Eating raw and fresh Seafood such as lobster during pregnancy could be a hazard because it could possibly have some parasites like tapeworms, which could grow big enough and end up robbing the body of nutrients which are required for growing babies. Cooking and freezing eliminates parasites. As a result of this, most Japanese restaurants deal in frozen fish as opposed to fresh fish. You could inquire from a restaurant whether their fish is frozen prior to its preparation. Majority of restaurants sear fresh fish lightly on the outer part and thereafter it is served rare. It could however be safer for the fish to be well cooked when ordered.

Many types of shellfish including oysters are best avoided during the period of pregnancy, except if they are included in a hot serving of food and they should have been cooked thoroughly. The reason for this is that eating lobster during pregnancy and other seafood’s could have bacterial or viral contamination when raw and this is likely to result in food poisoning.

To ensure household safety when dealing with seafood, you need to cook it until it reaches an inner temperature of up to sixty three degrees centigrade or one hundred and forty five degrees Fahrenheit. This should be done for a period of fifteen seconds. Incase you are not in the possession of a thermometer, there are some guidelines that could assist in the determination of whether seafood is readyFor fish, the pointed part of a knife should be slipped into the fleshy tissue and thereafter pulled aside. Edges of the fish ought to have an opaque appearance while the centre should be somewhat translucent. Flaking should be in the initial stages.

• The fish should be let to stand for between three and four minutes in order to complete the process of cooking.

• Lobster and prawns turn red in color when they are cooked with the flesh becoming pearly opaque. The Scallops looks firm and opaque or milky white.

• For clams, oysters and mussels look out for the point where the shells open and this shows that they are ready. Throw out the ones that stay closed even after cooking.

• During the process of microwaving seafood, the dish should be rotated a few times to make sure that it cooks evenly. Let the dish to stand then check several areas using a thermometer in a bid find out whether the appropriate temperature has been reached.

• What one should be concern about when it comes to seafood is whether cooked or raw is the issue of contamination from environmental pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls or PCB’s as well as dioxins.

It is recommended that you should eat certain varieties of oily fish which have omega three fatty acids as well as other nutrients such as vitamins. These elements are vital for developing babies.  However, intake should be restricted to two servings in a week. There is a wide array to choose from such as:

• Anchovies
• Fresh tuna
• White bait
• Eel
• Kipper
• Pilchards
• Sardines
• Herring
• Mackerel
• Trout
• Salmon

Expectant women need to keep away from swordfish, marlin and swordfish and shark completely as they have high mercury levels which may have a negative effect on the nervous system of the developing child. You further need to restrict the amount of tuna that you consume because it also has a significantly high level of mercury.

It is generally important for expectant mothers to get advice before consuming seafood such as lobster during pregnancy.

However, a study done in Britain and printed in a journal known as international journal of epidemiology brings up some new insight. The study finds out that not only is it safe for expectant women to drink one or two glasses of wine during pregnancy  in a week, but their children tended to perform better 3 years following their birth. The comparison was done with children who were birthed by women who were not alcohol drinkers.

During the period of pregnancy, the expectant mothers completed the questionnaires concerning the issue of alcohol consumption as well as other different topics. The researchers went back to the same households after about three years and carried out some tests on the babies who were born including behavioral and cognitive analysis. For the most recent study, Kelly accompanied by her team divided the outcomes from the children depending on the drinking patterns of the mothers.

They found out that moderate drinking appeared not to affect the cognitive or behavioral capacities of the children. In some cases children who were birthed by light drinkers were less predisposed to problems compared to those who were born to non drinkers. However, those children who were birthed by mothers who were heavy drinkers had a higher likelihood of developing problems later on compared to those who were born to non-drinking mothers.

The team discovered that those children who were birthed by mothers who were light drinkers (between one and two wine glasses a week) had between thirty and forty percent probability of being hyperactive or having bad conduct in comparison to those mothers who did not take any alcohol while pregnant. Children from those mothers who took a bit of alcohol had a higher score when it came to vocabulary assessment and they could also distinguish more letters, numbers, colors and shapes compared to different children in other categories. The outcome was constant even when the socioeconomic aspects as well as other lifestyle preferences (like the presence of a smoker within a household) were considered.

Light drinkers who are defined as people that drink between three and six alcohol units (3-6 wine glasses, 3-6 liquor shots or between 1.5 and 3 beer and pints in a week), had babies who had enhanced performance on similar assessments as children given birth by non drinkers. Mother who consumed above seven units per week had a higher probability of exhibiting a huge range of issues mainly bad behavior as well as increased emotional instability. Research shows that the woman who is socially advantaged woman who drinks moderately could offer a greater account of the outcomes rather than dietary contributions from beverages with alcohol. The mothers who moderately drink wine during pregnancy could be more laid back which induces enhanced cognitive and behavioral results in children.

