“The most obvious promise of pregnancy is the promise of a new life.” Pregnancy is one of the biggest miracles of life. Having a baby can bring a fresh perspective to your life. But, what if the blessing of pregnancy turns into suffering from a disease? Food poising can be an addition to the struggles in the journey of a 9-month-long pregnancy.
What is food poisoning?
Food poisoning is an illness caused by the intake of bacteria or other toxins in food, usually with vomiting and diarrhea.
What are the symptoms of food poisoning in pregnancy:
Food poisoning can cause anxiety. Also, because you are worried about the safety of your child. Food poisoning during pregnancy can be dangerous and it is better to let your doctor know directly. Pregnant mothers are more prone to attracting any disease due to the alteration in their metabolism and circulation. Anything that you eat or drink has the goal to reach the baby for their nurtured growth. This is the reason pregnant women are advised to be 10 folds more careful than any other healthy being. Some of the very common symptoms of food poisoning include:
1. Dehydration (Excessive thirst, dry lips, little to no urine, and dizziness)
2. Fever (higher than 101 F)
3. Abdominal pain or discomfort
4. Bloody stool (black or tarry)
5. Headache
6. Diarrhea or vomiting that is unstoppable
7. Trouble having balance, confused about your state
8. Muscle aches
What happens if I get food poisoning while pregnant?
Some sort of food poisoning can be really dangerous to your unborn baby. The list below types of bacteria, health issues caused by the bacteria to the baby and mother, and lastly, where they are found:
1: The first of bacteria listeriosis can be really harmful to you and your baby as at the beginning it has no symptoms at all. Nevertheless, you can pass this on to the baby and this branch of food poisoning can hurt the baby. Causing serious health issues like:
- Seizures
- Blindness
- Paralysis
- Issues with the brain, heart, and kidney
Listeriosis can be present in soil, and water. Food that can have listeriosis are:
Ø Unpasteurized milk and foods made out of it
Ø Unwashed foods
Ø Refrigerated salads and foods
Ø Soft cheese
Ø Deli meats
In worst cases it can cause:
- Low birth weight: weighing less than 5pounds, 8ounces
- Stillbirth: This means that the baby dies after 20 weeks of pregnancy
- Preterm labor: The labor and the birth happen too early, and babies have problems health problems and other issues later in life
- Miscarriages: baby dies in the womb after 20 weeks
2: The second type Salmonellosis can also pass to your baby and can cause complications like:
1. Dehydration
2. Meningitis
3. Bacteremia
4. Reiter’s syndrome also known as Reactive arthritis
You can get Salmonellosis by:
Ø Consuming food contaminated with salmonella. Such food can smell and look normal
Ø Touching an infected animal, it can be in the soil, poop, water, or fish tanks. Animals most likely to carry salmonellosis are reptiles
Ø Eating raw or uncooked poultry items
3: The third type Campylobacter can also cause miscarriage if conceived in the early stages. This is found in Food animals like poultry and especially in shellfish. It has also been spotted in lakes, rivers, streams, and reservoirs.
Fourth type E-coli
Fifth type Shigella
Sixth type Botulism
Seventh-type Enteric viruses
Ways to protect yourself and your baby during pregnancy from food poisoning?
Avoid eating fresh sprouts they are likely to carry E-coli that may have food poisoning. Eating half-cooked or raw meals
Handling food with safety Example washing the cutting board, knives, and dishes. Washing meat, fish, and beef properly before cooking.
Washing your hands properly with soap, hand wash, or sanitizers after touching animals or other material likely to have such bacteria. After leaving the bathroom and before handling food.
Best way to treat food poisoning during pregnancy:
Food poisoning leads to dehydration. It is better to keep water and juices beside you and drink sports drinks with electrolytes in it keep on sipping them frequently. Your doctor might keep you on Antibiotics to keep you and your baby safe.
Home remedies to treat food poisoning:
1. Apple cider vinegar as it is alkaline, the alkaline effect reduces the acidity in your stomach
2. Ginger also helps in getting rid of food poisoning as it has anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger soothes your stomach lining (boil a cup of water and add grated ginger to it)
3. Yoghurt has anti-bacterial properties and fenugreek has a high content of soluble fiber which add bulkiness to the stool and helps move food along. Fenugreek has lubricating properties too making it easy for the stomach to function (eat one teaspoon of fenugreek it is advised to swallow it and not chew it)
4. Lemon has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, lemon targets the bacteria causing food poisoning (Mix one teaspoon of lemon with sugar diluting it with lukewarm water)
5. Garlic is known for its anti-pyretic and cardiac properties it relieves symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain(swallow one clove of garlic directly with water)
6. Having cold milk will soothe your stomach lining hence canceling the acidic reactions in your stomach (add ice to a glass of milk and drink it)
7. Cumin seeds help increase the activity of enzyme present in your body, Moreover speeding up digestion (boil cumin seeds in a cup of water and add freshly extracted coriander juice use 2-3 times a day)
8. Consume anything that has Peppermint. Peppermint has anti-spasmodic properties thus relaxing the digestive tract (stake a handful of peppermint leaves strain in boiling water use 2-3ntimes a day)
9. Eat bananas because they are light and easy to digest. Bananas are rich in potassium which help regulate fluid balance. Bananas are the quickest remedy to treat food poisoning (consuming one or two ripe bananas or having a glass of banana milkshake)
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