Pregnancy and Birthing Guide

Lactose Intolerance During pregnancy, symptoms of lactose intolerance often improve. If you are still having problems after eating or drinking dairy products, talk with us. We may recommend calcium supplements if you cannot get enough calcium from other foods. Remember, calcium can also be found in cheese, yogurt, sardines, and certain salmon, spinach, and fortified orange juice. Artificial Sweeteners - These are OK to use, but we recommend limiting it to 1-2 servings per day. If you have diabetes, artificial sweeteners are better than sugar to help control your blood sugars.

Food Concerns in Pregnancy

Avoid uncooked seafood and undercooked beef, pork, or poultry due to risk of bacterial contamination, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella. Prepared meats or meat spreads including hot dogs and deli meats can contain bacteria and heating may decrease the risk. Fish is very good for you and the baby during pregnancy and supports your baby's brain and eye development. You should try to eat two servings per week (12 oz.) of low mercury fish such as salmon or catfish. You can consume medium mercury fish such as tuna or halibut, but you should have no more than 6 oz. per week. You should altogether avoid high mercury fish which include shark, swordfish, and mackerel. Maine’s fresh-water fish contain local pollutants and should not be consumed by pregnant people or children younger than 8 years old. Refrigerated, smoked seafood should be avoided due to risks of listeria contamination. Clams, oysters, and mussels can cause bacterial infections. Cooked shrimp is safe. Imported soft cheeses may contain listeria. Soft cheeses made with pasteurized milk are safe. May contain listeria which can lead to miscarriage, preterm labor and should not be consumed.

Meat

Fish

Smoked Fish

Raw Shellfish

Soft Cheese

Unpasteurized Milk

Pregnant people should consume less than 200mg a day of caffeine which is about 12oz of coffee.

Caffeine

Wash all vegetables well to avoid exposure to toxoplasmosis which may contaminate the soil where vegetables are grown. Be sure you are getting enough protein, about 75 grams per day. You may need to take supplements, especially iron, B12, and vitamin D. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, no amount of alcohol during pregnancy is definitively safe.

Unwashed Vegetables

Special Concerns- Vegan/Vegetarian Diets

Alcohol

18 | Pregnancy and Birthing