Diet and health
Although you should maintain a healthy diet, you shouldn’t let the worry of what you should or shouldn’t eat ruin your pregnancy.Include a good balance of meat, fish, carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables in your diet and drink plenty of water. If you follow a healthy vegetarian diet, you will still be getting your essential nutrients but if it isn’t a well balanced diet you may need extra vitamins.
Make sure you:
- Wash all fruit and vegetables before eating.
- Cook meat thoroughly.
- Wear gloves if changing cat litter or gardening.
- Keep cats away from food preparation areas.
- Avoid soft cheeses, mould-ripened goat and sheep milk and pate as these are associated with listeria and can cause premature birth and miscarriage.
- Make sure ready made foods are piping hot throughout before eating.
- Drink only pasteurised or UHT milk.
- Eat only hard-boiled or scrambled eggs.
- Don’t eat liver as this contains high levels of vitamin A which can be harmful to your baby.
- Avoid peanuts when pregnant or breastfeeding if you, the baby’s father or the baby’s brother or sister have a history of allergies such as eczema, asthma and hayfever.
You should also limit your caffeine intake and avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
Speak to your GP or health visitor if you have any concerns or need more advice.