FOOD POISONING During pregnancy women should take extra care of their diet and avoid eating junk food and anything outside since there is a lot of risk of food poisoning associated with it. Food poisoning can be particularly harmful when contracted during pregnancy as it also affects the unborn child in the womb. The symptoms of food poisoning may vary in women but the risk associated with it is so dangerous that it is always better to take precautions. Pregnant women may have relatively mild symptoms (fever and aches) and make a quick recovery, or they may transfer the infection to their unborn child, who may then be stillborn or born very ill. In order to protect the fetus, pregnant women should take special care to avoid foods that may be contaminated. Food poisoning often starts with symptoms like fever and chills, and may be accompanied by nausea or diarrhea, abdominal cramps, or dehydration. Severe cases can include an unusually painful headache and stiff neck. It is advisable to contact your doctor if you develop any of these symptoms. If a pregnant woman is diagnosed and treated promptly with antibiotics, miscarriage and stillbirth can often be prevented. Follow these guidelines to prevent food poisoning: Don't buy any food where the expiry date is over or any food that has damaged packaging. Make sure your hands are clean before handling food. Wash raw vegetables. Marinate and thaw food in the fridge, not on the counter. Cook meats and seafood thoroughly. And make sure food is served as soon as possible after preparation Avoid unpasteurized milk and foods made from it. It is better to avoid eating dairy products since there are high chances of contamination in dairy products. Keep meat and dairy products refrigerated at or below 40 degrees. Avoid eating raw eggs or any food that has raw eggs in it.