There are some doctors who are against eating fish during pregnancy because it has mercury. However, I read somewhere in an article that fish has high levels of mercury than what is reported to the general public. But eating salmon during pregnancy seems to be safe since it has the lowest mercury levels as compared to all the other fish. Here are some facts about salmon fish:

Fish absorbs Methyl mercury
Methyl mercury found in fish mainly comes from the mercury that is found in the sediments of the ocean that is later transformed by micro organisms into methyl mercury. This form of organic mercury is absorbed into the fish’s body by tissues through the gills as the fish swims via the digestive tracts while they feed.

Other fish have more mercury as compared to others
The levels of mercury vary from one fish species to another. This is as a result of factors like fish type, location, size, habitat, age and diet. Fish that feed on other fish (predatory) are large, occupy top food chain’s position and tend to have more mercury.

The fish that have high mercury levels include:

• Southern bluefin tuna
• Ling
• Orange roughly
• Gemfish
• Barramundi
• Swordfish
• Ray
• Shark

Fish that have low mercury levels include:

• Salmon
• Shell fish including oysters, lobsters and prawns
• Canned tuna

Eating salmon during pregnancy is the best way to guarantee the developing baby’s health and you should not worry about nasty preservatives and other toxins. Moreover, most of the salmon fish that come from Alaska are wild, that means they do not have any harmful chemicals such as PCBs that salmons raised in the farm have and also have low fat content. That is why whenever you buy salmon fish at the grocery store, make sure the label reads that it comes from Alaska; and you will rest assured that you are buying the best product for you and the child. Indeed, eating salmon helps to provide various proteins, omega-3 fatty acids and levels of calcium that are essential for a healthy baby.

To most people’s surprise, fresh salmon retains all the nutritional value but slightly has high sodium content, which is considered relatively harmless because salmon fish itself provides concentrated nutrition and eventually little sodium is eaten. Another reason why eating salmon during pregnancy is very good is that sodium levels present in salmon fish is not an issue so long as the content of salt in other foods is not high.

Raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy and childbearing years is safe and helpful. Red raspberry herbs come in form of leaves which are used to make tonics or teas and pills such as capsules that can be swallowed. The leaf strengthens and tones the uterus; this is a very important part for childbirth, during pregnancy and during recovery after the baby is born as well. Besides, more women begin to drink this herbal tea from the time of conception will reduce miscarriage risks.

The other warnings against drinking raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy and the fact that it is recommended for one to wait until the third if not second trimester to start drinking raspberry leaf tea especially for those women classified to be in high risk. Many midwives in the United Kingdom believe that during pregnancy, spotting and increased early miscarriages can be as a result of drinking this herbal tea. However, only 2 to 3 cups of raspberry leaf tea per day is recommended during the later months of pregnancy. This tea is recommended during this period of pregnancy because it contains several minerals and vitamins such as calcium and vitamin c and another alkaloid known as fragrine that may tone and strengthen the uterus.  Fragrine can be beneficial for a woman who is planning to have a vbac or vaginal birth after cesarean especially because of the c-section made on the uterus.

Red raspberry tea does not encourage or induce labor. However, it can encourage productive contractions once the actual labor has started because the leaves strengthen the pelvic and uterine muscles. Nevertheless, the tea is not a form of oxytonic herb or an herb that induces labor. That is the reason why it is important to talk to your herbalist, obstetrician or midwife before you begin to drink raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy or taking any supplements. Other specialists will recommend that you wait for at least 36 weeks before you incorporate the raspberry tea in your diet while others will encourage that you begin immediately. Since each pregnancy and situation is different, it is more advisable to get other opinions before you start taking raspberry herbal tea.

This tea is available in tea bags that are ready made from health stores in your local area such as vitamin cottage or whole foods or dried leaves bought in bulk to prepare your own tea. Boil a cup of water, then pour at least 2 teaspoons of dried raspberry leaves and boil it for ten minutes. However, if you are using loose leaves you will be required to strain the pieces out. Pills that look like capsules can also be bought from stores that sell organics or vitamins. If you use the pills you will be required to take 1 to 3 pills a day but this depends on your own needs for raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy.

