Everyone always wants to know what’s safe and isn’t during pregnancy, especially first time mama’s or mama’s who had some trouble conceiving and are extra cautious. And a big question we get often is, “Is Cheese Safe During Pregnancy”.
Mama To be’s a specifically wondering about soft cheeses most of the time. They’re told they can’t have things like cream cheese. But is there where the only line is drawn.
Is it really safe to eat cheese during your pregnancy? Are there any instances or variations that are safe? Here are some of the things all pregnant women should know about eating cheese while pregnant.
Is Cheese Safe During Pregnancy?
Great question. Cheese can surely be safe to eat during pregnancy. It’s important to keep in mind that you must eat pasteurized cheese while you’re pregnant.
Unpasteurized cheese can cause the creation of bacteria called listeria, which can lead to Listeriosis. Though this infection is rare, it can be harmful to both you and your unborn baby.
Keep in mind that this rule applies to other forms of dairy, such as milk too.
Which Cheeses Are Safe For Pregnant Women?
If you’re looking to find out if a cheese is safe during pregnancy, first you must find out if it’s pasteurized.
According to BabyCenter.com, some of the cheeses which are safe for pregnant women include cream cheese, cottage cheese, American cheese and ricotta cheese.
Hard cheeses, such as cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese are also safe to eat during pregnancy.
In general, these cheese are safe to consume when pregnant.
- American
- Cheddar
- Colby
- Colby Jack
- Cottage cheese
- Cream Cheese
- Gouda
- Monterey Jack
- Mozzarella
- Muenster
- Parmesan
- Peppered Jack
- Ricotta
- Romano
- Swiss
Other cheeses may also fall into this category as well but may not be listed- always check with your doctor.
Which Cheeses Aren’t Safe During Pregnancy?
According to WebMD.com, some of the foods that are not considered safe during pregnancy include Mexican-style cheese, feta, blue cheese, Camembert and Brie. Pregnant women are also generally recommended to avoid deli cheese and deli meat altogether.
However, if you do make the decision to eat it, it’s ideal to warm it up in the microwave prior to eating it to try to kill any bacteria.
In situations where cheese has been sitting in the sun all day, such as at picnics or barbecues, it is ideal to avoid eating cheese or deli meats.
The good news is that pregnant women do not need to give up cheese altogether. You can enjoy certain types of cheese without worrying about it affecting your unborn baby.
In fact, you are actually encouraged to eat cheese because it will provide both of you with calcium and protein.
If you are unsure whether or not you can eat a certain type of cheese, you should always ask your doctor.
Registered dieticians will also know whether or not cheese has been pasteurized or not and know what will be safe for you to eat during pregnancy.
Pregnant mama’s also want to know what herbs are safe during pregnancy and which ones do you need to avoid?
We also get asked if exercise is truly safe during pregnancy and if so, what are good exercises to do while pregnant. And they also want to know if constipation during pregnancy is normal or not. These are all great questions and ones that we were happy to answer on those posts for fellow mamas.
