Remember that 1980s Adam Ant pop song (dare I reveal my age?): “Don’t Drink, Don’t Smoke, What Do you Do?” That’s how a lot of women feel when pregnant. Not that we mind terribly when giving up coffee, alcohol, and substances that will harm our growing babies—but having nine to ten months of bad hair days was too much for me. So many moms out there advise us to not highlight our hair or go to a salon to get nails done as we may breathe fumes. Then there’s the no sushi, large fish, soft cheeses, or mountain bike rides. The list of what we can’t do seems endless. Frankly, some things are necessary to insure that our babies thrive and are born healthy. Who can argue with that? But what about the gray areas, like tanning or highlighting your hair? To shed light on the important things women need to restrict from their diets or not expose their unborn babies to, I consulted Sarah Maddison, M.D., an experienced obstetrician and gynecologist in Raleigh, North Carolina:
Laura: What fish are safe to eat?
Dr. Maddison: Small farm raised fish are the safest. Large fish that eat lots of other fish concentrate mercury, actually methylmercury, which can cause injury to a growing baby’s nervous system. Shark, king mackerel, swordfish, and tile fish should definitely be avoided. More conservative sources also add tuna steak, Spanish mackerel, grouper, and orange roughy to the list. Limited amounts of canned light tuna are probably okay if you limit it to less than 8oz per week. Fish is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids which are good for the developing nervous system. Two servings per week is a good amount. Salmon, trout, talapia, flounder, and shrimp get the thumbs up. Most states post a list of some locally caught fish that may not be safe to eat pregnant or not, so people should look for any regional restrictions as well.
Laura: Why do some moms avoid deli meats? If it is due to preservatives, why are they unhealthy and are there specific preservatives worse than others in your opinion?Dr. Maddison: There maybe things like preservatives in lots of foods that we eat that if you really think about it, that may not be good for anyone, pregnant or not. Some things that people avoid like the plague when they are pregnant, they turn around and feed their little children. Anyway, the real issue with deli meats, unpasteurized cheeses (often the “soft cheese”), inoculated cheese (“blue cheeses” that are purposely contaminated with bacteria), and hot dogs is Listeria. Listeriosis is a type of food poisoning that can cause fever, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, and sometimes even convulsions. Anyone can get this, but pregnant women are twenty times more likely than other healthy adults to get ill after a listeria exposure. When pregnant women have this it can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, or infection of the newborn.
Laura: Should pregnant women be concerned when renovating? For instance, scraping paint in old houses, tile, etc. Can lead cross the placenta?
Dr. Maddison: Yes, but only about the lead. This could lead to behavioral and learning difficulties in the baby years down the road. Plus, the chips could be a source of poisoning to a toddler down the road. Paint, cleaners, tile—most of these things are not studied, but I think are okay, but keep the room well ventilated.
Laura: Should people stop pesticide use in their homes when pregnant?
Dr. Maddison: No, but if you do a big bomb type thing I would stay away for twelve to twenty-four hours just in case.
Laura: Many women confess that they drank alcohol before they knew they were pregnant and while they’ve sustained once they found out they were pregnant, are worried that the alcohol in the first month will hurt their baby. What can you say on that matter?
