Can i eat eggs during pregnancy?

Fried egg, scrambled egg, breakfast egg, Easter egg – eggs are versatile and also very nutritious. However, if you are pregnant, caution is advised, because salmonella can hide in the egg. But does that necessarily mean that you have to give up eggs completely during pregnancy?? We reveal the answer here – and have all the important info on the subject.

Contents of this article

1. The most important facts at a glance

Eggs are in pregnancy allowed when they are fully cooked Are.
They are rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins, and are therefore a valuable source of nutrients for pregnant women
Raw and soft-boiled eggs are taboo As well as foods that contain raw eggs, such as homemade mayonnaise or tiramisu.
Raw eggs can contain salmonella, which in the worst case can lead to serious infections and endanger the baby.
You should also make sure, fresh organic eggs to buy, she keep them refrigerated and use up quickly.

2. Are eggs allowed during pregnancy?

Yes! As long as the eggs are fully cooked or hard-boiled, you can eat them without hesitation even during pregnancy.

However, you should keep your hands off raw and semi-raw eggs, because they can be dangerous for pregnant women. In fact, just like other animal products such as milk, meat or fish, they can contain pathogens. In the case of eggs, these are mainly salmonellae, which are not killed until the egg is cooked for several minutes at a minimum of 70 °C.

3. Are eggs healthy during pregnancy?

In principle already. Eggs contain many different nutrients that are good for you and your baby. They contain, among other things:

Proteins
Vitamins A, D, E, K
Iron
Calcium
Iodine

Particularly valuable are certain proteins that play a role in the healthy development of the body as cell building blocks.

4. How many eggs can I eat as a pregnant woman?

Although eggs are healthy, you should not overdo it during pregnancy. Experts recommend pregnant women to, a maximum of 3 eggs per week to eat.

5. How long do I have to boil or fry eggs during pregnancy??

When you cook eggs or prepare something with eggs, it is important that the egg is several minutes at a temperature of at least 70 °C heated Is cooked until it is fully cooked. By the way, this applies to the egg white as well as the yolk, as the pathogens can be found throughout the egg.

For the preparation of various egg dishes this means:

Breakfast egg: hard boil (at least 7 minutes, larger eggs longer)
Fried egg: fry on both sides for 3 minutes until the yolk is firm
Scrambled eggs: fry until everything is cooked through
Dough with egg: bake until the dough is completely cooked through (check with a wooden stick that the dough no longer sticks)

Please note, however, that these are only guidelines. You should always check whether the egg is fully cooked.

Caution: Process Egg in cake batter, then do not eat anything from the raw dough – not even for tasting! If you kneaded the dough with your hands, wash your hands thoroughly. If the dough is completely baked, you can eat it of course.

6. Why is raw egg dangerous for pregnant women?

Raw eggs can cause Salmonella contain. In some cases, these can cause an infection, which is manifested by the following symptoms:

Nausea
Fever
headache
Gastrointestinal complaints
Diarrhea
Vomiting

The course and severity of this infection can be quite different. For most adults, a salmonella infection is unpleasant and stressful, but it is only really dangerous in very rare cases.

Pregnant women should still be careful. While the infection rarely becomes threatening and will not be passed on to the baby. However, the symptoms such as severe vomiting or diarrhea can lead to the dehydration which in turn can cause Under nourishment of the baby may result in. In the worst case this can lead to Early or miscarriage lead.

7. What else should I look for when eating eggs during pregnancy??

During pregnancy, as mentioned above, make sure that you eat only completely cooked eggs. But there are some other things you can do to minimize the risk of infection:

It is best to choose Organic eggs. In most cases they do not only have better quality, but also contain no canthaxanthin. The red dye is sometimes used to give the yolk a stronger color. Canthaxanthin in large quantities can damage the retina.
Especially important: Make sure that you Buy eggs that are as fresh as possible. The fresher the eggs, the lower the risk of infection. Older eggs are also edible, but should be heated especially thoroughly.You can find out when the egg was laid by subtracting 28 days from the best-before date.
Buy and use do not use heavily soiled or damaged eggs.
Eggs should always be store in the refrigerator, so that they stay fresh longer.
Salmonella can also be found on the egg shell. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water if you have touched eggs. Do not let them come into contact with other foods.
Dishes containing eggs should be stored in a cool place and used up as quickly as possible become. Heat egg dishes for several minutes at at least 70 °C to kill possible germs and bacteria.

How you can tell that the eggs are fresh

How fresh the egg is, you can find out by a simple water test. To do this, simply place the egg in a large container filled with water. Over time, an air bubble forms in the egg, causing it to float or rise. Fresh eggs sink to the bottom immediately, as they do not yet contain air. If the egg is older, it will straighten up in the water and float. Very old eggs even rise to the top.

Beware of foods containing raw egg

Eggs are very versatile and can be in foods you might not expect them to be in. But even here you should make sure that you do not accidentally eat raw eggs.

With products from the supermarket this is usually not so problematic, because normally pasteurized eggs are used, which are also safe for pregnant women. So you do not have to worry about that.

However, it is different with homemade foods. Raw egg, for example, can hide in the following homemade products:

By the way, restaurants, cafes, buffets and fresh food counters also occasionally offer "homemade" dishes. As a precaution, you should also avoid these – or at least make absolutely sure that no raw eggs have been processed.

8. I’m pregnant and ate raw egg – now what??

If you have accidentally eaten a raw egg, do not panic! Not every egg is contaminated with salmonella, and not all infections are automatically dangerous. If you experience symptoms such as nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, fever, or headache soon after eating, talk to your doctor right away. It can decide whether you should take antibiotics or risk dehydration. If you need infusions, he will probably refer you to the hospital.

If you do not notice any symptoms but are still unsure, it is best to also contact your doctor. He can examine you and in most cases reassure you.

9. Why pregnant women shouldn’t blow out Easter eggs?

Since salmonella can be found not only inside the egg, but also on the shell, you should not bring the egg close to your mouth as a pregnant woman. Instead, ask someone else to blow out the egg for you. Or at least use a straw Also remember to wash your hands thoroughly with soap after handling eggs. Otherwise, of course, nothing stands in the way of Easter fun!

So you see, if you pay attention to some things, you can enjoy eggs without hesitation even during pregnancy. We wish good appetite!

And if you want to exchange views on this with other moms, come to our closed Facebook group: "We are Real Mamas".

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