Do you crave cheese so badly but don’t know if cream cheese is safe during pregnancy and if it will harm your lucky charm? You are not on a lone path. Lots of Pregnant women have been there and a lot more will still toe that path. So, don’t harbour that weird feeling of “I’m alone in this.”
There’s nothing as annoying as craving something without having it due to fear of its effect on the baby. The pain is real! I understand but you must put safety first. You and your baby deserve to be healthy, you know?
What you eat and even how you eat it must be in check for the sake of the baby you are carrying and for your sake as well. Things that may cause complications before and after birth must be eliminated.
When it comes to consuming cream cheese while pregnant, you have to note all the details, and so read this article to the end to get more information about it. But before then, let’s get introduced to what cream cheese is for clarity’s sake before we then answer the question ‘can pregnant women eat cream cheese’ and if cream cheese is safe during pregnancy. Shall we?
What Is Cream Cheese?
Cream cheese is a form of snack that is made of soft unripe cheese together with cream or a combination of milk and cream. It is usually creamy with a very rich taste. The rich taste is believed to be a result of the quantity of milk used in making it.
The fat content of cream cheese is high compared to other cheeses like cottage cheese. The nice sweet and silky smooth texture of this cream cheese is what draws people to it, including you.
Also Read: Can a Pregnant Woman Drink Lemonade?
Is Cream Cheese Safe During Pregnancy? Can You Eat It?
Here comes the part you’ve been waiting for!
Yes, cream cheese is super safe during pregnancy and there’s no risk attached to it. Hold on! That’s not all the information you need to grab.
If you must take cream cheese while carrying your little one, you must ensure that you consume only pasteurized ones. It’s difficult to get unpasteurized cream cheese out there anyways, hence, there’s a probability that you won’t be getting them often except you decide to make use of the DIY recipes all over the internet.
It’s a great try if you do but it isn’t safe for you and your baby. Consuming it will be you inviting Listeria monocytogenes bacterium to take over your system causing listeriosis; a bad condition for you and your baby.
Is Cream Cheese Pasteurized?
Cream cheese can be pasteurized or unpasteurized. The good thing is that most of the cream cheese sold in supermarkets is pasteurized. Hence, you have a lower possibility of consuming unpasteurized cream cheese, but there’s still a need to check the label before purchasing.
Unpasteurized cream cheeses are homemade ones that do not go through the process of pasteurization which makes them unsafe, not just for pregnant women but also for everyone because of the presence of microbes.
Cream Cheese During Pregnancy First Trimester
The first trimester is a delicate period and most women avoid so many foods. Not just food, but other items like body cream and perfumes as well. Hence, if you crave cream cheese, you should take it but apply caution and ensure it is pasteurized. The process of pasteurization gets rid of many microorganisms capable of causing infection, especially Listeria spp. It will also be nice to consult your gynecologist before consumption.
What Cheese Can Pregnant Woman Eat?
Hard cheeses like Cheddar, parmesan, and edam are great for pregnant women. They are free to consume it because of their acidic nature. Soft cheeses aren’t acidic and it allows the growth of bacteria capable of infecting their fetuses. This makes it unsafe for consumption.
Also Read: Candle Lightening During Pregnancy And What You Need to Know
What Happens If You Eat Cream Cheese During Pregnancy?
The answer is nothing, cream cheese is safe during pregnancy. The process of pasteurization of the cream cheese is what makes it safe and healthy for pregnant women to consume it without fear of being harmed. All the bacteria that can pose a threat to a pregnant woman like listeria bacteria were eliminated during pasteurizing. And so, a pregnant woman can eat cream cheese with a relaxed mind.
What Cheese Can Pregnant Ladies Not Eat?
During pregnancy, the cheese that is important to avoid is non-pasteurized cheese. They must be avoided because they did not go through the temperature heating and as such, all the pathogens that can result in listeriosis and other infections are actively present in them.
