Can You Eat Seafood While Pregnant?

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Timoti’s Guide to Safe Seafood While Pregnant

If you’re pregnant and a seafood lover, you’re probably wondering if it is safe to eat while you’re expecting. After all, pregnancy is a long journey and you want to keep both your baby and yourself safe. The short answer is yes, but that does not necessarily mean you have to put a halt on your pescetarian diet.

You might find yourself searching the web for what foods are safe and not, but you may come across contradicting information and even misconceptions about pregnancy nutrition. One of the food myths is that fish is commonly mischaracterized as unsafe.

This leads to many women avoiding seafood altogether, but some fish is a critical part of a pregnancy diet for the development of the child.

Today, we are going to talk about the importance of eating fish while pregnant, and break the myth tied to seafood.

Safe and Unsafe Seafood While Pregnant

First and foremost, it is important to understand the types of seafood that you should consume while carrying a child. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against eating any raw fish and shellfish, such as sushi and raw oysters. This is because raw seafood has a higher risk of contamination than cooked seafood.

The FDA also recommends pregnant women avoid eating fish that are high in mercury. Some of the choices to refrain from eating include swordfish, shark, and marlin.

Instead, focus on the varieties of seafood that are known to be low in mercury, such as shrimp, salmon, and tilapia. Doing so will lower the risk of exposing your child to too much mercury, which could harm its brain and nervous system development.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans also recommends that in total pregnant women consume about 8-12 ounces of seafood per week, so you do not and should not cut seafood out altogether. For further questions or concerns you may have about your diet while pregnant, you should always consult your doctor first and follow their advice.

Benefits of Eating Seafood While Pregnant

Seafood itself is known for various health benefits. For example, some fish—like salmon—are known for being rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. They can lower blood pressure and help reduce the buildup of plaque that could lead to heart disease and strokes.

For pregnant women, according to the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Omega-3s provide different benefits on both the mother and the child. Taking in enough of them can reduce the risk of your child having asthma and other allergies. They can also lower the chance of premature birth and postpartum depression. One of the important Omega-3s is docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which helps promote your baby’s brain and eye development.

Safe Seafood is on the Timoti’s Menu

To ensure that you are eating safe seafood for yourself and your child, here is a quick breakdown of some of the menu items that are okay and not okay to eat at Timoti’s if you are pregnant.

Shrimp

Our shrimp baskets are fully cooked. They are safe to eat while pregnant, but we suggest asking for them grilled, which is the healthiest option.

Lobster Rolls

Lobster is safe to consume while pregnant when it is fully cooked. Our lobster rolls use cooked lobster meat prepared in a salad that is served on New England-style rolls. 

Crab Burgers

Similarly to most seafood, crab is safe to eat as long as it is fully cooked and not served raw. Try a Crab Burger that will fill you up and satisfy your seafood hunger.

Salmon

Salmon is another of the FDA’s best choices of seafood to eat while pregnant. The options from this list are safe to eat between 2 and 3 servings per week. You can add salmon to your salad to ensure you’re getting your intake of vegetables on healthy seafood.

Eat Healthy at Timoti’s

Are you pregnant and craving delicious seafood right about now? Take a trip to either Timoti’s Seafood Shak locations—Fernandina or Nocatee—for some delicious and safe seafood.