Pregnancy: What's safe and what's not

If you're pregnant it can feel like you're being bombarded with conflicting advice. Friends, websites, health visitors and GPs all seem to have different views on what you can and can't do.

But far from being clued-up, a survey for Organix children's food has revealed six in 10 expectant mums are still not sure what's safe to eat or drink.

And Mirror nutritionist Angela Dowden says it's not surprising. "Part of the problem is that midwives are so pressured for time that issues like nutrition get pushed to the bottom of the pile," she says.
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So what can and can't you do when you're pregnant? We sort the facts from the fiction...

Alcohol

If you have a drink your baby will be having one, too - and the effects can last a lifetime. Alcohol molecules pass through the placenta very easily. They kill nerve endings and damage connections between brain cells.

Up to 6,000 babies a year are born in Britain with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Symptoms range from memory and attention problems to physical abnormalities.

In May, the government strengthened its advice - saying pregnant women should avoid alcohol altogether.

But if you must drink, the official advice is no more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week. A pint of ordinary-strength lager or a 175ml glass of wine is approximately two units.

If you've already had a drink or two during your pregnancy don't panic. The way booze affects your baby depends what stage you're at, how your body deals with drink and your genes. "Stop now. You will have a healthier baby if you stop," says Susan Fleisher of the National Organisation on Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Find a safe alternative by replacing a tipple with a non-alcoholic beer and wine.

Smoking

One in five women smokers don't give up during pregnancy, according to research by the British Medical Association. Yet the thousands of toxic chemicals in smoke, including carbon monoxide, starve the foetus of the oxygen it needs to grow.

It means babies born to smokers are on average 7oz lighter than normal - and 15 times more likely to die from cot death.

But it's never too late to give up. Dr Peter Nathanielsz, author of Prenatal Prescription, says: "Even stopping late on can help your baby."

There's also help for mums trying to kick the habit. Some nicotine patches and chewing gum have been approved for use by pregnant women but check with a doctor.

Diet

"FOR the most part, healthy eating during pregnancy is the same as at any other time," says Angela Dowden.

But some foods are definitely off the menu.

According to Food Standards Agency nutritionist Sam Montel, pate - even vegetable pate - could contain the listeria bug. The same goes for soft cheese like camembert, brie and blue cheeses. And liver is out because it can contain very high levels of vitamin A which is potentially damaging to the foetus.

But it's not all bad news. These days thorough cooking will cut the risk posed in the past by salmonella and toxiplasmosis. Eggs, meat and shellfish are all safe if properly cooked.

The other good news is that the right diet will give your unborn child a head start in life. Oily fish, which is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, is thought to help make your child smarter. But the Food Standards Agency advises no more than two portions a week.

Beauty

Hair

Tests on animals have suggested that in high doses some chemicals found in hair dyes and cosmetics might cause birth defects.

To be safe, NHS Direct advises women to wait until they are 12 weeks pregnant before dyeing their hair. Opt for foil highlights and ask your hairdresser not to apply dye too close to the root or use plant-based products like henna.

Make-up

Recent research has found women absorb 5lbs of chemicals a year from cosmetics, some of which could enter the baby's bloodstream. But last month this claim was dismissed as an urban myth by the British Skin Foundation charity. To be cautious, use a simple emollient moisturizer with no synthetic preservatives or fragrance.

Stay fit

Antenatal exercise instructor Joanna Percival says: "As the baby grows, pressure on the pelvic floor increases - so avoid high-impact exercises, jogging and jumping."

Also, don't lie on the floor as it puts pressure on vessels carrying blood to the foetus, and forget stomach crunches after 20 weeks. But the Department of Health says half an hour of walking or swimming a day will help you get back in shape quicker after the birth.

'The guilt will live with me forever'

Jacky Steele, 40, from Northern Ireland, was confused over how much alcohol she was allowed to drink while pregnant.

Kyle was diagnosed with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome after doctors spotted the tell-tale symptoms: small eye openings, a thin upper lip and no groove between his nose and upper lip.

'i'd been advised that it was fine to drink in moderation so I continued to have the odd glass of wine when I was out with friends or on special occasions. I have a sensible attitude to alcohol. I drank two glasses of wine with dinner every other day - so around six glasses a week.

"When Kyle was nine months old he got a bad chest infection. Worried, I took him to A&E at Belfast Children's Hospital. A doctor took one look at his flattened features - a symptom of the syndrome - and diagnosed FAS.

"She asked if I had any idea what I'd done to my son. I looked at her blankly. I had no idea what FAS was. She was so angry.

"Now Kyle, who is five, needs 24-hour care, can barely speak and communicates with sign language. In addition to kicking and biting me, he bites himself. I have to strap him into a special chair at meal times and he wears a helmet outside to prevent him harming himself.

"Every time I look at him I have to deal with the guilt, that I'm to blame. Now I'd say to any mum: 'Don't do it.' OK, you could drink a bottle of wine and have a healthy baby. But some women can have just the odd glass and have a baby like mine. That could be you.'

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