What foods shouldn't pregnant women eat?

In order for the health of the expectant mother to remain good, she needs to carefully monitor her diet during pregnancy. Many foods should not be consumed by a woman during this exciting period of her life.

The importance of dieting

During the period of its intrauterine development, the baby receives all the necessary nutrients for its growth from the mother. Throughout many months of pregnancy, the general blood flow system connects him with his mother.

Food contains all the substances necessary for the growth and development of the baby - proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Also, for the course of biological reactions, a regular intake of vitamins and microelements is necessary.

If the balance of the incoming substances is disturbed or unbalanced for some reason, then this contributes to the appearance of various functional disorders in the mother and baby.

Each of the incoming substances has its own function:

Protein are a kind of "builders". They are necessary for the construction of all vital organs and systems in the baby. Their importance is enormous, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. It was at this time that the processes of organogenesis (the process of formation of internal organs) are actively occurring in the child.
Carbohydrates Is the main source of energy. They are needed for the child to grow up and develop actively. Many cellular reactions proceed with energy, which is released by the metabolism of carbohydrates. However, balance is important in everything. Excessive intake of carbohydrates in the female body can lead to dysmetabolic disorders. Ultimately, this can manifest itself as a strong gain in body weight.
Fats Is another important component of a woman's diet during pregnancy. They are a kind of "fuel" that the body needs. Also, fats can be called a long-term source of energy. They burn out very slowly, which leads to the fact that the energy is released gradually.

When drawing up a women's menu during pregnancy, it is very important that all these components are present in it. This is necessary not only for the health of the mother, but also for the development of her baby.

When using a certain product, the expectant mother must remember that it can "get" into the body and to her baby. Most nutrients are absorbed in the intestines. Then, through the arteries, they enter the body to the child.

The placenta protects the child's body from various toxic substances. If this "children's" organ was absent, then it would be very difficult for the baby to cope with the abundance of toxic substances entering his body. The placental barrier protects it from various hazardous substances, but many components still penetrate through it.

These biological characteristics necessitate careful monitoring of your diet during pregnancy. It is important to remember that all recommendations should be selected strictly for yourself. For example, if the expectant mother has an individual intolerance to any food products, then she should exclude them from her diet.

For women suffering from chronic diseases of internal organs, a diet is drawn up according to the corresponding profile of pathologies. In this case, they should compose their diet in a comprehensive manner, relying on a therapeutic diet, which was prescribed by the attending physician.

It is important for a mother-to-be to remember that while carrying a baby, her body begins to experience a significant load. The organs of the digestive system are no exception.

Such a load can even lead to the fact that during pregnancy, a woman may aggravate chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In order to avoid this, the expectant mother should exclude dangerous food products and enrich her diet with useful ones.

What should be limited?

All consumed food products can be divided into several conventional categories. It is worth paying close attention to the products that should be limited. This does not mean at all that they should not be eaten. In this case, you just need to significantly limit their amount in your diet.

Fatty fish

The list of such foods begins with fatty fish. This product is definitely very useful. It contains a lot of essential fatty acids, especially Omega-3.

This substance is involved in many biological reactions in the body, it is necessary for the active growth and development of the fetus. However, it is important to observe the measure in the use of this product. Fatty fish should not be eaten in quantities exceeding 200-280 grams per week.

If a woman has a tendency to develop allergic reactions, she should definitely consult with her doctor about the possibility of eating fish.

Cod fish liver

Also, cod liver is one of the foods that should be limited. It contains quite a lot of vitamin A. Too frequent use of this product can lead to dysmetabolic disorders. This product should be eaten more often than once a month.

Salt

Salt intake is an important question that almost every pregnant woman has. You should not completely eliminate sodium chloride from your diet. However, it is very important to monitor its daily dosages:

In the very early stages of pregnancy, you can consume up to 10 grams of sodium chloride per day.
By the middle of pregnancy, salt is already limited to 7-8 grams.
In the later stages of bearing a baby, it is better to limit the use of table salt to 5-6 grams per day.

These recommendations are average. If a pregnant woman has any diseases of the urinary system and kidneys, then she should use less table salt. This product is also limited in the diet of those women who have a tendency to develop edema.

When compiling the menu, it is very important to remember that table salt is found in many foods. There is also quite a lot of it in industrially made food - hot dogs, wieners and sausages. Realizing the importance of salt in the diet, many food manufacturers mark their products on how much sodium chloride they contain.

Some experts believe that limiting the amount of table salt consumed in the last weeks before childbirth can help improve labor. They believe that it can even lead to a decrease in pain during labor and timely opening of the cervix.

Sweets

The changing hormonal background leads to the fact that during pregnancy, the expectant mother very often wants to eat something sweet. This has a positive effect on her mood, but does not benefit the body at all.

All industrial sweets contain quite a lot of sugar. Overuse of these foods can lead to high blood glucose levels. It is especially important to monitor the use of sweets for women who have a predisposition to developing diabetes.

Sweets often contain chemical colors, preservatives and stabilizers. These substances are harmful and do not bring any benefit to the body. Also, the frequent use of such "snacks" can provoke the development of an allergic reaction in the expectant mother. Once in the baby's body, they can lead to the development of diathesis in him in the future.

