Planning to Become Pregnant? - A Summary of Advice

Things you should do

• Take folic acid tablets from before you become pregnant until 12 weeks of pregnancy. This helps to prevent spinal cord problems developing in the baby.
  • The dose is usually 400 micrograms (0.4mg) a day. You can buy this from pharmacies.
  • The dose is higher and needs a prescription (5mg daily) if you have an increased risk of having a child with a spinal cord problem. That is if:
    • You had a previously affected pregnancy. OR
    • Your partner or a close relative have a spinal cord defect. OR
    • You have coeliac disease, sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia, or diabetes. OR
    • You take medication for epilepsy.
• Have a blood test to check if you are immune against rubella, and to screen for hepatitis B, syphilis, and HIV. Ask your practice nurse to do this.
• Eat a healthy diet. Include foods rich in iron, calcium and folic acid.
• Wash your hands after handling raw meat, or handling cats and kittens. To avoid certain germs which can be harmful to a developing baby.
• Wear gloves when you are gardening. Again, to avoid certain germs.

Things you should avoid

• Too much vitamin A. Don't eat liver, liver p?t?, or take cod liver oil or vitamin A tablets.
• Listeriosis. Don't eat undercooked meats and eggs, soft cheeses such as brie or camembert, p?t?s, shellfish, raw fish, or unpasteurised milk including goat's milk.
• Fish which may contain a lot of mercury. Don't eat shark, marlin, swordfish. Also, limit tuna to no more than the equivalent of six tuna sandwiches per week.
• Sheep, lambs, cat faeces, cat litters which may carry certain infections.
• Peanuts. If you have a personal or family history of eczema, hay fever, or asthma.

Things you should stop or cut down

• Caffeine - in tea, coffee, cola, etc. Have no more than 300mg per day. This is in about three cups of brewed coffee, or four cups of instant coffee, or six cups of tea.
• Alcohol - you are strongly advised not to drink at all.
• Smoking and street drugs - you are strongly advised to stop completely.

Other things to consider

• Immunisation against hepatitis B if you are at increased risk of getting this infection, and against chickenpox if you are a healthcare worker and have not had chickenpox.
• Your medication - including herbal and 'over the counter' medicines. Is it safe to take when your are pregnant?
• Your work environment. Do you work with chemicals, etc, which may be harmful?
• Medical conditions.
For example, if you have diabetes, epilepsy, or other medical conditions you may need special advice before becoming pregnant. Also, if certain conditions run in your family, you may benefit from genetic counselling.

Further information

Food Standards Agency - Advice for Pregnant Women
www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/pregnancy/

Department of Health - The Pregnancy Book
Go to their website - www.dh.gov.uk - and search for 'Pregnancy Book'.