Cheeses under this category are Brie, Camembert, Feta, Gorgonzola, Danish blue, Ricotta, etc. It is important to avoid the above-listed cheeses during pregnancy because, this listeriosis can affect the baby in the womb and may result in Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and a series of sicknesses when the child is born.
FAQs On Is Cream Cheese Safe During Pregnancy
Is Cream Cheese Always Pasteurized?
Yes, cream cheese is always pasteurized, but to be on the safer side, it is important to check if the cream cheese is pasteurized before eating the cheese.
How Do I Know That Cheese Is Pasteurized?
It is unhealthy to eat things without checking the packaging for the content and expiration date. To be sure that the cheese you bought is pasteurized, it is important to double-check the packaging of the cheese to ensure that it was written pasteurized on it. If not, do not buy or eat it as a pregnant woman.
Is Cream Cheese Healthy to Eat During Pregnancy?
Pasteurized cream cheese is healthy for pregnant women. It contains nutrients like protein, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, folate, vitamin K, and so on. It isn’t unsafe to consume as a pregnant woman but you must apply caution. There’s also a need to ask for your gynecologist’s opinion on the matter. He or she knows your medical history and can tell if your body system can accommodate it or not.
What Are the Rules Of Cheese While Pregnant?
The rules of cheese while pregnant are simple. Avoid any cheese that contains unpasteurized milk. Cheese like this can cause food poisoning. Also, look out for cheese that has pasteurized evidently on the packaging as it is the only cheese that is safe while pregnant.
How Much Cheese Can a Pregnant Woman Eat?
There is no particular quantity of cheese approved for pregnant women to eat during pregnancy. It is important to take it in moderation and avoid abusing the cheese.
Pregnancy And Listeria, What Is the Connection?
Pregnancy and listeria share no connection, but once cheese enters the picture a connection will form between them. This is a result of most cheese containing listeria. Listeria is the bacteria responsible for causing listeriosis. Listeriosis is believed to be a type of food poisoning that pregnant women suffer during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, a lot of changes occur in the body of a pregnant woman and this leads to weakness of the hormone making the woman susceptible to microbial infection such as listeriosis if they feed on unpasteurized cheese. Once contracted, Listeriosis can lead to complications in pregnancy like Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and so on.
Also Read: What to Know About Pasteurized Juice During Pregnancy
Is It Normal for Pregnant Women to Crave Cheese?
When it comes to craving food during pregnancy, studies have shown that one of the things that pregnant women crave is dairy products. Craving dairy products like milk is common among pregnant women. Since pregnant women crave dairy products, it means that a pregnant woman may crave cream cheese. This is because cheese is under dairy products. The only problem with craving cheese is craving for non-pasteurized cheese instead of pasteurized cheese.
Another reason craving for dairy products during pregnancy is not wrong is that whether it is milk, yogurt, or cheese (pasteurized), they all contain calcium, vitamins, and minerals that can be very helpful for both mother and child to develop and maintain strong and healthy bones and teeth.
Which Cheese Are Unpasteurized?
Unpasteurized cheeses are those cheese that is made of raw milk. They did not undergo the process of heating to eliminate the bacteria in the process called pasteurization. This is why they are harmful and not safe to eat during pregnancy, because of the risk of listeriosis and food poisoning which it may cause to a pregnant woman.
Can Pregnant Women Eat Mayonnaise Cheese?
Mayonnaise is usually made with raw eggs. The only fear attached to raw eggs is the possibility of bacteria being present in them. But if the mayonnaise you want to eat during pregnancy is pasteurized, then there is no need to worry for the bacteria have been taken care of via pasteurization.
In conclusion, cream cheese is one of the pasteurized cheeses that are good for consumption during pregnancy. This is because there has not been any trace of harmful content found in a cream cheese that may be harmful to both mother and child.
Also, cream cheese is not among the family of soft cheese, instead, it is a spread cheese produced with pasteurized dairy. As a result of that, it is very well safe for people with pregnancy to go on and consume it.
Again, there is no quantity of cream cheese approved for pregnant women to take. Pregnant women should take cream cheese in moderation and avoid the abuse of this cheese.
