Christmas turkey, seafood or ham; however you decide to dine this Christmas, if you’re pregnant there are a few things to keep in the back of your mind. There are a few different kinds of bacteria which can live in the tasty treats you’ll want to avoid over the festive season.

For snacks and nibbles: instead of the usual soft cheeses, try harder options, such as cheddar, haloumi, Jarlsberg, Swiss or tasty, cottage and cream cheeses are also fine. Fruit is fine to eat as long as it has been washed thoroughly. No Deli meats are ok to eat.

For the main event, home cooked meats are deliciously fine to eat – as long as they’re cooked through and eaten while still hot. If you like to eat the stuffing, be aware that it must be cooked separately from the rest of the poultry, and also eaten hot.

If fish is on the menu, it’s a good idea to find out what type it is, as some kinds contain high levels of mercury that can harm a child’s developing nervous system.

When it comes to home-made salads, play it safe and only eat what you know has been washed properly. And remember that depending on the chef’s cooking ability and eagerness to make their own condiments, any homemade mayonnaise or aioli will contain raw eggs, which shouldn’t be consumed.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.