Eli's Mum replied: "During my first pregnancy and now during my second pregnancy, I avoided soft cheeses, pre-prepared salads etc. I only drink one coffee per day (my only source of caffeine) and avoid alcohol. Other than that my diet is the same. When I'm not pregnant I have a healthy diet. I eat mainly organic and very little processed food. I'm a vegetarian so I don't have to worry about the mercury in fish. Unlike some mothers who have answered, I believe avoiding foods that increase the risk of contracting listeria (such as soft cheeses) and avoiding alcohol are a small sacrifice to make for the health of my unborn child. "Listeriosis is an infection in humans caused by Listeria bacteria. These bacteria are widespread in nature. They are found in soil, dust, water, unwashed raw fruit and vegetables, fish, undercooked poultry, unpasteurised milk or dairy foods, soft cheeses, pate, prepared meats such as hot dogs and deli meats, and the faeces (poo) of domestic and wild animals. Important Note: Being infected with listeria during pregnancy increases the risks of miscarriage, birth defects and illness in a baby. This is uncommon, but if you have a flu-like illness during pregnancy, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. The information that follows should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your health care provider. Pregnant women. Even though listeriosis may not cause you to feel unwell at all, or only mildly unwell, there can be a serious risk to your unborn baby. If you get listeria when you are pregnant there is a risk that your unborn baby will be infected. This can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, or make your newborn baby very ill. Avoiding high risk foods during pregnancy will make the risk to your baby much less. Listeriosis is an infection caused Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Listeria infections have only been recognised as a serious health problem over the last few years. The bacterium is widespread so it is almost impossible to avoid it altogether. It can grow in temperatures as low as 0.5 degrees C, but is easily destroyed by cooking." In Australia, the guidelines stipulate that pregnant women should not consume any alcohol. There are valid reasons for this. ""Generally, the adverse effects of light drinking during pregnancy are subtle and may go undetected in children," said Feng Zhou, Ph.D., president of the FASD Study Group and a professor of anatomy, cell biology and neurobiology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. "Other alcohol research studies of moderate drinking during pregnancy have shown an adverse impact on multiple aspects of development through adolescence and young adulthood even when other important environmental factors are taken into account. The consensus of public health providers and alcohol researchers is that even light drinking can interfere with biological processes critical in the development of the fetal brain, said Dr. Zhou and other Study Group officers, Cynthia J.M. Kane, Ph.D., vice president and professor of neurobiology and developmental sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Susan Smith, Ph.D., secretary and treasurer, and professor of nutritional science at the University of Wisconsin- Madison." ""When you drink alcohol, it enters your bloodstream and can reach your developing fetus by crossing the placenta. Because a fetus metabolizes alcohol more slowly than an adult does, your developing baby's blood alcohol concentrations are higher than those in your body. The presence of alcohol can impair optimal nutrition for your baby's developing tissues and organs and can damage brain cells." "Consider giving up alcohol during your childbearing years if you're sexually active and you're having unprotected sex. Nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned."" "Maternal alcohol consumption even at low levels was adversely related to child behavior; a dose-response relationship was also identified. The effect was observed at average levels of exposure of as low as 1 drink per week. Although effects on mean scores for Externalizing and Aggressive behaviors were observed at low levels of prenatal alcohol exposure, effects on Delinquent behavior and Total Problem Scores were observed at moderate/heavy levels of exposure. Children with any prenatal alcohol exposure were 3.2 times as likely to have Delinquent behavior scores in the clinical range compared with nonexposed children. The relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure and adverse childhood behavior outcome persisted after controlling for other factors associated with adverse behavioral outcomes. Clinicians are often asked by pregnant women if small amounts of alcohol intake are acceptable during pregnancy. These data suggest that no alcohol during remains the best medical advice.""