Eating Eggs During Pregnancy: What’s Safe and What’s Not

Eating eggs during pregnancy has the following benefits:
Eggs also contain vitamins, minerals and choline (an essential nutrient that dissolves in water) which helps in the development of the baby's brain. 

(Read more - Diet during the first month of pregnancy)

• Protein is needed for the formation of fetal cells, so protein intake is very important for the development of the baby, consuming eggs in adequate quantity is beneficial for the growing fetus.
• Eggs contain an adequate amount of calories, during pregnancy a woman needs about 200 to 300 more calories than normal in a day, a normal size egg contains 70 calories.
• Regular consumption of eggs keeps the cholesterol level in the body balanced. However, if you have cholesterol problems, do not eat egg yolk.

(Read more -Diet For Anemia In Pregnancy)

Eating eggs during pregnancy can have the following disadvantages:

• Raw or undercooked eggs contain salmonella bacteria which can cause food poisoning.
• Eating eggs can also cause problems like vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and stomach pain.
• Sometimes consumption of eggs can also cause miscarriage or premature delivery.
• In some cases, problems like allergies, skin rashes and blocked nose have also been seen.

(Read more - Foods to eat and avoid during pregnancy)

• Boil an egg for at least five to seven minutes so that it is cooked properly. Eating eggs daily depends on the cholesterol level in the body of a pregnant woman. If the cholesterol level is normal, then three to four eggs can be eaten in a week.
• Instead of eating eggs plain, you can make them tasty by using spices and vegetables. If someone likes fried eggs, fry them till the white part becomes solid.

(Read more - How To Take Care During Pregnancy)

Take the following precautions while eating eggs during pregnancy:

• Do not buy eggs that have been cracked on top as they may contain dust and bacteria.
• Pregnant women who have cholesterol problems should not eat egg yolk.
• Nowadays fake eggs are also available in the market, so buy only organic eggs.
• Do not keep boiled eggs for more than 2 to 3 days.
• Before including any food item in the daily diet, definitely see its advantages and disadvantages.
• Eggs are an easily available source of protein. Include eggs in your diet keeping the above points in mind.

Eating eggs during pregnancy can be beneficial for health, as it is rich in protein, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and other important nutrients, which are necessary for the development of the fetus. Choline is also found in eggs, which helps in the development of the baby's brain and nervous system. However, while eating eggs during pregnancy, care should be taken that the eggs are cooked thoroughly to avoid harmful bacteria like salmonella. Consuming undercooked or raw eggs can increase the risk of food poisoning, which can be harmful for the pregnant woman and the baby. Therefore, eating safely cooked eggs as per the doctor's advice is beneficial in pregnancy.