Risks of Antenatal care

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Before becoming pregnant, it is crucial for women to check whether they have immunity to Rubella (German Measles). Rubella can cause serious development problems in the baby if the virus is caught during pregnancy and the mother is not vaccinated. Because the rubella vaccine contains a live virus, pregnancy should be avoided for up to 3 months after vaccination, or vaccination can be carried out after the baby has been born if the woman is already pregnant.

Bacteria such as listeria and salmonella can be dangerous to the unborn baby. Mould-ripened cheeses (such as Brie and Stilton), soft boiled eggs, unpasteurised dairy food, pÃ¢tÃ©, ready-washed salads, cold prepared meats and cook-chill meals may all contain harmful bacteria. Pasteurised foods, such as hard cheeses, yoghurts and commercial mayonnaise made with pasteurised egg are safe to eat in pregnancy. Avoid handling and eating raw meat, unwashed fruit and vegetables, and use gloves when gardening.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection carried by cats and shed in cat faeces. It is also carried in the muscles of infected pigs and sheep. It is common in both men and women with around one in three people carrying the antibodies in their blood from previous exposure. If contracted during pregnancy, there is a 30 to 40% risk of the mother passing toxoplasmosis on to the baby.

However, if the infection is transmitted to the unborn baby (particularly during the last 3 months of pregnancy), it can cause a range of problems such as brain damage, hearing or vision problems, epilepsy, or even miscarriage or stillbirth. Pregnant women with pet cats should ask someone else to clean out the dirty cat litter, or, if this is not possible, should use gloves and then wash their hands thoroughly afterwards.

It is recommended that pregnant women do not eat liver or take high dose vitamin A tablets, as too much vitamin A has been shown to harm the developing baby. New research also suggests that women with a history of asthma, hayfever, eczema or nut allergy in the family should avoid peanuts (and any foods that contain peanuts or groundnut oil) whilst pregnant and breastfeeding. This may reduce the risk of an allergic condition developing in the baby.

Mercury is a toxin that affects the nervous system. It is found in tuna and at the highest levels in predatory fish such as shark, marlin and swordfish. The Food Standards Agency recommends that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or intending to become pregnant, should limit the amount of tuna they eat to no more than two medium-size cans of tuna (with a drained weight of about 140g per can), or up to one fresh tuna steak, per week. They should also avoid eating any shark, swordfish or marlin. This is because the levels of mercury in these fish can harm the developing nervous system of unborn children. The Agency also recommends that children do not eat shark, swordfish or marlin to ensure that they are not affected by the mercury levels in these fish.

Stop taking any non-essential medicines. Women who take regular medication for any reason or know of any hereditary conditions in the family, such as thalassaemia or sickle cell anaemia, should consult their doctor or pharmacist (ideally before getting pregnant).