Experts recommend that women choose types of fish that tend to be low in mercury, such as salmon, and avoid eating large species like shark and swordfish that can harbor higher levels of the toxic metal. Although the FDA recommends that women avoid raw fish because it may contain parasites and bacteria, some experts maintain that pregnant women don’t have to give it up. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women avoid raw shellfish, however. Listeria can also grow in packaged lunch meats and hot dogs, so experts recommend that women avoid those foods — or heat them until they’re steaming. Doctors used to caution women against working out during pregnancy, but now it’s agreed that moderate exercise is an important part of maintaining maternal — and fetal — health. read more

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