You asked and you shall now receive. It’s only fair for us to share all of this stored up knowledge about having a baby and what is going on with your body during those nine (really ten) months. We now will answer, in a very public forum, all of those burning questions about having a baby. Each Monday, we will tackle a commonly-asked-question from the point of view of an expectant parent. Chiming in to give feedback will be an expert (you know someone who does this for a living). Earmark, share and add your own input to today’s question; it’s good karma.

What foods should I avoid during pregnancy?

Ah yes, pregnancy is a wonderful time to splurge on tasty indulgences! For every ying, there is a yang. Pregnancy brings with it some foods that are best reduced or eliminated while we are growing our beautiful babies. Here’s a list of what is often recommended:

• Caffeine Intake – Some studies say that it is best to avoid caffeine altogether as it may relate to miscarriages. If you can’t go without your cup of java, limiting to a cup a day is best.

• Alcohol Intake – Doctors recommend cutting out alcohol while expecting – nine months of cutting it from our diets will give us lots of reason to celebrate after we meet our babies.

• Raw Foods – that includes raw meat (sushi), raw eggs, and raw seafood and undercooked meats.

• Fish with high levels of mercury – here’s a great link from the US EPA on mercury levels in fish

• Deli Meats, Soft Cheeses, and Unpasteurized Milk – these should be avoided due to the risk of listeria, which can cause miscarriage. The soft cheeses that should be avoided are Brie, Gorgonzola, Feta, Roquefort, and other soft cheeses.

Expert: Renee Sullivan

Renee Sullivan, parent coach and Founding Director of Mommybites support groups, works with moms each week to create their own personal parenting plan that is right for them, while making sure that each mom gets the support, resources, and community they need for their parenting journey. Drawing from her experience as an birth coach and educator, she guides moms – new, seasoned and expectant through the never – ending array of decisions that come with having a child. Weekly sessions that are “nurturing, informative, and fun” and her “calm-laid back personality” has made her a “dynamic resource” to the parenting community since 2006. Renee’s positive, warm and enthusiastic personality relaxes and guides new and expectant moms to enjoy the journey and her personal attention to detail allows all parents that work with her to quickly get the resources they need to feel at ease to make informed and educated decisions. Before joining Mommybites, she narrowly escaped the trenches of Corporate America where she was a Senior Project Manager for The New York Times, Morgan Stanley and Pfizer. She lives in New York City and is the mom of one happy kindergartener.