Should You Eat Cheese During Pregnancy?

Have you recently learned that you’re pregnant? Congratulations! Now’s the time to take a closer look at how you’re eating and what foods to avoid. Nothing can change the way you eat faster than the knowledge that you’re eating for two. Nutrition can affect every facet of a pregnancy so it is, indeed, wise to question everything that goes into your mouth. One question that frequently arises when it comes to diet is whether it’s safe to eat cheese during pregnancy. While cheese is a wonderful source of protein and calcium, it can also be a source of a bacteria known as Listeria.

Although Listeria infection is not generally a problem for adults with intact immune systems, Listeria infection during pregnancy can have serious ramifications. It can increase the risk of miscarriage, infection of the fetus, pre-term delivery, and even result in death of the fetus. Obvious, Listeria is one infection you definitely want to avoid during the nine months of pregnancy.

The problem with cheese during pregnancy is that Listeria can sometimes be present even after the cheese has been pasteurized. Generally, softer cheeses are most likely to be contaminated with Listeris although the incidence isn’t high even with these cheeses. Soft cheeses include brie, Camembert, Brie, feta, blue cheese, ricotta, goat cheese, and cottage cheese, as well as the softer Mexican cheeses. Hard cheeses are unlikely to be sources of the Listeria bacteria.

Although eating any type of cheese during pregnancy is unlikely to cause a problem for the mother or fetus, it’s probably best to avoid even a small risk of exposure to this bacteria that can potentially cause so many pregnancy related problems. If you’re still determined to eat soft cheese during pregnancy, the bacteria can be killed by heating the cheese to 170 degrees Farenheit for two minutes before eating it. The other solution is to eat exclusively hard cheeses such as cheddar, Swiss, and mozzarella until after the baby is born.

The Listeria bacteria can also be transmitted through other food sources such as uncooked luncheon meats, meat spreads, and any form of uncooked meat. Make it a practice to only eat meat that’s been heated to at least 170 degrees Fareneheit during pregnancy and wash all fresh produce thoroughly before eating. Clean all counters thoroughly that have been exposed to raw meat.

Be sure to discuss diet with your doctor and ask what foods should be included in your diet as well as which ones to avoid. Dietary needs can change considerably during pregnancy. Even though soft cheese during pregnancy is best avoided, there are lots of other delicious calcium rich foods you can eat during you pregnancy to keep you and your unborn baby healthy.