Pregnancy is like breakable plate. As such, it must be delicately handled. Pregnant women are too be treated and handled delicately as they carry their unborn babies. There are certain things they have to avoid.
(A) Smoking: It is harmful to the developing baby. It can lead to premature birth and low birth weight, and it increases the risk of cot death.
(B) Raw or undercooked meat: It is not advisable for pregnant women to eat raw or uncooked meat. This is to prevent infection with toxoplasmosis, a parasite that can be found in meat. In some countries, pregnant women are also advised to avoid cold cured meats such as salami, chori^a and pepperoni.
(C) Some drugs, medicines and herbal remedies: Certain medicines including common pain killers can harm the baby’s health. Consult your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you take any medicine or herbal remedy.
(D) Some fishes: Certain fishes contain high levels of mercury, which can damage the baby’s developing nervous system. So avoid shark, marliri and sword fish altogether. Limit tuna to no more than two steaks or four medium-sized can a week.
(E) Liver products: Liver, liver pate and liver sausage may contain a lot of vitamin A. And too much of this can harm your baby. Avoid fish liver oil supplements and other supplements containing vitamin A.
(G) Too much caffeine: Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, some soft drinks and energy drinks. Certain cold and flu remedies also contain caffeine. High levels of caffeine can make babies suffer from a low birth weight, which may increase the risk of health problems in later life. Too much caffeine can also cause miscarriage. Limit your intake to ?,00rng a day – that is approximately two mugs of instant coffee, or two cups of tea and a 50g bar of chocolate.
(H) Alcohol: Alcohol passes through the placenta and can affect a baby’s development. During the first three months, alcohol may increase the risk of miscarriage. Drinking heavily through pregnancy can result in the baby being born with a foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). The more you drink, the greater the risks.
If you choose to drink alcohol, official advice is to limit your intake to one or two units a week. A unit is equal to half a pint of lager or cider, a single measure of spirits such as gin or vodka, and half a standard (175ml) glass of wine.
(I) Raw or partially cooked eggs: Uncooked eggs and foods made with such raw eggs as home-made mayonnaise and chocolate mousse may contain salmonella that can cause food poisoning.
