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At your first prenatal visit, your health care provider likely talked with you about all the foods you should avoid during pregnancy — sushi, raw meat, deli meat and unpasteurized cheese — to prevent exposure to listeria. That's because consuming this bacteria can sometimes make you sick, and that extremely unlikely possibility becomes more likely when you're expecting. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to greatly reduce your risk. Here's how, along with what happens if you think you've been exposed to listeria during pregnancy. What is listeriosis?Listeriosis is an illness caused by eating foods contaminated with the listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Keep in mind that simply being exposed to listeria, however, doesn't mean you'll develop an infection. In fact, most women who are exposed to listeria will not develop a listeriosis infection. How common is listeriosis during pregnancy?While the odds of being infected with listeriosis are still very, very low, it is significantly (13 times) higher during pregnancy — and the potential of its causing problems in pregnancy is higher. What are the risks of listeriosis during pregnancy?Listeria, unlike many other germs, enters the bloodstream directly and therefore can get to the baby quickly through the placenta (other food contaminants generally stay in the digestive tract). And an untreated infection can put baby at increased risk of more serious complications, including miscarriage, preterm labor, stillbirth or meningitis in newborns. Listeriosis symptoms during pregnancyListeriosis can be hard to detect, partly because symptoms can develop up to two months after eating contaminated food and can vary from severe to mild. If you think you may have eaten food that contains listeria, watch for flu-like symptoms including:
Note that you may have fever only, or you might not have any symptoms at all. So it's important to contact your doctor even if you think what you're experiencing might be caused by something else. What to do if you think you've been exposed to listeria during pregnancyMany moms-to-be worry about possible exposure to listeria, especially after big food recalls. In many cases, a watch-and-wait approach for symptoms is all that's necessary. Doctors will usually recommend testing if you have symptoms like a fever or gastrointestinal troubles. If you're experiencing symptoms and your doctor suspects a listeriosis infection, he may order blood or other various tests to check for the bacteria and monitor your baby's health. If you have been infected, you'll get a prescription for antibiotics. What should you do to protect yourself from listeria exposure during pregnancy?One of the best ways to prevent listeriosis is to avoid foods that are most likely to be contaminated. These include:
A few more tips to stay safe from listeria during pregnancy:
Unfortunately it's impossible to know for sure if the food you buy today will be recalled tomorrow — making it impossible to avoid listeria entirely. That said, the risk of contracting the infection from day-to-day eating is extremely low, even if you are expecting. So try not to let worries about possible food contamination consume you. Instead, spend your energy focusing on what you can do: Eat a balanced, healthy pregnancy diet to help support you and your growing baby.
Listeriosis is usually caught from eating food containing listeria bacteria. You can get it from lots of types of food, but it's mainly a problem with:
These foods do not always cause listeriosis. If you have eaten them recently, you do not need to do anything unless you get symptoms of the infection.
Listeria infection is one of the most serious types of food poisoning. Pregnant women are 10–20 times more likely to get it than the general population. It can cause serious problems for you and your baby. Find out how to avoid it.
What is listeria infection?Listeria infection is caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. It is one of the most serious types of food poisoning.Listeria bacteria are widely found in dust, soil, water, plants, sewage and animal droppings. Due to contamination, they have also been found in a variety of foods, including raw meat, raw vegetables and some processed foods. Listeria infection is commonly transmitted to humans by eating contaminated food. The bug has been found in a variety of foods at all stages of preparation, from raw to well-cooked leftovers. Listeria can also grow on food stored in a fridge. What are the symptoms of listeria infection?The symptoms may be general, such as fever, headache, tiredness, aches and pains, which may be accompanied by runny poos (diarrhoea), feeling sick (nausea) and stomach cramps. On average, symptoms appear after about 3 weeks but may appear as late as 2 months after you have eaten something with listeria. Many pregnant women do not have any symptoms. Even if you do not feel sick, you can pass the infection to your baby. How can listeria infection affect pregnant women?Pregnant women are 10–20 times more likely to get listeria infection than the general population. Even a mild infection in a pregnant woman can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth or a baby who is very ill when born. How can listeria infection affect my baby?Listeria can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy or birth. Newborn babies infected with listeria may show signs of infection at birth or during the first few days of life. Infection in newborn babies can be very severe and can include lung infection (pneumonia) and meningitis. Infected babies may have severe difficulty with breathing and feeding. What should I do if I think I have listeria infection?If you think you have eaten food contaminated with listeria or if you have any of the symptoms of listeria infection, contact your doctor or midwife right away. Remember that it can take 2 months for symptoms to appear. How is listeria infection treated?Your doctor may ask for a blood test to see whether you have listeria infection. You may need to take antibiotics to treat the infection and prevent your baby from becoming infected. How do I know if my food is contaminated?Foods that are contaminated with listeria don't look, smell or taste off. Cooking and pasteurisation are the only ways to kill listeria. Listeria will continue to grow in foods in the fridge. How can I prevent getting listeria infection?The best way to avoid listeria infection is to avoid high-risk foods and always handle food safely. High-risk foods that should be avoidedWhile food safety procedures aim to prevent listeria getting into the foods we eat, there are some foods that are more likely to be contaminated and pregnant women should not eat them. Avoid all raw and under-cooked seafood, eggs, meat, and poultry while you are pregnant. Do not eat sushi made with raw fish (cooked sushi is safe). Cooking and pasteurisation are the only ways to kill listeria.
Foods that are safe to eat
Safe ways to handle food at homeSafe food handling and safe storage of food is important for everyone.
Learn moreThe NZ Government Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) in Food Safety (previously called the NZFSA) has a booklet Food safety in pregnancy and other useful resources available to download from the Food safety website You can also talk to your doctor or midwife and contact the Public Health Unit at your local Community Health Service. ReferencesReviewed by
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