Now that you’re eating for two, knowing what not to eat or drink is extremely important.You’re probably focused on choosing healthy foods that will help you feel better and support your growing baby. But what not to eat and what not to drink during pregnancy is equally important.

While your peanut can benefit from all the healthy nutrients you snack on, a baby can also be affected by disease-causing bacteria that could be hiding in certain foods. So when you’re pregnant, it’s best to exercise caution and avoid any menu item that could potentially make you sick or affect your little one’s growth and development.

Luckily, knowing what’s safe and what’s not is pretty straightforward. So what are the foods and drinks to avoid during pregnancy?

Why avoid certain foods during pregnancy?

Certain foods have a higher risk of harboring pathogenic bacteria. So you’re more likely to get sick or suffer complications like miscarriage or premature labor if you accidentally eat something that’s contaminated. Equally concerning is the fact that bacteria causing food borne illness can cross the placenta. And since your baby ‘s immune system isn’t yet strong enough to fight off germs, he’s at risk of developing a serious infection or even birth defects.

However, not all forbidden foods are forbidden because of bacteria. Alcohol and mercury-rich fish, for example, won’t make you sick, but can have a negative impact on your baby’s development. And others just haven’t been studied enough to know if they’re safe for your growing baby.

Foods to avoid during pregnancy

So what should you avoid these days? Here are the foods and drinks that deserve to be off the menu until your baby is born.

Alcohol

For the next 40 weeks, plan to toast happy events with a mocktail or juice spritzer. Even though you’ve heard that an occasional booze is okay, it pays to be careful when you have a baby on board. Why ? Alcohol enters your baby’s bloodstream at the same concentration as yours and takes twice as long to leave so whatever you drink your baby goes down too.

Had a drink or two shortly before finding out you were pregnant? Try not to worry. This happens to many moms, and it’s nothing to worry about.

Unpasteurized dairy products and juices

If I’m pregnant , can’t I drink milk? No, luckily you don’t have to worry about finding unpasteurized milk at the supermarket. But soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk are another story. They can harbor Listeria and other pathogens.

To stay safe, use hard cheeses like Swiss or Cheddar, or check a cheese’s label to confirm it’s made with pasteurized milk. Want feta, brie, camembert, goat cheese, blue-veined cheeses and queso fresco? First confirm that they are prepared with pasteurized products or heat them until they bubble.