There are foods you'll have to give up or cut down on during pregnancy, because they could harm your baby:
Some cheeses and dairy products
•Cheeses with a white, mouldy rind, such as brie and camembert, and blue-veined cheeses. Also steer clear of unpasteurised soft cheeses, such as those made from sheep and goat's milk. All these cheeses could contain listeria bacteria. Listeria can cause an infection called listeriosis that may harm your baby.
•Unpasteurised milk and dairy products made with unpasteurised milk aren't safe during pregnancy. They are more likely to contain bacteria that could give you food poisoning. You're more vulnerable to food poisoning while you're pregnant.
Eggs
•Raw or undercooked eggs can contain salmonella bacteria. Cook eggs until the yolk and white are firm. Don't eat mousse, ice cream and fresh mayonnaise from delis or restaurants as these may contain raw egg. However, salad dressings that you buy in supermarkets, such as mayonnaise, are usually made using pasteurised egg, so are safe to eat.
Meat
•Liver isn't safe to eat during pregnancy. However, all other fresh meats are fine. Just make sure you cook meat thoroughly until there are no pink bits in the centre and the juices run clear. Be extra careful when cooking meat on a barbecue, or as part of a microwavable ready meal.
•It's best not to eat cured meats, such as parma ham and salami. These carry a risk of listeriosis and toxoplasmosis.
•All pate, whether made from meat, fish or vegetables, may contain listeria bacteria, which can harm your baby.
Fish
•Oily fish is good for you and your baby, but it can contain environmental pollutants. So it's best to eat no more than two portions of oily fish a week.
•Don't eat any shark, swordfish and marlin. These fish contain unsafe levels of naturally occurring mercury. Tuna contains some mercury too, so it's best you don't eat more than four medium-sized cans, or two fresh tuna steaks per week.
•Raw shellfish isn't safe when you're pregnant, because it can cause food poisoning.
Drinks
•It's best not to have more than 200mg of caffeine a day. That’s two cups of instant coffee, two mugs of tea or five cans of cola a day. Drinking lots of caffeine during pregnancy has been linked to miscarriage and low birth weight. You could switch to decaffeinated drinks instead.
•Government advice is that you stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy. If you want to drink during your pregnancy, don’t drink more than one or two units of alcohol, once or twice a week, and don't get drunk.
For more information about what's safe and what's not, visit our food and drink safety area.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Which foods aren't safe for me to eat now I'm pregnant?
There are foods you'll have to give up or cut down on during pregnancy, because they could harm your baby:
Some cheeses and dairy products
•Cheeses with a white, mouldy rind, such as brie and camembert, and blue-veined cheeses. Also steer clear of unpasteurised soft cheeses, such as those made from sheep and goat's milk. All these cheeses could contain listeria bacteria. Listeria can cause an infection called listeriosis that may harm your baby.
•Unpasteurised milk and dairy products made with unpasteurised milk aren't safe during pregnancy. They are more likely to contain bacteria that could give you food poisoning. You're more vulnerable to food poisoning while you're pregnant.
Eggs
•Raw or undercooked eggs can contain salmonella bacteria. Cook eggs until the yolk and white are firm. Don't eat mousse, ice cream and fresh mayonnaise from delis or restaurants as these may contain raw egg. However, salad dressings that you buy in supermarkets, such as mayonnaise, are usually made using pasteurised egg, so are safe to eat.
Meat
•Liver isn't safe to eat during pregnancy. However, all other fresh meats are fine. Just make sure you cook meat thoroughly until there are no pink bits in the centre and the juices run clear. Be extra careful when cooking meat on a barbecue, or as part of a microwavable ready meal.
•It's best not to eat cured meats, such as parma ham and salami. These carry a risk of listeriosis and toxoplasmosis.
•All pate, whether made from meat, fish or vegetables, may contain listeria bacteria, which can harm your baby.
