| Ever since you spread the news of your | | | | shown a link between caffeine consumption and |
| pregnancy, you have probably been inundated | | | | miscarriage, so even though it may be difficult, |
| with tons of well-meaning, but often unwanted | | | | you do need to drastically cut down or stop |
| pregnancy and parenting advice. While it may not | | | | drinking caffeinated beverages, at least for the |
| all be bad, the only person's advice you should | | | | duration of your pregnancy. It is okay to drink the |
| really heed is that of your doctor. One thing that | | | | occasional glass of soda, or coffee, but it really |
| he or she may have discussed with you at your | | | | should only be limited to maybe one time a week, |
| first prenatal visit was the importance of eating a | | | | and it may not be a good idea even then. |
| healthy diet, and the foods and herbs that are not | | | | Any food that could be contaminated with |
| safe for you to consume during your pregnancy. | | | | bacteria is typically a bad idea for pregnant |
| One thing that you should definitely cross of your | | | | women to eat. Eating foods with certain bacteria |
| list is anything that contains alcohol. It may be | | | | could cause miscarriage or birth defects in your |
| difficult for you to do, especially if you are | | | | unborn baby, which is a chance that you really |
| someone who enjoys a drink on a regular basis, | | | | shouldn't take. You should stay away from any |
| but you really have to do it for the health of your | | | | un-pasteurized dairy products, any food that |
| baby, if no other reason. There is no clear | | | | contains uncooked eggs, any kind of raw meat or |
| indication of how much alcohol that you can safely | | | | fish, any food that has a large amount of |
| consume during your pregnancy, which is why | | | | mercury in it, particularly common in certain types |
| you should avoid it altogether; the risks are just | | | | of fish, un-pasteurized juices or ciders, all of which |
| too great. Your baby could be born with a mental | | | | could be a potential hazard to the health of both |
| defect, which could impact him or her for their | | | | the pregnant mother and unborn baby. |
| entire lifetime, as well as other dangerous birth | | | | If you are someone who takes herbal |
| defects. It is simply not worth the risk, and is not | | | | supplements, there are many that you should |
| too much to ask that you just forget about the | | | | stay away from during your pregnancy, including: |
| alcohol, at least until your baby is born. | | | | barberry, basil oil, black and clue cohosh, clove oil, |
| For most of us, one of the hardest things for us | | | | feverfew, juniper, mistletoe, pennyroyal, |
| to give up is caffeine. Even for people who don't | | | | mugwort, sassafras, wild yam, wormwood, and |
| drink coffee, almost everyone drinks at least one | | | | pokeroot, just to name a few. To be on the safe |
| caffeinated soda or glass of tea a day, and for | | | | side, you really should not take anything that is |
| many people, myself included, soda or tea is | | | | not given to you, suggested, or prescribed by |
| about all they do drink. When you are pregnant, all | | | | your OB. If in doubt, call and ask before taking |
| of that caffeine is definitely a no-no. Studies have | | | | any medication or herb, for any reason. |