Can You Eat Eggs In Pregnancy? Safest Options And Benefits

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Parenthood

Can You Eat Eggs During Pregnancy?

Medically reviewed by Jillian Kubala, MS, RD — Written by Valencia Higuera on July 28, 2020

Safety
Preparation
Cooking tips
Benefits
Takeaway

Whether they’re poached, scrambled, fried, or eaten sunny-side up, eggs are a common breakfast staple. But though eggs are a healthy addition to your morning plate most of the time, you might question whether they’re safe to eat during pregnancy.

Fortunately, when prepared in certain ways, you can eat eggs. Here’s what you need to know about eggs in pregnancy, including how you can safely eat them.

Are eggs safe to eat during pregnancy?

When you’re expecting, your doctor will likely run down a list of foods to avoid during pregnancy. The list might include unpasteurized foods, as well as certain raw or undercooked items — no more ordering that steak rare.

Both pasteurizing and cooking help thoroughly eliminate potentially harmful bacteria in food, like listeria. Normally, our bodies are pretty good at handling these bacteria without any ill effects. But pregnant people have a weaker immune system — meaning harm could come to you or your baby from consuming unpasteurized or undercooked food.

So the short answer is yes, eggs are safe to eat during pregnancy — as long as they’re pasteurized and cooked. The key is safe preparation.

How to properly prepare eggs during pregnancy

You’re probably aware that eggs carry the risk of foodborne illnesses like salmonella, which can be dangerous to you and your baby. And maybe you’ve been told that you shouldn’t eat mayonnaise because it contains eggs.

There’s some truth in these statements, but they don’t tell the complete story.

Eggs are a highly versatile food. As far as preparation, some cooking methods involve fully cooking the egg. Other methods, though, involve only partially cooking the egg, in which case a portion of the egg remains raw. If you’re expecting, you need to avoid raw egg.

Avoid eggs that are prepared with a runny yolk:

over easy
sunny-side up
poached
soft boiled

You should also avoid foods that contain undercooked eggs. This means no homemade:

raw cookie dough
eggnog
salad dressings that contain egg
ice cream
mayonnaise

But don’t worry — these items are generally fine if bought at a store. (Yes, even chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream!) Always check the label, but store-bought items generally contain pasteurized eggs and are fine.

If you get food poisoning from an undercooked egg, the illness can pass to your baby during pregnancy and lead to an infection of the amniotic fluid. It’s always best to err on the side of caution.

How to select and cook eggs during pregnancy

You can protect yourself and your baby by cooking eggs thoroughly before eating.

Signs of a thoroughly cooked egg include a firm yolk and firm egg white — no runny center. Pay close attention when scrambling your eggs. Wait until eggs are no longer slimy or moist before consuming.

Also, thoroughly check a hard-boiled egg before eating. Cut it in half to ensure a cooked center. It usually takes 10 to 12 minutes to fully boil an egg.

If you’re frying eggs, cook them for about 2 to 3 minutes on both sides before eating. When buying eggs from the supermarket, only purchase eggs that are labeled “pasteurized.” This applies whether you’re purchasing eggs in a carton or powdered egg whites for baking.

Benefits of eggs in pregnancy

Knowing how to properly cook eggs is important because eggs provide many health benefits during pregnancy.

Eggs are mostly fat and protein and contain very little carbohydrates. Eating foods high in protein and healthy fats can help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level, which can reduce the risk of gestational diabetes.

Certain types of eggs are a good source of vitamin D. For example, research has shown that eggs from pastured, free-range, and organically raised hens contain more vitamin D than conventional eggs.

Keep in mind that the vitamin D content of eggs is concentrated in the yolk, so eating the whole egg rather than just the egg white is important.

The importance of vitamin D

Although vitamin D is found in small amounts in some foods, it’s essential for pregnant or breastfeeding women to get their vitamin D levels checked and supplement with vitamin D3 accordingly.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women need more vitamin D than nonpregnant women. This nutrient is essential for many aspects of health, including:

maintaining healthy, strong bones
supporting immune function
promoting fetal development

In addition, eggs are packed with nutrients that are essential to a healthy pregnancy including B12, choline, and protein. They’re filling and contribute to a balanced diet, which helps with weight management during pregnancy.

Eggs are also a good source of iron. When you’re pregnant, your body requires more iron than usual. This helps maintain your energy level.

Pregnant women have increased protein needs. In fact, some studies estimate protein requirements for pregnant women to be 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight per day during early pregnancy and 1.52 grams per kilogram of body weight per day during late pregnancy.

Since protein needs depend on many factors — including body size and activity levels — it’s a good idea to speak with your healthcare provider for advice on increasing protein in your diet.

Eggs provide a rich source of protein. One large 50-gram egg contains 6 grams of highly absorbable protein.

Benefits of eggs for a developing baby

Eggs also contain nutrients that assist with your baby’s growth and development. They’re rich in nutrients like vitamin B12 and choline, which both contribute to healthy brain development.

Eggs are also a great source of protein. When protein is consumed, your body breaks it down into amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, which are the building blocks of life.

Protein is found in skin, hair, muscles, and bone, and your cells need it to function properly. It’s another essential nutrient for a baby’s growth and development.

The takeaway

When you’re pregnant, eating a balanced diet is crucial to your health and your baby’s health. When you’re craving eggs, go ahead and enjoy them. You can hard-boil them, fry them, or scramble them — the key is making sure they’re cooked thoroughly.

Taking this step can reduce the risk of a foodborne illness, which is the last thing you want to deal with when pregnant.

Parenthood
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Health

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Dairy and eggs from food safety for moms to be. (2018).https://www.fda.gov/food/people-risk-foodborne-illness/dairy-and-eggs-food-safety-moms-be
Egg, whole, cooked, hard-boiled. (n.d.).https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/173424/nutrients
Elango R, et al. (2016). Protein and amino acid requirements during pregnancy. DOI:https://doi.org/10.3945/an.115.011817
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy: Prevention tips.https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/anemia-during-pregnancy/art-20114455
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Pregnancy diet: Focus on these essential nutrients.https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-nutrition/art-20045082

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Medically reviewed by Jillian Kubala, MS, RD — Written by Valencia Higuera on July 28, 2020

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