Birth & Women's Health Center
5979 E. Grant Rd. #107
Tucson, AZ 85712
Phone: 520-795-9912
Fax: 520-795-9934

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Food Safety and Avoiding Contamination

As a pregnant woman, there are certain foods that may affect the safety of your baby. You should avoid or limit the intake of the following items.  Please use the links to learn more about each.  If you have concerns please discus them with your midwife at your next visit.

Consuming raw or undercooked meats can cause the illness toxoplasmosis.  Be careful when handling raw meat before cooking. Always wash hands and surfaces thoroughly.  This organism can also be found in contaminated water and soil, unwashed fruit or vegetables, and cat feces.  It's for this reason that pregnant moms should avoid changing the litter box.

High levels of mercury in fish and shellfish may harm an unborn baby or affect a young child's developing nervous system. While fish and shellfish are an essential part of a healthy diet and provide important nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and protein to babies, fish that have high amounts of mercury should be avoided during pregnancy. These include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, and albacore tuna. To learn more, visit this FDA web page.

Soft or unpasteurized cheeses may contain harmful bacteria called Listeria. If you get sick from Listeria, the baby you're carrying could get sick or die. During pregnancy, eat hard and pasteurized cheeses to protect your unborn baby. To learn more, visit this CDC web page.

 Careful food preparation and selection practices will help reduce the risk for developing listeriosis.  The following is a table from the FDA Cosumer website on Food Safety. These are their recommendations.

Do not eat: It's okay to eat:
Hot dogs and luncheon meats – unless they're reheated until steaming hot. Steaming hot, thoroughly reheated hot dogs and luncheon meats.
Soft cheeses, such as Feta, Brie, Camembert, "blue-veined cheeses," or "queso blanco," "queso fresco," or Panela – unless they're made with pasteurized milk. Soft cheeses labeled as made with pasteurized milk.
Refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pâtés or meat spreads.
Refrigerated smoked seafood – unless it's in a cooked dish, such as a casserole. (Refrigerated smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna, or mackerel is most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked," or "jerky." These types of fish are found in the refrigerator section or sold at deli counters or grocery stores and delicatessens.) Canned or shelf-stable smoked seafood.
Foods that contain unpasteurized milk. Foods that contain pasteurized milk.
Do not drink: It's okay to drink:
Unpasteurized milk Pasteurized milk

 

Over the Counter Medications:

Although generally it is best not to take any medications during pregnancy, there is no evidence that the following medications are harmful, and they may be used sparingly. Please follow dosage instructions on the label and call your midwife if symptoms persist or you have any questions. You can also refer to the "Common complaints" page for other remedies.

Headaches/Colds Tylenol (Acetaminophen)
Allergies/Nasal congestion Saline nose spray, Benadryl, Sudafed, Actifed
Sore throat/Cough Plain Robitussin, Cepacol spray, lozenges
Heartburn Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, Rolaids, Pepcid, Tagamet
Constipation stool softeners such as Metamucil, Fiber-Con, Citracal, Colace, Surfak
Hemorrhoids Anusol, Preparation H
Diarrhea fluids, Kaopectate, Pedialyte
Nausea peppermints, saltine crackers, Vitamin B (50 mg three times daily), ginger ale
Yeast Creams Monistat, Gyne-Lotrimin, Terazol
Herbs and Supplements please check with the midwives prior to use.