Ham can be consumed during pregnancy but under strict caution. Pregnant women tend to develop a suppressed immune system due to which they are more prone to infections. Hence, their diet needs extra care.
Many women consume ham and meat due to its high protein content but it is essential to know that ham has a major risk of harboring harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The major ones being listeria and Toxoplasma. Listeria can lead to the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth on the other hand Toxoplasma can cause brain damage, hearing loss, and blindness in the baby.
If you plan to consume ham while pregnant make sure that it is well cooked with no traces of pink or blood in it. It should be served steaming hot or at a temperature of 165F (74C). Cooking it at a high temperature majorly reduces the risk of infection. Avoid consumption of raw or undercooked ham.
https://www.fda.gov/
https://www.cdc.gov/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