Fish
•Oily fish is good for you and your baby, but it can contain environmental pollutants. So it's best to eat no more than two portions of oily fish a week.
•Don't eat any shark, swordfish and marlin. These fish contain unsafe levels of naturally occurring mercury. Tuna contains some mercury too, so it's best you don't eat more than four medium-sized cans, or two fresh tuna steaks per week.
•Raw shellfish isn't safe when you're pregnant, because it can cause food poisoning.
Drinks
•It's best not to have more than 200mg of caffeine a day. That’s two cups of instant coffee, two mugs of tea or five cans of cola a day. Drinking lots of caffeine during pregnancy has been linked to miscarriage and low birth weight. You could switch to decaffeinated drinks instead.
•Government advice is that you stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy. If you want to drink during your pregnancy, don’t drink more than one or two units of alcohol, once or twice a week, and don't get drunk.
For more information about what's safe and what's not, visit our food and drink safety area.
Some cheeses and dairy products
•Cheeses with a white, mouldy rind, such as brie and camembert, and blue-veined cheeses. Also steer clear of unpasteurised soft cheeses, such as those made from sheep and goat's milk. All these cheeses could contain listeria bacteria. Listeria can cause an infection called listeriosis that may harm your baby.
•Unpasteurised milk and dairy products made with unpasteurised milk aren't safe during pregnancy. They are more likely to contain bacteria that could give you food poisoning. You're more vulnerable to food poisoning while you're pregnant.
Eggs
•Raw or undercooked eggs can contain salmonella bacteria. Cook eggs until the yolk and white are firm. Don't eat mousse, ice cream and fresh mayonnaise from delis or restaurants as these may contain raw egg. However, salad dressings that you buy in supermarkets, such as mayonnaise, are usually made using pasteurised egg, so are safe to eat.
Meat
•Liver isn't safe to eat during pregnancy. However, all other fresh meats are fine. Just make sure you cook meat thoroughly until there are no pink bits in the centre and the juices run clear. Be extra careful when cooking meat on a barbecue, or as part of a microwavable ready meal.
•It's best not to eat cured meats, such as parma ham and salami. These carry a risk of listeriosis and toxoplasmosis.
•All pate, whether made from meat, fish or vegetables, may contain listeria bacteria, which can harm your baby.
Fish
•Oily fish is good for you and your baby, but it can contain environmental pollutants. So it's best to eat no more than two portions of oily fish a week.
•Don't eat any shark, swordfish and marlin. These fish contain unsafe levels of naturally occurring mercury. Tuna contains some mercury too, so it's best you don't eat more than four medium-sized cans, or two fresh tuna steaks per week.
•Raw shellfish isn't safe when you're pregnant, because it can cause food poisoning.
Drinks
•It's best not to have more than 200mg of caffeine a day. That’s two cups of instant coffee, two mugs of tea or five cans of cola a day. Drinking lots of caffeine during pregnancy has been linked to miscarriage and low birth weight. You could switch to decaffeinated drinks instead.
•Government advice is that you stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy. If you want to drink during your pregnancy, don’t drink more than one or two units of alcohol, once or twice a week, and don't get drunk.
For more information about what's safe and what's not, visit our food and drink safety area.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Pregnancy : 40 Week
Most women give birth by their due date but it is perfectly normal to go as long as two weeks past your estimated due date. Actually, as many as ten percent of pregnancies go past 42 weeks. So if you are still hanging around reading our newsletter, don’t despair, you are not alone. We are dedicating this newsletter to all of you gals that are waiting around for your content and cosey, or slightly stubborn, little guys or girls to make their arrivals. We are going to discuss some of the things you can do to help pass the time when you are overdue and discuss some of the tests you may be given to check on your baby’s well-being.
What is going on with mom & baby
Baby: Your baby is due this week. The average full term baby weighs around 7 and a half pounds and is about 20 inches long. Your baby is ready to be born any day now.
