Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
Various bacteria and other germs can cause food poisoning which is, a gut infection
caused by contamination of food with germs. Two germs that are of particular importance
to avoid during pregnancy:
Listeria.
Toxoplasmosis.
It is possible that other food poisoning bacteria may also cause complications during
pregnancy.
Be strict about food hygiene, always cook eggs, meat and poultry thoroughly, wash
fruit and vegetables, and wash hands after going to the toilet, before handling food,
and after handling raw meat or animals.
Listeria
Pregnant women are more likely to become infected with listeria, and it sometimes
causes miscarriage, stillbirth, or infections in the baby after birth.
Foodstuffs which have most risk of carrying listeria are:
Undercooked meats - It can also occur in some pre-cooked meats and pre-prepared meals.
Ensure that meat foods are cooked until piping hot.
Eggs - should be cooked until the white and yolk are solid. Avoid foods that may
contain raw eggs such as some types of mayonnaise and mousse.
Mould-ripened and soft cheeses such as brie, camembert and blue-veined cheeses. Hard
cheeses and processed cottage cheese are safer.
Patés - including vegetable patés.
Raw shellfish and raw fish.
Unpasteurised milk - remember goat's milk is often unpasteurised, and goat's milk
products such as cheeses are often made from unpasteurised milk.
Toxoplasmosis
This germ is commonly found in raw meat, and sheep, lamb and cat faeces. It may cause
serious harm to an unborn baby.
Wash your hands after handling raw meat.
Do not eat raw or undercooked (rare) meat.
Wash salads and vegetables as any dirt may have been contaminated by cat faeces.
Wash your hands after handling pets or animals, especially cats and kittens.
If you have cats as pets get someone else to clean out any cat litter trays when
you are pregnant.
Always wear gloves when gardening.
Avoid sheep, especially during the lambing season.
If you plan to become pregnant for the first time, you should check that you are
immune to rubella before becoming pregnant. See your practice nurse for a 'pre-pregnancy'
blood test. Most women are immune to rubella as they have been immunised as a child.
However, childhood immunisation does not work in every child and you may not be immune.
If you are not immune, you can be immunised.
Note
You should not become pregnant for one month after the injection, and ideally until
your immunity has been confirmed by a further blood test. The rubella virus causes
a mild illness, but can seriously damage an unborn baby, especially in the early
stages of growth. Until you know that you are immune you should avoid anyone who
has rubella.
Chickenpox
Having chickenpox when pregnant can be a nasty illness, and there is some risk to
the developing baby. A blood test can check if you have previously had chickenpox
if you are unsure.
Hepatitis B
A mother who is infected with hepatitis B has a high risk of passing it on to her
new-born baby. If you are at high risk of catching hepatitis B you should be immunised
against this virus before becoming pregnant.
