Foods & medicines to avoid during pregnancy

Foods

Eating a healthy diet is important while you are pregnant. There are certain foods that might contain bacteria that could hurt your baby. While you are pregnant, do not eat:

• Deli meat (any cold sandwich meat).
• Fish with high levels of mercury, including shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tile fish. (Canned tuna is safe.)
• Smoked seafood.
• Fish exposed to polluted water.
• Raw fish or shellfish including raw oysters or sushi.
• Raw eggs and any foods that contain raw eggs including raw cookie dough and homemade mayonnaise or dressing.
• Soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk.
• Unpasteurized milk.
• Caffeine.
• Alcohol.
• Unwashed vegetables.

Medicines

If you are experiencing discomfort during your pregnancy, you can take plain Tylenol (acetaminophen) at any time; however, there are other over-the-counter medications you should avoid during pregnancy. If you have any questions about what is safe to take, call our office at 704-384-0560.

The following list of medications should be avoided during pregnancy: