What To Eat (And Not To Eat) When Pregnant

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 12 Apr 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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While you're pregnant, you should eat a healthy balanced diet, to make sure that you get enough energy and nutrients for your baby to grow and develop, and for your body to cope with the changes taking place.

Try to eat plenty of foods containing iron, to make sure you are getting enough of this important mineral. Good sources of iron include red meat, pulses, bread, green vegetables and fortified breakfast cereals. Try to have some food or drink containing vitamin C, such as a glass of fruit juice, at the same time as an iron-rich meal, because this will help your body absorb the iron.

Although liver contains lots of iron, you should avoid eating it while you're pregnant because it contains high levels of vitamin A, which could harm your baby if you have too much.

You should also take a 400 microgram (mcg) folic acid supplement each day until at least the 12th week of your pregnancy. And try to include foods containing folic acid in your diet, such as green vegetables and brown rice, bread and fortified breakfast cereals. Folic acid has been shown to reduce the risk of neural tube defects in the unborn baby, such as spina bifida.

While you're pregnant, you should avoid eating the following things:

• soft mould-ripened cheeses, such as Camembert and Brie, and blue-veined cheeses
• any type of pate
• any food that isn't properly cooked, especially undercooked meat and raw or undercooked eggs (always make sure that food is piping hot all the way through before you eat it)
• shark, swordfish or marlin

Source: The Food Standards Agency (UK)

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