Originally published October 27 2005
Experts say nutrition for pregnant women is a serious matter
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
WebMD offers expectant mothers advice on what foods can give them that needed boost and what foods to steer clear of as possible threats to a baby's development.
The national nannies and the old wives have formed an alliance to pepper the pregnant woman with directives on everything from alfalfa sprouts to Zithromycin.
So what's the skinny (remember, however -- what your doctor says goes)?
Cheeses The CDC says listeriosis, a food-borne illness with mild flu-like symptoms that can be overlooked, can result in premature delivery, miscarriage, severe illness, or death of the baby.
Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting, concurs with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which cautions that you not eat unpasteurized soft cheeses (and other unpasteurized dairy products), hotdogs, or lunch meat unless cooked.
These may include Brie, Camembert, feta, goat, Montrachet, Neufchatel, and queso fresco.
Listeria may also be found in unpasteurized semi-soft cheeses (slightly more solid cheeses that do not grate easily and are often coated with wax to preserve moisture and extend shelf life).
"Stay away from those yummy roadside ciders, too," Murkoff advises.
Diet soda Minimal harmful effects have been shown from the use of the artificial sweetener aspartame in pregnancy, according to Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y. "Like everything else, moderation is best."
A daily diet pop or aspartame-sweetened yogurt is probably harmless.
Coffee Most studies show no adverse effects from three or four cups of coffee.
Still, some doctors and midwives are cautious and point to studies linking java to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and migraines.
There are some data that suggest that large amounts of caffeine lead to low-birth-weight babies.
However, if you choose to drink coffee, moderation is key.
"Sometimes it's harder on you to quit entirely," Dolan admits.
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