Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Ask the Midwife Eating Safely During PregnancyDuring pregnancy, you can eat most of the same things that you normally eat when you are not pregnant.Your immune system is less strong during pregnancy.Especially in the first few months of your pregnancy, your baby can be hurt by toxins (poisons) or bacteria (germs).For this reason, you need to be aware of these food dangers and learn how to choose and prepare your food safely.The back side of this page has more information on each of the foods described below.How do I prepare food safely?• Wash your hands and cooking surfaces often.• Keep raw meat away from fruit and vegetables and cooked meat.• Cook your food until it is steaming hot.• Cook meats until no pink remains.• Keep uneaten food cold or frozen.• Keep your refrigerator at 40°F or less.• Keep your freezer at 0°F or less.• Throw away food that is left at room temperature for 2 hours or more.• Do not eat foods if they are past the expiration date on the label. What foods might be harmful to my baby during pregnancy?The foods of most concern are certain fish, meat, eggs, milk, cheese, and raw foods.Because these are important parts of most diets, you will want to learn to choose the right foods.What's the problem with fish?Fish that are large, eat other fish, and live a long time, have mercury in them.Too much mercury can cause problems with the development of your baby's brain and nerves.Some fish may also have dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).Too much of these toxins may cause problems with the development of your baby's brain and may cause cancer.
DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13690
Language: English
Topic: Food Safety and Hygiene
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4402648733