So pickles and ice cream are okay, but soft cheese is a problem? That doesn’t seem to make a great deal of sense, does it? It’s really all about Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium is found in raw, unpasteurized milk and any cheeses or other dairy products made from it. It can cause a potentially deadly disease called listeriosis.

Listeriosis usually isn’t a big problem in healthy individuals, but pregnancy makes you more vulnerable. This bacteria is about seventeen times more likely to cause an infection in pregnant women than in the normal population. Listeriosis usually only causes mild “flulike” symptoms but the real problem lies in the fact that it can be transferred across the placenta and harm the baby. Listeria during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, premature rupture of membranes, premature birth, and very serious infections in newborns including meningitis.