When you are pregnant, you are hyperaware of everything that you are eating and drinking. You usually will receive a long list of what you should and shouldn’t eat for the health of you and your baby, and you stick to it! After all, your little one’s growth and safety is the most important thing.

If you get food poisoning while you are pregnant, you will most likely experience the same symptoms as everyone else who is not pregnant, but it poses some serious risks to your baby.

Read on as our AFC Urgent Care Boulder team explains more about food poisoning below.

What Kind of Food Poisoning Is Dangerous?

Listeria is the bacteria that you are usually warned about when you become pregnant. This is because listeria can be passed on to the baby in utero and can cause low birth weight, miscarriage, stillbirth and preterm labor. These are all serious complications, so taking the right precautions can help you avoid contracting this bacteria.

Dairy products like unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses are common foods that can carry listeria because they are not pasteurized to kill off the bacteria. Deli meat and hot dogs can also carry listeria if they are not heated up enough to kill it. In addition, any unwashed fruit or vegetables also runs the risk of being contaminated. Be sure to thoroughly wash and prepare every food item before consuming it while you are pregnant.

Other Common Pathogens That Cause Food Poisoning

• E.coli
• Hepatitis A
• Salmonella
• Norovirus

What Does a Listeria Infection Feel Like?

Once you consume the food that contained the listeria, you can start to feel sick within a few days, or it could even take up to a few months! In that time, you can have a fever, chills, muscle aches and diarrhea.

If you are ever concerned about a possible listeria exposure, visit with your care team right away. The faster you are seen and diagnosed, the better chance you have of keeping the infection from reaching your baby. You will most likely be given a round of antibiotics and a close eye will be kept on the health of your baby.

How to Avoid a Listeria Infection

• Wash your hands before preparing food.
• Avoid hot dogs or deli meat unless heated until steaming.
• Wash all produce thoroughly.
• Cook all meat to its recommended temperature.
• Don’t eat raw sushi.

Feeling sick? We can help at AFC Urgent Care Boulder.