Do's and Don'ts during pregnancy

Looking after mum during her Pregnancy

It's not easy, you announce you are pregnant and the next thing you know, family, friends, people you don't even really know suddenly become experts in their field about what you should and shouldn't eat. It all becomes a bit more complicated and difficult when they start contradicting each other.

So this article gives a bit of an overview of some of the Do's and Don'ts of what to eat and what not to eat during this time as well as looking after you.

It is worth pointing out that regardless of what family and well meaning friends say and tell you, if you're not sure it's probably best not taking the risk and you should always take professional medical advice.

Which Food to eat when you're pregnant

There are some headline points surrounding this area and some foods should just be avoided during your time of pregnancy. Listeria for example, our immune system targets it before it causes infection and can be avoided by effective sanitation of food contact surfaces. The main food types that are known to cause listeria are:

- Uncooked meats
- Selection of seafood types
- Unpasterised milk
- Various soft cheeses especially Brie, Camembert and the blue veined types such as Danish Blue, Stilton or Gorgonzola

The above food types are known to cause a variety of different birth defects, as well as attributed to miscarriages and stillbirth. - Avoid !

Listeria fact list
- Can grow at very low temperatures, even zero degrees
- Usually present in the soil, mud, vegetation, silage, sewage and most animals
- Can be present in a number of people in their gut (estimates around 5%)
- Symptoms can range from a mild chill to an extreme illness
- Approximately 120 cases per year (peaked in 1988 which saw a report of 291
- Meat, dairy, fish, shellfish and vegetable products implicated as transmission
- Organism is usually killed by proper cooking and pasteurisation

Catlitter

Toxoplasmosis, is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii which is carried by all mammals but especially in cats. It was first discovered and classed in 1908. The effects can have a fatal effect on a Fetus.

It is usually contracted by direct contact with cat faeces. If infection with T. gondii occurs during pregnancy, the parasite is able to cross the placenta and can lead to spontaneous miscarriages, stillbirth and other birth defects.

Smoking

The NHS advises that 'Every cigarette is bad for baby' and they recommend stopping with the help of the Smokefree Pregnancy Support DVD. Don't forget that there are now two of you that you need to be looked after! Carbon monoxide is absorbed into your bloodstream and some of your oxygen (which is present in your blood) is then swapped out with carbon monoxide. In effect this means that oxygen that WAS going to baby is now Carbon monoxide. The effects of smoking during your pregnancy can be linked to a low birth weights, miscarriage and premature birth. Carbon Monoxide is poisonous and to put it into context, you can even buy carbon monoxide detectors for your home as it's so dangerous. In summary - Avoid !

Coffee, Tea, Caffeine

The obstetrician's jury seems out on this as to what the official recommendation is. However there is a consistent message of probably best to avoid or at least moderate your intake, as there is no downside to reducing the level taken in. Some reports talk of Fetal development issues and miscarriage. Generally avoid anymore than 300 milligrams in a day.
Alcohol and drugs (cocaine etc)

It is safe to say that most people in the medical profession advise to avoid or at least reduce intake of alcohol and definitely not to use any drugs during pregnancy.

Exercise

Gentle exercise is recommended but do not overdo it! Avoid high contact, high stress and impact sports. Regular walking is good to tone the body ready for baby. Unfortunately luxuries such as saunas and a very hot bath are not recommended during pregnancy due to it raising the body temperature so much.

In summary

Each person and each pregnancy is different and while the above gives useful information, it should not be relied upon and is not a formal medical opinion. If you are not sure about anything before, during or after your pregnancy, you should always seek a professional medical opinion.


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