Pregnancy Facts v Pregnancy Myths. What Exactly Is The Truth? Pt.2

Separating Pregnancy Facts and Myths

Overwhelmed by conflicting information on pregnancy facts on keeping your unborn baby healthy? Experts set the record straight.

Pregnancy Diet Myths continued…

Also, a large study published in the British medical journal Lancet in February 2007 showed that fish is an important food to include in the pregnancy diet.

After looking at nearly 12,000 children, researchers found those whose mothers ate the most fish during pregnancy had a “higher intelligence quotient” than those whose mothers abstained from fish. The children of the fish-eating moms also appeared to have better motor and communication skills as well as social skills.

The key component of fish is omega-3 fatty acids, which Bernstein says are critical to fetal neural development.

And although fish contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, there are other good sources, including flaxseed, nuts (particularly walnuts), soybeans, and eggs. There are also many foods fortified with omega-3s, including breads, juices, margarines, and oils, as well as omega-3 supplements. However, be aware that many of the sources of this omega-3 are from fish oil.

Other foods you should try to avoid during pregnancy, says Bernstein, include those with a link to listeria, a bacterium that may increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, or fetal illness.

According to the FDA, foods more likely to contain listeria include:

• Unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, queso blanco, and Panela, unless the label says “made with pasteurized milk”
• Refrigerated meat spreads or pates
• Refrigerated smoked seafood (unless it is cooked in a casserole or other dish)
• Hot dogs and deli meats, unless they are heated until steaming

Experts also warn against eating undercooked eggs, raw eggs, or eggnog made with uncooked eggs, which can be contaminated with salmonella. “Problems can ensue due to vomiting and dehydration that can occur if you contract salmonella during pregnancy,” says Bernstein.

Pregnancy Weight Gain Myths

One huge pregnancy myth involves how much additional food is really necessary to encourage the development of a healthy baby. While the old saying “eating for two” still applies, Bernstein reminds us we’re not feeding two adults.

“The latest information tells us that the average woman needs only about 300 extra calories a day if they are of normal weight when they conceive,” he says.

But the real news that’s been gradually emerging in studies is that food intake, and particularly weight gain during pregnancy, is now viewed on a much more personalized basis.

“If you’re very overweight when you get pregnant, then it’s possible you should not add any additional calories to your diet, and it might even be OK if you lose a little bit of weight during pregnancy, particularly if this occurs because you have cut out all the junk food and switched to a healthier diet,” says Bernstein.

One study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2007 showed that overweight women who gained less than the recommended 15 pounds during pregnancy actually had better pregnancy outcomes, with a lower risk of preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, and abnormal-sized babies — large or small.

At the same time, if you are underweight at conception, then you may have to add more than 300 calories a day and increase weight gain, just to get you up to speed to what your baby needs to grow strong and healthy, says Bernstein.