Eggs during pregnancy
Focusing on a nutrient rich well-balanced diet is important for a healthy life. But when you are pregnant ensuring that you have a well-balanced diet is compulsory for the healthy future of both you and your child. Intake of some food items ensures that you get several key nutrients that are absolutely necessary during pregnancy. One of such food item is – egg. Eggs are counted as a super food because of its nutritional benefits. During pregnancy intake of eggs can assure vitamin A, vitamin D, zinc, important trace elements such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, iron, sodium and proteins which are must during pregnancy.

What Are The Benefits Of Eating Eggs During Pregnancy?

  • Eggs are a protein rich food. As every cell of the developing fetus is made up of protein, including egg in the diet can influence the development of the baby
  • Choline and omega three fatty acid found in eggs are important for the development of the brain of the unborn baby

Is It Perfectly Safe To Eat Eggs During Pregnancy?

Safety of the intake of the eggs depends upon several factors as the eggs are more often found to be infected by salmonella bacteria and during pregnancy the degree of immunity of your body won’t be as high as when you are normal. For some women during pregnancy, the digestive system becomes weak and is hence more prone to allergic conditions.
When the eggs are properly cooked, for example, when the eggs are boiled till the yolk and white are solid, the bacteria will get destroyed. Otherwise, salmonella poisoning is likely to occur.

How Does Salmonella Poisoning Harm My Pregnancy?

Salmonella poisoning doesn’t harm your baby directly, but it can increase your discomfort level as the poisoning leads to:

  • High temperature & chills
  • Diarrhea & vomiting
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Headache
  • Nausea

If you have high cholesterol level, consult your doctor before including eggs in your diet. Also, you may look out for eggs that are produced by hens who have been vaccinated against salmonella.

How Can I Ensure That I Pick Up The Best Eggs During Pregnancy?

Some food items, even though, are loaded with nutrients and highly beneficial health wise can cause complication especially during pregnancy if not carefully chosen and cooked.
While picking up eggs from a store during pregnancy you should:

  • Check the sell-by date or best-before date on the carton before buying eggs
  • Never buy eggs with a cracked shell as the bacteria or dirt can enter the egg
  • Certified organic eggs should be preferred during pregnancy as the hen is not pumped with hormones or antibiotics
  • Watch if it passes the freshness test:
    • Put the eggs in a bowl of water. If it floats in water the eggs are not fresh. It either will not confirm that the egg is rotten. Never boil and eat this egg. Instead, crack open the egg and look for other signs like smell and texture to confirm the egg is edible. If the egg lay on the bottom of the bowl on its side, the egg is fresh
    • Hold the egg near your ear and shake it. If you hear a splattering sound, indicates the egg is old. Again you can split open to check for other indications to confirm. A fresh egg will not make much sound while shaking
  • Never use an egg which is refrigerated and then kept at room temperature for more than two hours. This is because a cool egg when keep in the warm atmosphere will perspire. Bacteria can easily grow on the outer shell which can pass into the egg through the porous shell and spoil the egg

Boiled eggs

How Can I Ensure That Eggs Are Properly Cooked?

Remember these points when you consume egg during pregnancy:

  • Never use foul-smelling eggs
  • Make sure the egg white is opaque and gel-like and not watery
  • Boiled and cooked eggs should be consumed with in two hours
  • Make sure the egg is thoroughly cooked
  • Make sure both the egg white and yolk become solid. Medium sized egg should be boiled for around seven minutes
  • When you prefer fried eggs then fry both sides
  • White part should completely set and opaque and the yolk should become firm while you poach the egg. It will take around 5 minutes of poaching
  • Avoid eating products like mousse, mayonnaise etc. because raw eggs are one of their ingredient and its quality can’t be guaranteed

How Should Eggs Be Stored?

When storing eggs you should:

  • Keep the eggs in separate trays inside the refrigerator
  • Keep the eggs in the carton in which it is bought and store in the main body of refrigerator rather than on the refrigerator door to maintain the consistent temperature

When you follow all the above safety measures then it is advisable to take three to four eggs per week during your pregnancy period.