New Parent News

Foodborne Illness Can Pose a Serious Risk for Expectant Moms and Their Babies

as published in the Times Herald Record on June 21, 2006

Picnics can be the best part of the summertime, but can have hidden dangers for moms-to-be!

There may be some unseen dangers lurking in the potato salad and hot dogs that could make you and your unborn baby very sick. Pregnant women have a weakened immune system which makes it harder for their body to fight infection leaving them at greater risk for developing a foodborne illness. The risks to mom and baby can be serious.

What is a foodborne illness? It's a sickness that occurs when you eat or drink something that has harmful bacteria or parasites. Exposure to certain foodborne illnesses pose a particular threat to moms-to-be and their unborn babies include; Listeria which comes from refrigerated ready-to-eat foods like deli meat and unpasteurized milk and cheese; Toxoplasma which comes from undercooked meat, unwashed fruits and veggies, and cat-feces (get someone else to change the litter box while your pregnant); E. coli and Salmonella, which can also be found in undercooked meats. How would you know that you have been exposed? The symptoms are much like that of the flu; vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and aches. Remember to contact your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms, but keep in mind that even if you don’t feel sick you can still pass the bacteria to your unborn baby.

Does that mean that you moms-to-be cannot enjoy a backyard barbeque this summer? Not at all! Fresh air and sunshine (don’t forget the sunscreen!) are great for everyone; just follow these four simple steps for a lifetime of safe eating for you and your baby.

CLEAN- always wash your hands before and after handling food, using the bathroom, changing diapers, or handling pets. Wash your dishes with hot soapy water. Make sure to rinse fruits and vegetables before you eat them- even if you are going to peel them.

SEPARATE- keep raw meat, chicken, and seafood away from ready-to-eat food. Do not use the same cutting board that had raw chicken on it to then cut up the tomato for your salad. Always put cooked food on a clean plate, not the same one you used to carry the raw chicken to the grill.

COOK- all your food needs to be cooked until it is well done. Hot dogs and burgers need to be cooked until they are steaming hot. Use the Two-Hour Rule: Throw out any food that has sat out at room temperature for more than two hours (on really hot days you may want to change that to the One-Hour Rule!).

CHILL- refrigerate your leftovers as soon as possible. Keep all ready-to-eat food cold (or hot) until just before you are ready to eat.

Have a healthy and safe pregnancy!

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