Some people or medical professionals may tell you that being pregnant is a full time job. There are often several things pregnant moms should consider while pregnant, including which foods they should avoid during their pregnancy.

While some foods may be recommended by fertility specialists to help couples conceive in the first place, your doctor may recommend that you stay away from certain foods while pregnant. Doing a little research and speaking to your doctor may have a tremendous effect in terms of helping you enjoy a healthy pregnancy for you and your child.

Women who are pregnant must be sure to eat well-balanced meals. While this is important at all times, it is essential that women make sure they get enough vitamins and minerals while pregnant. While most foods are safe for pregnant women to eat, there are some that pregnant women should avoid.

Raw or rare seafood, red meat or chicken should be avoided, as these foods may contain bacteria or other harmful germs. Deli meat has been known to contain listeria, which may cause miscarriage in some cases.

Women who want to consume deli meat should make sure that they heat it up to the point that it is steaming before eating it. Listeria may cross the placenta and infect the baby, which can be life threatening. Smoked seafood may also be contaminated with listeria, so avoiding seafood that is smoked is important as well.

Soft cheeses that are imported and unpasteurized milk may also contain listeria, so pregnant women are often advised to stay away from these foods. Pate may also contain listeria, so pate and meat spreads should be avoided while pregnant.

Fish that contain mercury should be avoided as well. Mercury may lead to developmental problems and brain damage in some children. Pregnant women should speak to their doctor to determine which fish may be safe for eating, although many types of fish contain some level of mercury. Raw shellfish and fish exposed to industrial pollutants may also pose risks to pregnant women.

Raw eggs and foods that contain raw eggs may be contaminated with salmonella. Toxoplasmosis may infect the soil where vegetables are grown, so thoroughly washing vegetables is important. Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided while pregnant as well.

While some believe that moderate caffeine intake is fine during pregnancy, others believe that it may lead to miscarriage. Alcohol should always be avoided while pregnant. Speaking to a medical professional is the best way to obtain further information regarding foods that pregnant women should avoid.