Anybody can get food poisoning but pregnant women  are more susceptible. This is because during pregnancy, your immune system is weaker therefore making it difficult to fight infections. Your baby’s immune system is also not matured enough to fight off germs. As a result, food poisoning can be very serious and may even result in death.
 

 

What are the types of food poisoning ?

 
Food poisoning occurs when you consume food or drink that contains harmful substances. It can come from different sources but it is  usually the result of bacteria  contamination of food that has not been handled properly or left at room temperature for a long time. Some of the bacteria include Salmonella, Listeria , Campylobacter or E.coli

What are the signs of food poisoning ?

 
Symptoms of food poisoning may occur immediately after eating harmful substances or may happen after days or even weeks of eating contaminated food. This depends on the type of harmful substance you consume. Some of the signs include :

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• headaches
• fever
• abdominal cramps
• dehydration
• death

What foods are safe to eat during pregnancy ?

 
Certain foods are safe to eat during pregnancy. These include the following

• pasteurized  juice
• washed fruits and vegetables
• completely cooked eggs
• pasteurized egg
• cooked sprouts
• pasteurized milk
• pasteurized cheese
• hot dogs and lunch meat heated until steaming hot
• refrigerated smoked seafood in a cooked dish like casserole
• fully cooked meat and poultry
• up to 12 oz. a week of fully cooked fish with low levels of mercury such as salmon, tilapia, shrimp, canned light tuna, white fish, fish sticks, cod and Pollock
• fully cooked shell-fish
• store bought and pasteurized foods such as mayonnaise, cookie dough and sauces

 
Some foods put pregnant women at high risk for food borne illnesses and these foods should be avoided during pregnancy. They include the following

• unpasteurized milk, egg and juice
• unpasteurized cheese such as  brie, feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, panela, blue -veined cheese and camembert
• cold hot dogs and lunch meat
• raw sprouts such as radish alfalfa, and clover
• eggs that are runny and not fully cooked
• fish with high concentration of mercury such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, raw fish found in sushi and sashimi
• raw shellfish such as oysters, clamps, mussels, and scallops
• undercooked or raw meat and poultry
• refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads
• products containing raw, unpasteurized eggs such as eggnog, homemade mayonnaise and ice cream, raw batter, filling or cookie dough, tiramisu, mousse and meringue

What is the effect of food poisoning on me and my unborn child ?

 
Food borne illnesses during pregnancy can cause serious health issues such as miscarriage, premature delivery, stillbirth  or death in the mother. The harmful microorganisms can cross the placenta and get to the baby. This can result in health problems in the developing baby or even death.

How to  prevent food poisoning ?

 
You can prevent food poisoning by avoiding food that are not safe to eat during pregnancy.  You should also wash your hands frequently . Clean and wash all surfaces used for food preparation to reduce the risk of food being contaminated.  Don’t mix cooked  foods with raw food to prevent cross contamination. It is also essential to heat all foods thoroughly and refrigerate all left overs promptly

Pregnant women with food poisoning are usually treated by giving them lots of fluids to drink or giving fluid through IV to rehydrate them. Some women may receive antibiotics depending on the severity of their case.
 
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