Eating Oysters During Pregnancy – Is it Safe?

The world of pregnancy cravings is wide and varied. There are thousands and thousands of combinations of foods that women have found themselves wanting while pregnant. Oysters are a reoccurring visitor to that list. This is understandable, because oysters are not only delicious, they are also pretty nutrient dense. But oysters can be a controversial food to eat even when you are not pregnant, which poses the question, are oysters safe to eat while pregnant?

The answer is a shocking yes…and no; it’s complicated. Basically, oysters can be safe to eat while pregnant, it just depends how you prepare them. A general rule of thumb is that any and all raw meat products should be avoided while pregnant. Since oysters are commonly served raw, they are potentially dangerous for expecting mothers. Raw meat like, sushi and certain raw beef dishes popular in Polynesia, contains bacteria that can cause some pretty substantial health issues:

1. Risk of Developing Gastrointestinal Issues
   Raw oysters have a pretty high chance of containing bacteria. Ingesting that bacteria can result in a woman’s digestive tract becoming infected. This bacteria can also be harmful to the fetus and lead to a miscarriage or brain damage.
2. Ineffective Immunity During Pregnancy
   When a woman is pregnant, her immune system is actually weaker than normal. This is to stop the mother’s immune system from interfering with the child’s development. While this can be helpful for the developing child, it leaves the mother vulnerable to bacteria induced illnesses like food poisoning.

That being said, if you choose to eat grilled or baked oysters (steamed oysters are not much different than raw oysters as far as removing bacteria) you can gain the benefits of their nutrients without having to risk hurting yourself.