therefore, pregnant women should not eat organ meat more often than once a week.

5. Caffeine

Caffeine is the most commonly used psychoactive substance in the world and is mainly found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, and cocoa.
Pregnant women are generally advised to limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 mg per day, or about 2–3 cups of coffee.
Caffeine is absorbed very quickly and passes easily into the placenta and fetus.
Because unborn babies and their placentas do not have the main enzyme needed to metabolize caffeine, high levels can build up.
High caffeine intake during pregnancy has been shown to restrict fetal growth and increase the risk of low birth weight at delivery.