Keeping baby weight under control

Tips: Foods to avoid during pregnance

1. Raw Meat: Uncooked seafood and rare or undercooked beef or poultry should be avoided because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis and salmonella.

2. Smoked seafood: Smoked seafood should be avoided because it could be contaminated with listeria, a food-borne disease that can be found in humans and animals.

3. Fish with mercury: Fish that contain high levels of mercury should be avoided. Mercury consumed during pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays and brain damage. Some fish which tend to be mercury-rich are shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.

4. Alcohol: There is no amount of alcohol known to be safe during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can interfere with the healthy development of a baby. Depending on the amount, timing and pattern of use, alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or other developmental disorders.

5. Caffeine: Some studies show that caffeine may be related to miscarriages. Avoid caffeine during the first trimester to reduce the likelihood of a miscarriage. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it helps eliminate fluids from the body. This can result in water and calcium loss.