Will expired paneer harm my baby in the third trimester?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 33 weeks pregnant. I accidentally ate two pieces of expired paneer. Will this affect my baby? I ate it unknowingly, and I am really worried. I just had it a little while ago.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Eating expired paneer during pregnancy can feel very scary, but let me reassure you step by step.

Expired paneer has a higher chance of carrying germs (like Listeria and Salmonella, which are bacteria that can cause food poisoning).

Food poisoning means an infection in your stomach and intestines, leading to vomiting or diarrhea.

At 33 weeks of pregnancy, your baby’s major organs are already fully formed. So these bacteria cannot cause birth defects at this stage.

However, food poisoning can still make you sick. Severe vomiting or diarrhea may cause dehydration (your body losing too much water). Dehydration can sometimes trigger preterm labor (going into labor earlier than 37 weeks).

Very rarely, if the infection becomes strong, the germs can cross the placenta and affect the baby, but this is not common, especially if symptoms are treated early.

Right now, please do not panic. It is possible that the expired paneer did not have any harmful bacteria at all.

Just watch for these symptoms over the next few hours:

Fever or chills.
Stomach cramps or abdominal pain.
Nausea or vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Reduced baby movements.

If you notice any of these, please go to the emergency room immediately. Doctors can give you IV (intravenous) antibiotics (medicines given through a vein) that treat the infection quickly and protect both you and your baby.

For now, stay calm and simply monitor yourself. Stay hydrated, rest, and keep me updated if anything changes.

I hope this helps.

Please revert in case of further queries.

Thank you.