Incase you have allergies to nuts, it is logical to stay away from nut related products every time and not only during pregnancy or nursing. In addition, if your family has a history of other allergies like atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis or asthma you will need a check up from a medical doctor who is well versed with food allergies. This medical practitioner would assist in establishing whether your unborn child could be impacted by the consumption of peanut butter during pregnancy.

Majority of women who consume peanut butter during pregnancy or plain peanuts for that matter, are sure to get children who do not have any allergies. This exposure is not known to enhance the risk. In various medical journals, there are implications that those expectant women who consume peanuts in the third trimester have a greater likelihood of getting babies’ who have peanut allergies. The risk is increased if there is a history of allergies that runs in a family.

I advocate for the limiting of peanut ingestion during the 3rd trimester as well when breastfeeding. This is especially so when your family has a history relating to allergies. Limiting intake is not necessarily going to protect the unborn children from getting allergies, however it is advisable. Normally, it is just peanuts that need to be eluded by certain women. Different nuts like Brazil, walnuts, cashew nuts hazelnuts are safe to eat. If you make up your mind to keep away from peanuts during the period of pregnancy and nursing, you should avoid peanuts (also called groundnuts or monkey nuts) as well as other products which contain peanuts. Such as:

• Peanut Butter

• Breads, ice cream, certain salad dressing, biscuits, muesli, cakes and cereals- constantly go through the product labels carefully and find out what ingredients are contained within a product.

• Restaurant dishes – you need to inquire whether peanuts have been used or to be safe just order basic meals that have no concealed ingredients.

Peanut butter happens to be a good protein source. Incase you have no personal peanut allergy, I advice you to not to be too concerned about your baby developing allergies related to the consumption of peanut butter during pregnancy. Even though you and a member of your family could have an allergy to peanuts, this hardly means that your baby will have allergic reaction as a result of eating peanut butter during pregnancy.

The complication that honey during pregnancy might cause is that it might contain a minimal content of botulism spores. Actually, there is no remedy for removing them if they already exist because the process of pasteurization specifically gets hot enough to kill bacteria (not botulism). The honey content is so minimal that it is non-toxic to adults (they process it and their bodies get rid of it) and not children. That is the main reason why honey is not advisable for children below the age of one year. I guess the main concern for an expectant woman would be if toxins can pass via the placenta or not. In case no one knows the answer, you might prefer doing a Google search on the concern.

Consuming artificial honey during pregnancy and other artificial sweeteners like the ones present in soda is not harmful for the public as a whole. No research has valid proof that it is unsafe for human beings to take a lot of artificial sweeteners when they are pregnant. But, I suggest that it’s better to eat raw honey for safety reason. The danger is apparently at its lowest point with aspartame, while rodent research studies and results show that Saccharin cause cancer and birth complications. To get an alternative for the consumption of artificial sweeteners during pregnancy, try taking water, fruit juice and milk.

Temporarily, it might be important if you try a different sweetener. I always use some small amounts of Stevia in tea every time I run out of honey. It might be useful if you try sucanat or brown rice syrup, maple syrup or agave syrup.

Children who are below one year should avoid eating honey because there is a possibility that it contains botulinum spores. In comparison to a young child’s digestive system, the mature digestive systems are more acidic and due to that, they hamper the production of toxins that cause the poisonous food poisoning botulism. Children below one year of age lack mature digestive systems that prevents the occurrence of all these. Whenever youngsters eat honey that has been contaminated with botulinum spores, these spores might just colonize the intestine. Though the spores are non-toxic, as soon as they germinate, they release lethal neurotoxins that are absorbed to the blood stream, causing paralysis.

An expectant woman can eat honey safely. The digestive tracts of an expectant woman are usually acidic and will therefore hamper the germination of spores. In turn, this prevents any fetal danger that involves honey consumption. Older children, men and women get regular exposure to spores present in honey without any side effect. However, women taking honey during pregnancy have fewer chances of spores growing in them.

Generally, fruits are meant for expectant mothers because they are good sources of minerals and vitamins. However, other food categories come with complications and side effects. Therefore, it is essential that you broaden your taste to incorporate wider fruit varieties in your diet.

The Best Fruits to Eat during Pregnancy
Foods that fall under the citrus family such as oranges and tangerines have a high content in Vitamin C. In the same way, these foods have high folic acid that plays an important role in women. On the other hand, a number of people complain that eating these fruits excessively can lead to acid influx or heartburn. Therefore, it is advisable to ensure that you eat as required (avoid eating too much of a required content).

