Our midwives have reviewed all the foods that you may come across this Christmas and provided a list of foods you can/cant eat, based on the evidence. As all things pregnancy there can be lots of family/friends who may give some conflicting advice so we have provided a list to make it easier for you.

Wherever you plan to spend the holidays this year, there are still foods you can enjoy and look forward to, here is a quick breakdown for you! 

Nuts

Research has shown that it is safe to eat all nuts in pregnancy, as long as you don’t have a nut allergy yourself.

Lots of research in pregnant women have shown that women who eat nuts in pregnancy are less likely to have children with a nut allergy!

Peanuts eaten in pregnancy at least once a week have been shown to have a 20-25% decreased chance of their child being diagnosed with asthma at 18 months.

Cheeses

Cheeses that are well cooked and hard cheeses made from pasteurised milk should be safe to eat in pregnancy, and this is because heat kills a harmful bacteria called Listeria.

Cheese contains calcium which is good for you and your baby’s bone development. Hard cheeses like cheddar, parmesan and Gruyere are always safe to eat. Also safe in pregnancy are pasteurised soft cheeses (e.g. cream cheese, ricotta, mozzarella, cottage cheese and feta) and semi-hard cheeses (e.g. Stilton, Edam).

Due to the risk of listeria, we advise not to eat cheese made from unpasteurised milk and, unless these are cooked until they are steaming hot, all mould-ripened soft cheeses (such as Brie, Camembert and chèvre) and soft blue cheeses (such as Roquefort, Gorgonzola or Danish blue).

Meats

We advise not to eat cold cured meats such as salami, prosciutto ham, chorizo and pepperoni as these may contain toxoplasmosis. Although rare, if eaten during pregnancy this bacteria can affect a baby’s development.

Well-cooked cold, pre-packed meats such as ham, beef, chicken and turkey are safe and contain protein which is necessary for cell growth.

Pay particular attention to poultry, burgers, pork and sausages and ensure they are cooked thoroughly (with no trace of pink or blood). So double check meats have been cooked until piping hot all the way through - especially if you are eating out when you are pregnant. 

Pâté and haggis

Pâté and haggis can contain liver and this is advised against during pregnancy as it has a high vitamin A content, which may affect your baby’s development in pregnancy. Even plant based pâtés are known to contain listeria which can harm your baby so avoid this during Christmas and during pregnancy. 

Eggs

Most raw hen eggs in the UK are safe to eat if they are Lion Code stamped, as this means they are unlikely to contain a bacteria called salmonella. Although salmonella will rarely cause harm to your developing baby, it can cause you severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Foods that often contain raw or undercooked eggs are tiramisu, mousse, and homemade mayonnaise. So, unless you know what eggs have been used to produce these foods, it may be best to avoid them.

Alcohol

Research has found that alcohol during pregnancy is not safe. Because of this and the fact that alcohol intake is linked to developmental problems in babies, women are advised to remove alcohol consumption throughout pregnancy. This may prove harder to do during the Christmas festivities, so make sure to stock up on your favourite alcohol-free gins, beers and wine, or have some fun experimenting with or trying new mocktails.

It's still a time to be festive and jolly so we have provided list to help support you in the holiday and most importantly have a wonderful Merry Christmas from the Bloom Midwives!  

Being mindful when eating out and always ask the chef/waiter/waitress to double check the foods are cooked thoroughly - or even have a look at the menu before you go so you have an idea of what you can have. 

 If you are still unsure of any of the above and fancy a chat with us midwives - book in a call with us (completely free, but limited availability!)

https://calendly.com/thebloomcollaboration/30min 

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