Mom: Your baby should be born any day now. You may be having more contractions, more vaginal discharge, and more discomfort. If you have contractions at night try to rest even if you can’t sleep. Labor sometimes starts overnight and being sleep deprived can make labor more exhausting. Try to rest as much as you can even if you are having difficulty sleeping.
This week’s Pregnancy Checklist
- Make sure your cell phone is charged.
- Make sure you have arrangements for child care and pet care.
- Throw some scrunchies or ponytail holders in your hospital bag.
- Make sure your camera battery is charged.
- Go over your birth plans with your partner.
- Take a new belly picture for your scrapbook or journal.
- Tests to Monitor Baby’s Well-being
Pregnancy : 39 Week
How your baby's growing:
Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.See what your baby looks like this week.
How your life's changing:
At each of your now-weekly visits, your caregiver will do an abdominal exam to check your baby's growth and position. She might also do an internal exam to see whether your cervix has started ripening: softening, effacing (thinning out), and dilating (opening). But even armed with this information, there's still no way for your caregiver to predict exactly when your baby is coming. If you go past your due date, your caregiver will schedule you for fetal testing (usually a sonogram) after 40 weeks to ensure that it's safe to continue the pregnancy. If you don't go into labor on your own, most practitioners will induce labor when you're between one and two weeks overdue — or sooner if there's an indication that the risk of waiting is greater than the risks of delivering your baby without further delay.
While you're waiting, it's important to continue to pay attention to your baby's movements and let your caregiver know right away if they seem to decrease. Your baby should remain active right up to delivery, and a noticeable slowdown in activity could be a sign of a problem. Also call if you think your water may have broken. Membranes rupture before the beginning of labor in about 8 percent of term pregnancies. Sometimes there's a big gush of fluid, but sometimes there's only a small gush or a slow leak. (Don't try to make the diagnosis yourself. Call even if you only suspect you have a leak.) If you rupture your membranes and don't start contractions on your own, you'll be induced.
This week’s Pregnancy Checklist
Purchase some stationary to write your birth story on.
If you are still undecided on a baby name, go over your list of choices again.
Purchase stamps and/or envelopes to mail your birth announcements.
Make up a snack pack to take with you to the hospital for after baby is born.
Take a new belly picture for your scrapbook or journal.
Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.See what your baby looks like this week.
How your life's changing:
At each of your now-weekly visits, your caregiver will do an abdominal exam to check your baby's growth and position. She might also do an internal exam to see whether your cervix has started ripening: softening, effacing (thinning out), and dilating (opening). But even armed with this information, there's still no way for your caregiver to predict exactly when your baby is coming. If you go past your due date, your caregiver will schedule you for fetal testing (usually a sonogram) after 40 weeks to ensure that it's safe to continue the pregnancy. If you don't go into labor on your own, most practitioners will induce labor when you're between one and two weeks overdue — or sooner if there's an indication that the risk of waiting is greater than the risks of delivering your baby without further delay.
While you're waiting, it's important to continue to pay attention to your baby's movements and let your caregiver know right away if they seem to decrease. Your baby should remain active right up to delivery, and a noticeable slowdown in activity could be a sign of a problem. Also call if you think your water may have broken. Membranes rupture before the beginning of labor in about 8 percent of term pregnancies. Sometimes there's a big gush of fluid, but sometimes there's only a small gush or a slow leak. (Don't try to make the diagnosis yourself. Call even if you only suspect you have a leak.) If you rupture your membranes and don't start contractions on your own, you'll be induced.
This week’s Pregnancy Checklist
Pregnancy : 38 Week
How your baby's growing:
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)See what your baby looks like this week.
How your life's changing:For many women, the next couple of weeks are a waiting game. Use this time to prepare your baby's nursery or to take care of necessary tasks you may not get around to for a while after your baby's born. Take naps, catch up on your reading, and spend uninterrupted time with your partner while you can.
Some swelling in your feet and ankles is normal during these last weeks, but call your practitioner without delay if you notice excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, or have a sudden weight gain.
