For the health of the baby and the mother-to-be, it is recommended to avoid eating certain foods during pregnancy which may carry bacteria causing serious pathologies. Explanations.
- In 2019, 753,000 babies were born in France according to INSEE, i.e. 6,000 fewer births than in 2018.
- 5.7% of births in 2019 are said to be “late”, that is to say that the mother was at least 40 years old.
Toxoplasmosis, listeriosis, salmonellosis… There are diseases that pregnant women should not catch. For this, they are advised to respect certain dietary restrictions during their pregnancy. One of the best known is to avoid raw meat and prefer it well cooked because it can carry the Toxoplasma gondiia parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. This disease is usually mild but can be dangerous for pregnant women because the parasite can infect the fetus. To avoid it, other advice should be applied: do not consume smoked or marinated meats, raw goat’s milk and thoroughly wash fruits, vegetables and aromatic herbs which can also carry the virus. Toxoplasma gondii.
Avoid certain foods that can cause serious illnesses
Listeriosis is a rare but serious disease in pregnant women. This is caused by a bacterium called Listeria monocytogenes, transmitted to humans through food. “Listeriosis can have particularly serious consequences in pregnant women and newborns, as well as in people with weakened immune systems (immunocompromised people and the elderly), can we read on the website of the Ministry of Health. The prevention of listeriosis consists, for these subjects at risk, in avoiding the consumption of the most frequently contaminated foods and in respecting certain hygiene rules when handling and preparing foods.. Among the list of foods to avoid: cooked or raw meat products consumed as they are (cooked or raw ham, jelly products, foie gras, pâté, rillettes, etc.), seafood products (smoked fish, taramasalata, raw shellfish, etc.) and certain dairy products (raw milk, soft cheese with a bloomy or washed rind, etc.).
Another disease that can be very dangerous for pregnant women: salmonellosis. It is a pathology”caused by Salmonella bacteria, can we read on the website of the world health organization. It is usually characterized by a sudden onset of fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and sometimes vomiting.. Thus, as the bacteria is present in certain foods, pregnant women should avoid consuming raw eggs and anything made from raw eggs such as mayonnaise for example, but also certain dairy products, meats or fish.
Eating fruits, vegetables and drinking water during pregnancy
But what can you eat when you are pregnant? According to the recommendations of High Council for Public Health (HCSP), five fruits and vegetables a day, preferably varied during the week, are ideal because they cover the needs in vitamins and minerals (iron, vitamins A, B9 and C). Nuts, legumes and cereals such as rice, pasta or quinoa can also be eaten every day, favoring whole or unrefined products. On the meat side, the ideal is to eat poultry.
On the other hand, the HCSP advises against fats in too large quantities. Rapeseed, walnut and olive oils are preferred. Other research has also highlighted the dangerous nature of ultra-processed foods, with risks of overweight and obesity in children. Finally, on the drinks side, only water can be drunk in unlimited quantities. Unsurprisingly, theAlcohol, like tobacco, should be totally prohibited. because their consumption considerably increases the risk of losing a child and could also be linked to psychiatric disorders.