Your midwife or doctor might tell you to avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol when you’re pregnant. Caffeine can enter the baby’s blood, potentially causing abortion or low birth weight. Alcohol during pregnancy can result in your baby getting fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects.
There is controversy over the safety of artificial sweeteners (e.g., Nutrasweet and Equal), which are used in soft drinks, low calorie desserts, yogurt, chewing gum, sports bars and lollies. During pregnancy, it’s best to avoid these products. Check food labels to see if artificial sweeteners have been added.
Some other foods might contain bacteria that can be harmful when you’re pregnant. Listeria bacteria from food can lead to miscarriage during the first trimester and illness or stillbirth later in pregnancy. To lower your risk, avoid unpasteurized milk products like soft cheeses (e.g., Feta, Brie, Camembert and Blue Cheese), as well as paté, raw and processed meats (e.g., devon), and poultry. E coli are bacteria found in undercooked beef and unpasteurized fruit juice. They can damage your intestinal tract and kidneys and cause infections in your unborn baby. Salmonella is commonly found in raw or undercooked eggs, so avoid eating eggs with a runny yolk during your pregnancy.
The CABOOLTURE mums & little ones website (www.mumsandlittleones.com), includes information about nutrition, breastfeeding, physical activity, safe weight gain and loss, and other health issues for mums. For more information about CABOOLTURE mums & little ones, contact Clancy Wall on 0402 791 315, email clancy.wall@uq.edu.au.
CABOOLTURE mums & little ones
happy healthy families
Merendi Leverett-Bowler
Mother of Two and Exercise Physiologist
As published in CabooltureNews 31/10/2007
