supplements may help some women but there are
concerns about the safety of high doses and women
are advised not to take more than 5-10mg per day.
It is not unusual to havecravingsfor certain foods
and aversions to other foods during pregnancy. The
cause of these is also uncertain but may be due to
altered taste perceptions. Dairy and sweet foods are
most commonly reported as being craved and the most
common aversions are to alcohol, caffeinated drinks
and meats. As long as a healthy, varied diet is being
consumed, there should not be cause for concern.
Once the baby has been born, tastes usually return
back to normal.Food avoidance and risk of childhood
food allergy
Infants whose parents have a history of allergic
disease are more likely to develop allergies themselves
and it has been suggested that by avoiding certain
foods during pregnancy and breastfeeding mothers
may help to prevent allergy in their infants. But there
is little evidence to support this and others have sug-
gested that exposure to these foods can actually help a
baby develop tolerance to them. If there is strong
family history of allergic disease (i.e. if either parent
or a previous child has suffered from hayfever,
asthma, eczema or other allergy), then it may be advis-
able to avoid peanuts or foods containing peanuts
during pregnancy and while breastfeeding in order to
reduce the risk of the infant developing a peanut
allergy.Food safety advice during pregnancy
Vitamin A
A high vitamin A (retinol) intake during preg-
nancy can cause birth defects. Pregnant women should
therefore avoid liver and liver products, such as paˆte ́,
as these foods can contain high concentrations of
vitamin A and foods that are fortified with this vita-
min. It is also recommended that supplements con-
taining vitamin A (in the form of retinol), or high
dose multivitamins are avoided, as well as cod liver
oil supplements.Alcohol
Drinking alcohol excessively or binge drinking
during pregnancy can increase the risk of birth defects
and low birth weight, as well as behavioural problems
during childhood. The effects of lighter drinking on a
developing child are less clear but to be cautious preg-
nant women are advised to avoid alcoholic drinks. Ifthey choose to drink alcohol, intake should be reduced
to a minimum (1-2 units once or twice a week). This is
equivalent of half a pint to a pint of beer or lager or 1-2
small glasses of wine.caffeine
Pregnant women should not consume excessive
amounts of caffeine, as levels above 300 mg/day have
been linked with low birth weight and miscarriage.
Caffeine occurs in a range of food and drinks such as
coffee, tea, cola and chocolate. In the UK, the Food
Standards Agency recommends that pregnant women
should not drink more than the equivalent of around
four average cups of coffee a day.Food-bourne illnessIt is very important for pregnant women to follow
general food hygiene guidelines when handling foods,
especially raw meat. It is sensible to avoid foods which
increase the risk of food-borne infections such as Lis-
teriosis (e.g. unpasteurised milk, cheese made from
unpasteurised milk, mould ripened cheeses which are
usually soft or blue cheese) or salmonella poisoning
(e.g. undercooked chicken, undercooked or raw eggs).
It is also important to wash raw vegetables thoroughly
as eating soil may cause toxoplasmosis.
Important foods to avoid to minimize the risk of
foodbourne illness during pregnancy include:
Raw seafood (e.g. oysters, uncooked sushi)
Unpasteurised dairy products (these are unlikely to
be sold by supermarkets but caution should be paid
to exotic,smelly cheeses from the cheese counter)
Cheeses with a white mouldy rind (e.g. Brie, Cam-
embert, Cambozola) and blue-veined cheeses (e.g.
Stilton, Blue Brie, Danish Blue, Roquefort)
Paˆte ́(unless tinned)
Raw and undercooked meat and poultry (these
should be cooked until there are no pink bits left,
re-heat ready-cooked meals until piping hot)QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR
DOCTOR Would I benefit from taking a multivitamin and
mineral supplement?
Am I gaining a healthy amount of weight?
Do I need to take iron supplements?Pregnancy diet