Other than being particular about having a nutritious diet during pregnancy, you also need to ensure that they are safe from infection. As the risk of...
Other than being particular about having a nutritious diet during pregnancy,
you also need to ensure that they are safe from infection. As the risk of food poisoning during pregnancy is more compared to normal times, it is important that you take certain extra precautions for you and your baby’s health. You need to be vigilant while choosing and preparing your food.
Cause of food poisoning during pregnancy
There can be many sources of food poisoning, but the most common among them are improper handling and keeping the food at room temperature for too long. These give rise to breeding of bacteria such as listeria, campylobacter, staphylococcus and salmonella. The risk of bacterial is particularly high in meat and eggs, besides unpasteurised juices and raw sprouts.
A very common cause of food poisoning is the listeria bacteria. It is most likely to affect pregnant women than other adults without any condition that predisposes them to its infection. Listeria grows mostly in refrigerator temperatures and thrives on soft cheeses, unpasteurised milk, and leftover luncheon and deli meats.
Effect on foetus due to food poisoning while pregnant
Food poisoning poses a risk to the foetus and it can be very serious is potentially fatal too. Besides stillbirth, miscarriage and similar serious risks, apart from mild to moderate problems due to food poisoning depend on the type of food poisoning, your general health and the stage of pregnancy.
In most cases though, your baby is not affected by your food poisoning but that is no reason to be complacent. It is obvious that with a decline in your health, your baby is bound to be affected, albeit indirectly. Moreover, if your food poisoning causes dehydration, it is not good for the foetus. If you are suffering from dehydration and the weather is hot, it can be very damaging to your baby’s health.
If you are suffering from listeriosis, it can affect you and your baby both. Infection with listeria is linked to premature delivery, stillbirth, miscarriage, and many other complications that cause a lot of distress and are potentially fatal. As listeriosis is the most common form of food poisoning , you need to be particularly careful in protecting yourself from it. Always cook your food to 70 degrees for at least one minute before eating.
If you want to reduce the risk of listeriosis, avoid foods such as deli meats, chicken, pre-cooked fish undercooked meat and fish, improperly washed vegetables, salads and coleslaws.
In short, you need to practice good hygiene and avoid certain foods mentioned above that increase the risk of food poisoning. And, in case you do suffer from it, make sure you do not get dehydrated to minimise the health complications of your baby.
