Eating Very well In the course of Pregnancy

Eating well during pregnancy is made even more challenging by morning sickness. Most women experience morning sickness between the 6th and 12th week of pregnancy. Its symptoms begin to subside as a woman approaches the 2nd trimester. Proper nutrition is important and it is necessary to eat well even if you feel nauseated. Your body won't be able to support a growing baby if it lacks the necessary nutrients to do so.

Avoid dieting when you are pregnant, as this can put you and your child at risk. Dieting isn't necessary as long as you make smarter choices when eating. Avoid eating sweets if you want to maintain a healthy weight. Sugary desserts and chocolates are high in calories but low in nutrients. Ask your doctor for tips on how to keep your weight down without dieting. Taking dietary supplements is not advised unless advised by your doctor.

You can eat almost anything when you are pregnant, except for a few food items that may put you and your baby's health at risk. Stay away from raw meat and eggs. Raw eggs are found in some homemade salad dressings and mayonnaise. If you must eat any of these foods, be sure to buy commercially made variants from the grocery store. Unlike their homemade counterpart, store-bought salad dressings contain pasteurized eggs.

Cook meat thoroughly before serving. Undercooked or raw seafood and beef can be contaminated with salmonella, toxoplasmosis and coliform. Pregnant women should avoid eating uncooked shellfish. Some types of water-borne infections still survive even after shellfish are cooked thoroughly. Algae-borne diseases, for instance, can be fatal when passed on to humans. Listen for health warnings on red tide.

Unpasteurized milk is more susceptible to listeria contamination. Exposure to these bacteria can be fatal for both mother and child. Once listeria bacteria enter the body, there is a possible risk of blood poisoning and fetal infection. Drinking pasteurized milk is recommended, instead of its unpasteurized variety. Soft cheeses like camembert, brie, Roquefort, feta and gorgonzola are sometimes made of unpasteurized milk. Mexican cheeses, such as Queso fresco or blanco, are also common carriers of listeria.

Choose carefully when buying freshwater fish. Those bought in grocery stores are generally safe to consume. However, some local fishing lakes may be contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls. Be on the lookout for health advisories on unsafe fishing areas, and avoid eating fish that are caught in these waters. Contact the Environmental Protection Agency for more information on unsafe fishing areas. Salmon, trout, striped bass, bluefish and pike are common carriers of chemicals from industrial pollutants.

Alcohol consumption has been shown to cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which may interfere with mental and physical development. Babies who are born with this ailment have a lower birth weight and some physical deformities. Mild mental retardation, diminished performance and abnormal facial features are common characteristics. Hence, it goes without saying that you should stay away from alcohol during pregnancy.