In case you are trying to avoid morning sickness, eating a well balanced diet might not be as easy as it sounds. A healthy diet and fruits during pregnancy is essential for your baby’s appropriate brain development, growth, minimal occurrences of birth complications and a better immune system. Bear in mind that what you eat makes a difference (not the content of what you eat). The list below guides you through how a well balanced pregnancy diet can be helpful:

• Vitamin: Healthy skin & Bone development, Perfect eyesight: These foods come from Sweet potatoes, carrots, Dark leafy and Greens.

• Vitamin C: is helpful in iron absorption, healthy gums, bones and teeth: Sourced from fortified fruit juices and tomatoes, citrus fruit and broccoli.

• Vitamin B6: for the formation of the red blood cells, effective use of carbohydrates, protein and fat: sourced from bananas and whole-grain cereals.

• Folic Acid: Production of protein and blood and effective enzyme action: comes from nuts, peas, green leafy vegetables , dark yellow fruits and beans

Therefore, the most important thing that you should consider when you are expectant is eating various nutritional foods to keep both your baby and you healthy. In case you are a vegetarian, ensure that you discuss the appropriate diet with your doctor. In case you do not eat eggs, fish or chicken, you might be unable to get all the nutritional benefits you require. In this case, your doctor might advice you to eat Vitamin D and B12 supplements or proteins.

The Things You Need To Avoid When You Are Pregnant
It is very common for you to have food cravings when you are pregnant in the first trimester. Although it might be rather unclear as to why a number of women crave some types of food, it is not dangerous to indulge in any craving, provided they are all healthy. However, some beverages and food types are unadvisable in the period of pregnancy. Generally, eating quite a number of foods and taking a lot of water and fruits during pregnancy makes sure that your pregnancy is healthy and safe.

Is eating pineapple during pregnancy safe?

It could be safe in some circumstances.

Consuming pineapple or ingesting pineapple juice is thought to be a remedy for cases where women experience delayed pregnancies. It is a fact that taking plenty of juice from pineapples could actually bring about uterine contraction. As a result of this, it is advisable for pregnant women not to take large amounts of pineapple juice during the early stages of pregnancy.

Why contractions are caused by pineapple
Fresh pineapple has Bromelain, which could further make the cervix soft; however, it is only excess amounts that could have a significant effect. Other than softening the cervix, taking excess amounts of pineapple may cause diarrhea.

When taken in large amounts, pineapple could become an abortifacient; a substance that can induce abortion. Therefore, if you have your concerns about it, it is advisable to keep away from taking any of it.

The Use of Pineapple During Nursing/Pregnancy
The use of pineapples during pregnancy and nursing should be avoided because studies have shown little information concerning the moderate use pineapples for soon-to-be mothers as well as those who are nursing. For a long time pineapples have been made use of to control menstruation as well as being an abortifacient. Taking plenty of pineapple juice has been known to result in uterine contractions.

This is another fact that I discovered concerning eating pineapple during pregnancy:

Pineapple has the enzyme known as bromelain that assists in softening the cervix, bringing about labor.

How safe is it eating pineapple during pregnancy?
There is hardly any evidence that establishes whether there is any safety or not in taking pineapple. Every pineapple has minute quantities of bromelain therefore you would have to consume up to seven pineapples for a significant effect to be felt. The likeliest side effect that is to be felt after eating plenty of pineapple is a running stomach.

Is it effective?
Certain cultures believe fully in the working of pineapple juice, however, there is very little research that has been done to find out the effectiveness of pineapples. Despite all of this, consuming plenty of pineapple could invigorate the bowel and gut just like in the case of castor oil. This will stir up the uterus to get to work.

How can I attempt to use it?
Pineapples that are used need to be fresh. Juicing or caning destroys any traces of bromelain and therefore eating pineapple during pregnancy would not be effective.

WebMD are in agreement with it. They quote a Danish study which supports the fact that a moderate intake of caffeine in the final two trimesters has no relation to early birth, lower birth weight and miscarriages. Despite all this, evidence leans towards avoiding caffeine and chocolate. Unfortunately, this is not as easy as it seems. A study carried out by NewScientist.com in conjunction with other sites from University of Helsinki in Finland discovered that there was some relation between women who took chocolate during pregnancy and the women who avoided chocolate during pregnancy

In addition to this, a summary was done by BBC News from a study which was carried out at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The study which was conducted by a group of scientists discovered that consuming chocolate on a daily basis played part in reducing risks of miscarriages.

So what should you do?
Well the term moderation has surfaced on many occasions in all the studies. Overindulging on chocolate and any other thing for that matter is not healthy irrespective of whether you are pregnant or not. However, doing without chocolate is not a sacrifice which is necessary either. Stress is not good for women who are pregnant and giving up chocolate during pregnancy may be stressful.