Chicken liver during pregnancy second trimester

No, it's not safe to eat liver during pregnancy or when you're trying to conceive. This includes liver products, such as liver sausage, pate, and cod liver oil.

Liver contains high levels of retinol vitamin A, which can build up in your body and harm your developing baby. Fortunately, you can get safe levels of vitamin A from other foods, as both you and your baby need some vitamin A in your diet to be healthy.

Beef liver during pregnancy first trimester

Foods and supplements that contain beta-carotene are also safe, and are used by your body to make vitamin A. Find out more about liver and safe vitamin A in pregnancy.

Can you eat liver when pregnant?

You shouldn’t eat liver, or liver products, such as liver sausage or pate, while you’re pregnant, or if you’re trying for a baby (NHS 2020a).

Liver contains very high levels of retinol, which is a type of vitamin A. If you have too much of the retinol form of vitamin A, high levels can build up in your body and may be harmful to your unborn baby (Carazo et al 2021, NHS 2023).

You do, however, need some vitamin A in you