Dyes, preservatives and other chemical additives also negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. They can provoke an attack of acute gastritis or inflammation of the stomach lining.

Caffeinated drinks

The most popular of these is coffee. However, other beverages can also be sources of caffeine. So, it is also found in tea, coca-cola, some energy drinks.

You should not abuse caffeine while carrying a baby. If the expectant mother really wants to drink a cup of coffee, she should stay strictly on one. This amount is quite enough for the body to wake up without harm to the crumbs.

It is better that the brewed coffee is not too strong. You should also carefully monitor the number of mugs you drink. If a pregnant woman has high blood pressure or heart problems, then she should still stop drinking coffee.

Chocolates

You can understand the desire of the expectant mother to eat this sweetness. Hormones are also often the culprit. It is they who contribute to changing the behavior and mood of the expectant mother.

However, it is always very important to remember how much chocolate you can eat. The main thing in this matter is not to overdo it. Too much chocolate can also lead to a spike in blood sugar.

It is better that the portions of chocolate are small - up to 20 grams. If the expectant mother has a tendency to develop allergic reactions, then this product should be excluded from her menu. An alternative to chocolate in this case can be dried fruits, to which the woman is not allergic.

What foods are undesirable to consume?

There are also foods that the expectant mother should eat as little as possible. They are not limited in the diet of a pregnant woman, but their quantity should be closely monitored.

Fatty meats

With frequent use, they can exert a strong stress on the liver and biliary tract. It is especially important to monitor their number for women suffering from chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

It is still better to steam, stew or bake the meat. Frying in oil will not only lead to an increase in the calorie content of the dish, but also put additional stress on the liver and gallbladder.

Cooked sauces

Many ketchups and mayonnaises contain a lot of various synthetic additives. The dyes, preservatives and stabilizers contained in them have a negative effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and also increase the risk of developing allergic reactions.

Also, these products contain a lot of sugar and salt. During pregnancy, you should consume more natural products, the amount of synthetic additives should be limited.

Hot herbs and spices

Too spicy foods during pregnancy are undesirable. They can lead to inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which will lead to the development of gastritis in the expectant mother. Also, the intake of many spices can provoke an allergic reaction, which is extremely undesirable for the fetus.

Abuse of foods containing a lot of vinegar, horseradish, mustard can lead to increased thirst. This in turn will contribute to the appearance of edema on the body.

Fried food

Heat treatment of oil can form substances dangerous to the body, called carcinogens, which lead to disruption of the liver and gallbladder. Too many carcinogens increase the risk of developing mutations in the genetic apparatus. Donuts and pies fried in butter are not the best food choices for a mom-to-be.

What products are categorically contraindicated?

In each case, the list of prohibited products may be different. It depends on the individual characteristics of a woman and whether she has certain chronic diseases of internal organs.

If such pathologies are present, then a special therapeutic diet is selected for the woman. It is being developed by a doctor who looks after the expectant mother during pregnancy.

Alcohol

This forbidden food tops the list of foods that should not be consumed by expectant mothers. Drinking alcoholic beverages in the early stages of pregnancy is strictly not recommended. This can lead to the development of multiple violations of the formation of internal organs in a child.

Ethyl alcohol has a toxic effect on the nervous system. In women who abuse alcohol during pregnancy, the risk of having babies suffering from visual pathologies and mental disorders is quite high.

Unpasteurized milk

The emphasis at this point is on dairy products that are not industrially produced. Milk produced in production goes through several stages of temperature processing. This contributes to the fact that all pathogens in it die.

Drinking fresh milk does not give a 100% guarantee that the product will be free of pathogenic microbes. The risk of contracting tuberculosis, brucellosis and other dangerous infectious diseases when drinking fresh milk is quite high.

Raw fish and meat

During pregnancy, you should refuse products that have not been heat treated. Again, this should be done because the risk of infection is too high. Many pathogenic microbes die only when exposed to high temperatures. Moreover, you need to process (cook) the dish for quite a long time.

Doctors advise expectant mothers, who are very fond of sushi, to still limit their use during pregnancy. The risk of infection with pathogenic microbes and food poisoning in this case is quite high.

It is better to replace raw fish with cooked one. In such a situation, you will need to worry much less about your health and your baby.

Forest mushrooms

Many mushrooms that grow near highways or near cities contain many toxic substances. This is due to the fact that mushrooms accumulate them like a sponge. Ingestion of large amounts of toxic substances can lead to serious poisoning.

Canned mushrooms can become a source of dangerous infections, such as botulism. In order to get severely poisoned, it is enough to eat even a little of such a product.

Croutons, chips

These products contain a lot of table salt. Their use can lead to increased edema on the body. Also, chips and crackers contain many different flavor enhancers. These substances greatly increase appetite, which leads to the fact that the amount of food eaten increases significantly.

The use of these products can also lead to an exacerbation of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The spicy condiments in chips can make you thirsty.

Sweet carbonated drinks

There is no benefit from their use for the female and child's body. Flavorings and colorants contained in such drinks contribute to the development of food allergies.

Soda often contains aspartame (E951). This substance can have an adverse effect on the liver, as well as provoke increased gas production and bloating.