Foods mums-to-be should avoid in pregnancy

During pregnancy, getting enough nutrients is very important, but you should also take care to limit the foods below to protect your health and your baby's:

• Never smoke, drink alcohol or use stimulants.
• Cut down on spices such as chilli, pepper and garlic.
• Limit coffee, industrially processed foods, fast food and high-fat foods during pregnancy.
• Eat less salt if you have swelling (oedema), high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia, to avoid complications at birth
• Limit foods high in sugar, especially if you have gestational diabetes or are at high risk of it.
• Limit fish high in mercury, such as swordfish, mackerel and tuna.
• Avoid raw vegetables, salads, sushi... that may carry bacteria and parasites such as salmonella, coliforms, toxoplasmosis,... which can harm your baby.

You can also look at the diet recommended for each stage of pregnancy to plan sensible daily meals.

Tip: Morning sickness is very common in pregnancy. Every mum-to-be has different tastes when nauseous, so it is hard to set a fixed menu. Avoid strong-smelling dishes, and don't force yourself to eat too much at once, as this can make you dread food and lose your appetite. Splitting food into 5-7 small meals a day will make it easier to keep food down. Momby wishes you good health throughout your pregnancy!

References: Health & Life (Suc khoe va Doi song)