L is for Listeria

I am so excited to finally be back to blogging in my “ABCs of Pregnancy” blog series!

Listeriosis is a very serious infection when you are pregnant.  The bacteria Listeria monocytogenes causes Listeriosis and is why you commonly hear people refer to Listeria when they are discussing Listeriosis.  Listeria is found in some animals, water, and soil which is why vegetables can be contaminated.  The infection is caused by eating contaminated food and typically affects those with a weakened immune system including older adults, newborns, and pregnant women. 

While Listeria can infect healthy people without a weakened immune system, it is not a serious disease for them—they will simply get sick.  The reason doctors take Listeria so seriously in pregnant women is that Listeriosis can be deadly for your baby.  Listeria is not killed by refrigeration or freezing; only heat can kill Listeria.  Foods need to be heated to at least 165°F to kill the bacteria.  This is why you should not eat raw sprouts or cold cut meats when you are pregnant.

Foods that may contain Listeria and should be avoided when pregnant are:

Raw Sprouts

Cantaloupes

Raw Milk

Soft (unpasteurized) Cheese

Cold Meats & Hot Dogs

Raw & Smoked Seafoods

Pâtés & Meat Spreads

There are steps you can take to stop or slow the spread of Listeria: Make sure you wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them—peeling hard vegetables may be a good idea if you want to be extra cautious.  Keep your refrigerator at 40°F or lower.  Clean your refrigerator frequently.  Heat and/or reheat all risky foods prior to eating them.  Thaw food in the refrigerator, microwave, or cold water—not on the counter.  Do not eat meats or seafood raw or rare; have all meat and seafood cooked until at least medium.

The symptoms of an infection include fever, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle aches.  If the infection spreads further, you may experience headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and even convulsions.  When pregnant, you may only show mild symptoms while the baby takes the brunt of the infection which can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, uterine infection, or an infection immediately after birth.  Symptoms of an infection in a newborn include fever, vomiting, irritability, and being uninterested in food.

Thankfully, even if you are infected with Listeria during your pregnancy, your baby might not have any complications, getting treatment early can prevent your baby from contracting the disease.  Treatment for an infection during pregnancy involves large doses of antibiotics.  Sometimes ultrasounds are able to determine if your unborn baby was affected, and a blood test after birth can confirm if your baby is infected or not. 

Healthcare professionals are unsure if Listeria can be passed through breast milk, if you are infected with Listeria while you are breastfeeding you should talk to your doctor.  If you have any expressed milk from before the infection it may be a good idea to use that milk until you can speak with your doctor.

Were you infected with Listeria while you were pregnant?

Next I will be blogging on the letter M… M is for Meal Prep.