Pregnancy Safe Foods Checklist
A plain guide to everyday Nigerian foods that are generally safe and nourishing in pregnancy, with a clear note on what to limit or avoid. Tick what you are eating, and print it for your fridge. It saves on this device.
Limit or avoid
- Raw or undercooked meat, fish, and eggs. Cook everything through.
- Unpasteurised (raw) milk and soft cheeses made from it.
- Too much liver and liver products (high in vitamin A).
- High-mercury fish. Keep fish varied and moderate.
- Alcohol. It is safest to avoid it completely.
- Too much caffeine. Keep it to about one or two cups a day.
- Herbal mixtures and agbo. Do not take these without asking your doctor.
When to see a doctor now
Food worries are rarely urgent, but some things always are. Any bleeding, or a reduction or change in your baby's movements, means you contact your doctor or maternity unit straight away, every time. Also go in for severe pain, a high fever, or severe vomiting that stops you keeping food or water down.
Go further
More than a tool: The First Pregnancy Plan
The calm, week-by-week guide to your whole pregnancy: what is happening, what is normal, safe eating, your scans and tests, and getting ready for birth, plus a community of mums at your stage. Start when you are ready.
Explore The First Pregnancy Plan →