Junk food in pregnancy

Junk food warning for pregnant mums

Mum Knows Best

Before you go out and buy lots of expensive maternity clothes, have a good rummage through your wardrobe. You'll probably be surprised at how much stuff can be adapted or worn a little differently to still fit you!
Natalie, mum to Bobby
Drink ginger tea to beat morning sickness - it really works!
Jenny, pregnant with baby no.1
If you're uncomfortable in bed, or suffer backache, tuck one end of a v-shaped pillow between your knees to get your hips level, put the 'v' under your bump and cuddle the top. It was my midwife's idea - it also cured my insomnia.
Isabelle Jacobs, 34, from Edinburgh, mum to Paul, 3 months
Ditch as much of your housework as possible and don't stress because the house is a mess or there's ironing to do. Your baby will sense you're calm and, with luck, he'll be calm, too. I know it worked for me - Daniel is a chilled-out, happy baby!
To help beat morning sickness, as soon as you wake up - eat a piece of dry toast.
I started getting really bad headaches when I was about 12 weeks pregnant, but forcing myself to drink two litres of water every day really helped.
Jennifer Shepherd, London
If you're set on having a natural birth, read up on visualisation and breathing techniques so you feel strong when the time comes. It really helped me when I was having Honey.
SJ Drew, Paignton
I was convinced the TENS machine I used wasn't working because labour still felt very painful. However, it was only when I took it off that I realised it had been effective, as I could feel the difference. It got me through the first few hours until I got in the pool, where my baby was born. Michelle, mum to Sam, 6 weeks
If you have trouble sleeping in pregnancy, read a baby names' book. The monotony of the list means that by the time you reach 'D', you'll be gone!
Emily Gale, 31, from London, mum to Madeleine, 2, and 35 weeks pregnant

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We all know junk food is bad for you, but just how bad is it while you're pregnant?

Why is junk food in the news?

Studies from the Royal Veterinary College say that a junk food diet during pregnancy can cause major damage to your child's growth, affecting their weight, raising their cholesterol levels and creating a greater risk of diabetes.

What else did the study discover?

The research found that mothers who ate a lot of junk food gave birth to babies with a higher chance of developing problems linked to heart disease. Dr Pat Goodwin, from the Wellcome Trust who funded the research, agreed with the evidence that could affect someone in becoming overweight. Goodwin said, 'Pregnancy can be a difficult time for many mothers, but it is important that they are aware that what they eat may affect their offspring'.

What do they mean by junk food?

The junk food used in the research was doughnuts, muffins, marshmallows, crisps, sweets and chocolates. But junk food means anything that's fatty, processed foods such as hamburgers, chips, pizza and fried chicken.

What should you be eating during pregnancy?

Doctors believe that eating foods containing minerals such as calcium, folate, fibre, iron and protein, as well as drinking plenty of water, will provide your baby with the nutrients it needs. These minerals can be found in fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products, wholewheat breads and cereals containing bran.
- Read our guide to what to eat during pregnancy.

What if I crave junk food during pregnancy?

Professor Neil Stickland, a researcher from the Royal Veterinary College, says pregnancy cravings are OK: 'The odd bit of junk food in pregnancy is not going to do harm, but constant gorging on junk food and putting on too much weight in pregnancy is not going to set the child off to a good start.'

How accurate is this study?

Experts still don't agree. Dr Simon Langley-Evans, a nutritional researcher from the University of Nottingham, disagreed with the study, claiming that it did not prove that a mother's diet could affect the health of babies beyond the effect on your child's cravings and appetite.
But Jane Brewin from baby charity Tommy's welcomed the study, saying: 'Obesity poses one of the biggest threats to maternal and foetal health today.'

- Read last week's big issue: Fear over new obesity drug