Can I eat crab legs while pregnant?

Yes, you can eat crab legs while pregnant, as long as they are thoroughly cooked and consumed in moderation, with a weekly limit of 12 ounces. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), cooked crab is one of the best seafood choices to eat while pregnant, due to its low mercury levels and high nutritional benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

1. How much crab legs can I eat while pregnant?: As long as crab is thoroughly cooked, it is safe to eat 2 to 3 times per week maximum, with a weekly limit of 12 ounces total.
2. Is crab legs high in mercury?: No, crab is not at all high in mercury, in fact, as fish go, it’s very low in mercury, right down there almost at the bottom of the list of high-mercury seafoods.
3. What seafood do you avoid when pregnant?: To avoid harmful bacteria or viruses, don’t eat fish and shellfish that has not been cooked, including oysters, sushi, sashimi, and refrigerated seafood that hasn’t been cooked.
4. Can I eat crab sticks while pregnant?: No, it’s best to avoid eating crab sticks and seafood sticks when you’re pregnant as it’s difficult to determine exactly which fish have been used to make them.
5. True or False: Pregnant women should avoid eating fish and seafood due to mercury concerns: False, pregnant women can and should be enjoying a lot of different kinds of fish and other seafood, as long as they are low in mercury and cooked thoroughly.

Sushi and Seafood FAQs

6. Can pregnant people have California roll?: Yes, sushi rolls that contain fully-cooked fish and vegetarian or vegan rolls are safe for your developing baby, including California rolls, which are made with cooked crab or imitation crab.
7. Can I have a California roll while pregnant?: Yes, California roll is safe for both mom and baby, just make sure that the roll doesn’t include roe, as this may cause illness.
8. What seafood can a pregnant woman eat?: Pregnant women can eat a variety of seafood, including catfish, clams, cod, crab, pollock, salmon, scallops, shrimp, tilapia, trout, and canned tuna.
9. Can I eat calamari while pregnant?: Yes, calamari contains significantly less mercury than in shark, swordfish, tuna and marlin, and can be safely consumed two to three servings per week.

Food and Beverage FAQs

10. Am I allowed mozzarella when pregnant?: Yes, mozzarella is safe to eat during pregnancy, as well as other pasteurized semi-hard and soft cheeses, such as cottage cheese, feta, paneer, ricotta, halloumi, cream cheese, cheese spreads, or goat’s cheese without a white coating on the outside (rind).
11. Can I eat pizza while pregnant?: Yes, pizzas are safe to eat in pregnancy, as long they are cooked thoroughly and are piping hot, but be cautious about pizzas topped with soft, mould-ripened cheeses such as brie and camembert, and soft blue-veined cheeses, such as Danish blue.
12. Can I eat hummus when pregnant?: No, it’s best to avoid eating hummus when pregnant, as raw sesame seeds are a salmonella risk, but sesame seeds that have been heat treated are safe to eat.

Miscarriage and Health FAQs

13. What can cause a miscarriage?: Various factors raise the risk of miscarriage, including age, past miscarriages, long-term conditions, uterine or cervical problems, smoking, alcohol, caffeine and illegal drugs, and weight.
14. What not to do while pregnant that can cause a miscarriage?: Lifestyle choices that do affect your risk of miscarriage include smoking, drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs, not managing health conditions properly, not being a healthy weight, not eating well, and consuming too much caffeine.
15. What are the 2 most common causes of a miscarriage?: The two most common causes of a miscarriage are irregular genes or chromosomes and most miscarriages happen because the unborn baby doesn’t develop properly, with about half to two-thirds of miscarriages in the first trimester linked with extra or missing chromosomes.