The six foods ALL pregnant women should avoid… and what you can indulge in when you’re expecting
Avoiding certain foods while your pregnant can reduce your chance of food poisoning and your baby's risk of developmental problems
PREGNANCY is tough enough on a woman's body without the added stress of navigating what you can and can't eat.
Dietitian Susan Short has recommended the foods that mums-to-be should give up to safeguard their baby's health..
1. Soft cheese
This advice applies to all soft cheese that is mould-ripened.
Susan warns against Camembert, brie, blue cheeses and Stilton as they are "more likely to cause bacterial infections such as listeriosis, salmonella and toxic prognosis [toxic shock].
"All these can lead to vomiting and diarrhoea which can not only leave the pregnant mother unwell and dehydrated, it could affect the baby's development."
However enjoying some Cheddar, a serving of Red Leicester or a sprinkling of Parmesan is fine
2. Raw eggs
Fully-cooked eggs are fine, but if you are a fan of soft poached eggs in the morning you'll have to give those up for nine months.
Susan explains that the more raw the yolk is, the higher the chance of getting salmonella!
And it's not just eggs you need to be wary of, it's also other foods made with raw egg.
"Bought mayonnaise is fine because it has been pasteurised, it is homemade mayonnaise you need to watch out for because it contains raw egg".
3. Pâté
Probably one that everyone knows, but did you know it also applies to vegetable pâté?
Susan said; "Any liver pâté, so anything with liver or liver products, are high in vitamin A and that can be toxic to the developing baby.
"Vitamin A at high levels can affect the baby's growth and development.
"In all other pâté, even vegetable pate, they can contain listeria so they should be avoided as well."
Listeria is a bacteria mainly spread through contaminated food.
4. Certain fish
Susan said: "While fish is good for you there are some that contain high levels of mercury.
"These pollutants can build up in the body and effect the baby's developing nervous system.
"With that in mind, the ones you must avoid are shark, swordfish and marlin."
But, it's good news for those who thought they couldn't eat tuna, as it's fine in limited portions.
5. Caffeine
While you may think you have to ditch coffee all together, you actually don't.
But that doesn't mean you can continue drinking your multiple double shot lattes during the day, caffeine still needs to be limited.
Susan said: "Caffeine should be limited when pregnant, you should have no more than 200 milligrams a day.
"That is the equivalent of two cups of instant coffee or two and a half cups of tea."
6. Alcohol
While you may have heard or read that a small amount of alcohol from time to time when you're pregnant is acceptable, Susan said it should always be avoided.
She said over the years recommendations have changed, which has caused confusion among mums-to-be, but that it is now recommended that no amount of alcohol is safe.
Susan added: "We would say no amount of alcohol is recommended."
The Chief Medical Officers for the UK recommend that if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum, according to the NHS.
WHAT IS FOETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME?
Foetal alcohol syndrome varies from child to child.
It is a series of “preventable birth defects caused entirely by a woman drinking alcohol at any time during her pregnancy”.
The NHS warns exposure to booze in the womb affects the baby’s development, in particular how the brain and spinal cord matures.
It attacks vital cells in the baby’s body that help a foetus grow.
It can also damage the nerves that carry signals to the brain.
Many babies born with FAS have distinctive facial features such as small eyes set far apart or a thin upper lip.
The FASD Trust says it can cause:
- heart defects
- liver problems
- ADHD
- vision impairment
- sleep problems
- a poor immune system
- behavioural problems
- speech and language delays
And the NHS adds a number of other conditions, to the list:
- cerebral palsy – a condition affecting parts of the brain responsible for controlling muscles
- learning disorders
- epilepsy
How does alcohol reach your baby?
As an unborn baby grows and develops in the womb, it gets nourishment from its mum’s bloodstream.
When an expectant mother drinks alcohol, the booze can easily pass to their baby, via the placenta, and enter the baby’s bloodstream.
A baby’s liver is one of the last organs to develop, and doesn’t mature until later in pregnancy.
An unborn baby’s liver is therefore, nowhere near as well equipped to process alcohol as well as their mother’s liver can.
Treatment:
The NHS warns there is no specific treatment available for kids diagnosed with foetal alcohol syndrome.
Brain damage caused is “irreversible”, though early diagnosis does mean a child can be given the right support as they grow up.
Drinking during pregnancy can cause long-term harm to the baby and the more you drink the greater the risk will be.
In the first three months, drinking increases the risk of miscarriage premature birth and the baby being born with a low birth weight.
After the first three months drinking can increase the baby's risk of developing foetal alcohol syndrome, which leads to poor growth, facial abnormalities and learning and behavioural problems.
MORE IN PREGNANCY
And finally, what you SHOULD be eating...
Susan recommends any foods with good sources of iron, such as "beans, meats, eggs - well cooked obviously - and fortified cereals.
"All fruit and vegetables are to be encouraged while pregnant. At least five a day on average.
"They provide both mum and baby with a wide range of vitamins that help babies develop and immune system and help with brain development, but also it is a good way of giving mum energy."
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