Also let her know immediately if have severe or persistent headaches; visual changes (such as double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or a temporary loss of vision), intense upper abdominal pain or tenderness, or nausea and vomiting. These are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia.
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)See what your baby looks like this week.
How your life's changing:For many women, the next couple of weeks are a waiting game. Use this time to prepare your baby's nursery or to take care of necessary tasks you may not get around to for a while after your baby's born. Take naps, catch up on your reading, and spend uninterrupted time with your partner while you can.
Some swelling in your feet and ankles is normal during these last weeks, but call your practitioner without delay if you notice excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, or have a sudden weight gain.
Also let her know immediately if have severe or persistent headaches; visual changes (such as double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or a temporary loss of vision), intense upper abdominal pain or tenderness, or nausea and vomiting. These are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia.
This week’s Pregnancy Checklist
- Make a photocopy of your insurance card and any important medical information and put it in your hospital bag.
- Make sure a copy of your birth plan is in your hospital bag.
- Gather up a ziplock bag full of loose change and add it to your hospital bag.
- Print out directions and a map to the hospital and put it in your hospital bag.
- Program your phone or cell phone with the phone number of your hospital and doctor’s office.
- Take a new belly picture for your scrapbook or journal.
Pregnancy : 37 Week
How your baby's growing:
Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.
How your life's changing:
Braxton Hicks contractions may be coming more frequently now and may last longer and be more uncomfortable. You might also notice an increase in vaginal discharge. If you see some "bloody show" (mucus tinged with a tiny amount of blood) in the toilet or in your undies, labor is probably a few days away — or less. (If you have heavier spotting or bleeding, call your caregiver immediately.) Also be sure to ask your caregiver about the results of your Group B strep culture. That way, if the result isn't yet on your chart when you get to the hospital or birth center, you'll be able to give the staff there a timely heads-up if you need antibiotics.
It may be harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. If you can, take it easy through the day — this may be your last chance to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby's movements, too, and let your caregiver know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though her quarters are getting cozy, she should still be as active as before.
While you're sleeping, you're likely to have some intense dreams. Anxiety both about labor and about becoming a parent can fuel a lot of strange flights of unconscious fancy.
Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.
How your life's changing:
Braxton Hicks contractions may be coming more frequently now and may last longer and be more uncomfortable. You might also notice an increase in vaginal discharge. If you see some "bloody show" (mucus tinged with a tiny amount of blood) in the toilet or in your undies, labor is probably a few days away — or less. (If you have heavier spotting or bleeding, call your caregiver immediately.) Also be sure to ask your caregiver about the results of your Group B strep culture. That way, if the result isn't yet on your chart when you get to the hospital or birth center, you'll be able to give the staff there a timely heads-up if you need antibiotics.
It may be harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. If you can, take it easy through the day — this may be your last chance to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby's movements, too, and let your caregiver know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though her quarters are getting cozy, she should still be as active as before.
While you're sleeping, you're likely to have some intense dreams. Anxiety both about labor and about becoming a parent can fuel a lot of strange flights of unconscious fancy.
This week’s Pregnancy Checklist
- Make sure you know where your insurance card is.
- Stock up on canned goods and easy to fix meals.
- Purchase any last minute diapering supplies.
- Select a pediatrician for your baby if you haven’t already.
- Review your insurance coverage for anesthesiology or circumcision.
- Take a new belly picture for your scrapbook or journal.
Pregnancy : 36 Week
How your baby's growing:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)
How your life's changing:
Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!
You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.
Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.
Make a belly cast of your belly.
Practice lamaze breathing or other pain relief techniques.
Some moms like to drink raspberry leaf tea at the end of their pregnancy. (Talk to your doctor first).
Have your partner practice timing contractions. Braxton Hicks are great for practice.
Take a new belly picture for your scrapbook or journal.
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)
How your life's changing:
Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!
You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.
Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.
This week’s Pregnancy Checklist
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