What Can Pregnant Women Eat? 9 Common Food Concerns for Moms-to-be Eating for Two

“Can pregnant women eat…” If you’re pregnant, most likely you’ve typed that sentence into a search engine. What mom-to-be wouldn’t be concerned about what they consume while growing that baby inside of them? Dr. Andrea Hamel, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UC Health Women's Center in Ohio, helped shed some light on the most popular foods of concern for pregnant mamas.

• Can pregnant women eat shrimp? “As long as the shrimp is cooked, it is OK to eat,” says Dr. Hamel.

• Can pregnant women eat sushi? “Raw fish should not be eaten in pregnancy. However, a roll made of vegetables only or with cooked fish or shrimp can be OK if it has been prepared on a clean surface with uncontaminated knives.”

• Can pregnant women eat smoked salmon? “This type of fish has a chance of being contaminated with a bacteria called listeria. It is safest to avoid during pregnancy unless it is further cooked.”

• Can pregnant women eat mozzarella? “This is safe since mozzarella is a pasteurized cheese. Raw cheeses should be avoided due to the chance of bacterial contamination.”

• Can pregnant women eat mayonnaise? “Mayonnaise is safe as long as the eggs in it are pasteurized.”

• Can pregnant women eat cheesecake? “Yes. It is cooked.”

• Can pregnant women eat fish? “Many types of fish are healthy in pregnancy. The omega 3 fatty acids in fish are beneficial. Fish that can be high in mercury should be avoided (such as tilefish, swordfish, shark and king mackerel). The amount of albacore tuna should be limited to 6 ounces per week due to some mercury content.”

• Can pregnant women drink wine? “No. there is no safe level of alcohol in pregnancy. There is a risk of fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause birth defects and developmental delays.”

• Can pregnant women drink coffee? “Some coffee is OK in pregnancy. Amounts less than 200 mg daily have not shown increased risk in pregnancy. However, it is important to primarily drink water in pregnancy. Large amounts of caffeine can be linked to miscarriage, preterm delivery and low birth weight.”

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