There are many myths about dangers to your baby
According to the NHS, the recommended amount of caffeine to be consumed during pregnancy is 200mg a day. Some coffees from high street chains were found to have up to 320mg of caffeine.
Though not to be avoided completely, high levels of caffeine can result in low birth weight and an increased risk of health problems in later life.
Some soft cheeses such as brie and camembert shouldn't be eaten during pregnancy, as well as any soft blue-veined cheeses such as Danish blue. These are made with mould and contain a type of bacteria that if it was to cause an infection, could harm your baby. The chance of developing an infection from listeria is rare but if it does happen in a soon-to-be mother, it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or severe illness in a newborn.
All types of pate should be avoided for this same reason. They contain harmful bacteria listeria which is responsible for causing listeriosis. Liver and liver products should also be avoided due to the very rich vitamin A content which may be harmful to a baby in the first trimester.
An unborn baby is also at risk of illness through the mother consuming raw meat or poultry. Meat should be cooked throughly and checked to avoid illness and reduce the risk of bacteria.
There are some types of fish that should be avoided such as shellfish and others which should just be limited, for example tuna and other oily fish.
The Department of Health recommends avoiding alcohol if you are pregnant, particularly in the first 3 months, however, 1-2 units of alcohol a week is allowed but no more and it's advised to not drink anything to minimise the risk to a baby.
There are tons of myths floating around over what's risky and what's not and the best person to contact is a GP if you have any concerns over your health whilst pregnant.
Alexandra Baracskai