Can you eat seafood when pregnant?

According to the American Pregnancy Association, cooked seafood is an accepted form of protein during pregnancy. However, fish high in mercury or smoked seafood should be avoided.

Mercury can affect brain development and the nervous system. Pregnant women and children should consume no more than 12 ounces of fish low in mercury per week. Fish high in mercury such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish should be avoided. Smoked seafood is dangerous during pregnancy because it may harbor the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Fish exposed to industrial pollutants and raw seafood or shellfish should also be avoided during pregnancy, notes the American Pregnancy Association.