Mousse, homemade ice cream or mayonnaise from delis or restaurants, as these may contain raw egg. Always check that salad dressings and ice creams are made using pasteurised egg.

Potatoes: When potatoes are stored they they develop black spots which  are caused by the fungi: Aspergillus and Fusarium. The mytotoxins created by these fungi are: aflatoxin and fumosium. In pregnant women who consume large amounts of potatoes, the two mytotoxins have been incriminated as a cause of spina bifida.

Phthalates are metabolized in humans once ingested or absorbed through the skin. In pregnant women, phthalates pass through the placenta to be absorbed by the foetus. In nursing women, phthalates are found in breast milk, which means infants are ingesting these chemicals as they develop. In male foetuses and infants the phthalates have been shown to cause testicular atrophy and a reduced sperm count, among other serious health problems

Smoking tobacco can lead to early birth and an underweight baby and may lead to learning difficulties and a lowered immune system for the child because nicotine constricts the blood vessels and oxygen in the body is replaced by carbon monoxide. See Tobacco Dangers.

Triclosan: The antibacterial chemical triclosan (found in toothpastes and soaps etc) can react with the chlorine in water to produce chloroform gas. Researchers believe that over time, inhaled chloroform can result in depression, liver ailments and even cancer. It must be avoided when pregnant.

FOOD ALLERGIES DURING PREGNANCY

Many people are unaware that they may be intolerant to certain compounds in popular food products such as wheat found in so many processed foods these days. During pregnancy it is wise to consider reducing or even eliminating these compounds as they can cause nutrient deficiencies, low birth weight of the infant and even miscarriages. Two of the nutrients that can be reduced by a food allergy are vitamin B9 and vitamin K. Both of these are especially vital to the healthy development of the foetus.

There are seven common compounds known to irritate the intestinal lining which can lead to a leaky gut where undigested proteins (including bacteria proteins) can escape into the blood stream and the absorption of nutrients, vital for healthy foetal development and the mother's health, is compromised. The undigested proteins, that have escaped into the blood stream, then trigger an immune response against them as they do not belong there, and then other similar protein tissues, which are part of the body (or the unborn foetus), are also attacked. Some bacterial and viral infections, such as herpes and influenza can cause damage to cells which can also increase susceptibility to allergic reactions to the following components in food.

The seven compounds to be most aware of are:

It is of utmost importance, to the developing foetus, that the mother takes care of her body and the environment that surrounds her both before and throughout her pregnancy. Not putting the health and future of the unborn baby first, can have a devastating effect on the child for the rest of its life. Quality sleep and adequate rest with the feet raised during pregnancy is vital for the health of both mother and baby.

BLOOD TYPES

Alleles are different forms of a gene. They can be dominant or recessive. There are four basic blood types, O, A, B, and AB. Blood type is determined by the alleles inherited from parents. For the blood type gene, there are three basic blood type alleles: A, B, and O.

We all have two alleles, one inherited from each parent. The possible combinations of the three alleles are OO, AO, BO, AB, AA, and BB. Blood types A and B are "co-dominant" alleles, whereas O is "recessive".

A co dominant allele is apparent even if only one is present; a recessive allele is apparent only if two recessive alleles are present.

Because blood type O is recessive, it is not apparent if the person inherits an A or B allele along with it. So, the possible allele combinations result in a particular blood type in this way:

• OO = blood type O

• AO = blood type A

• BO = blood type B

• AB = blood type AB

• AA = blood type A

• BB = blood type B

You can see that a person with blood type B may have a B and an O allele, or they may have two B alleles. If both parents are blood type B and both have a B and a recessive O, then their children will either be BB, BO, or OO. If the child is BB or BO, they have blood type B. If the child is OO, he or she will have blood type O.

CAESAREAN SECTION AFTERCARE

Smearing honey and/or aloe vera gel on the scars after a caesarean section can stop infection occurring and help with healing.

FALSE LABOUR PAINS

Boil a handful of drumstick leaves with 2 teaspoons of coriander seeds and honey. Drink one glass. If the contractions are false, the pain should disappear.

Powder the bark of cinnamon and take half a teaspoonful with water or milk as and when required. If the pain persists, consult a health worker or go to a hospital.

REAL LABOUR PAINS

Black Cohosh can be used during labour and delivery to ease pain but should be used with caution as it can cause an allergic reaction.

Blue vervain can hep to stimulate the uterus during labour but too much can cause vomiting.

Drumstick leaf juice is very beneficial for pregnant women as it can help them overcome sluggishness of the uterus, ease delivery and reduce post delivery complications.

Maqui berry is a Chilean 'super fruit' which contains the highest amount of antioxidants and anti inflammatory compounds than any other known natural food which can reduce pain and inflammation. The leaves are astringent and have cleansing properties. It is used by the Mapuche Indians of southern Chile during child birth.

Motherwort can stimulate uterine contractions and is a uterus tonic both before and during childbirth.

RHESUS DISEASE

Rhesus disease is also known as haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn  All pregnant women should know both their own blood type as well as that of their unborn baby. When the mother has rhesus-negative blood (RhD-negative) and the baby in her womb has rhesus-positive blood (RhD-positive) the mother's immune system sees the baby as "alien" and switches to "destroy" mode because these two blood groups are incompatible, Women who are RhD-negative can receive the anti-D inoculation to stop them making antibodies that could attack the baby or choose to have an abortion if they are too frail to risk stopping their system from making antibodies.

If blood cells from a rhesus positive baby get into the rhesus negative mother's bloodstream, her blood will react as if the baby's blood is a foreign substance and will produce antibodies against it. This is not usually a problem in a first pregnancy with a rhesus positive baby. However, the antibodies that the mother produces stay in her blood, and if she has another pregnancy with a baby who is also rhesus positive, her antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the blood cells of the unborn baby. This can cause 'haemolytic disease of the newborn'.

Haemolytic disease of the newborn can be very mild, but in a small number of babies it can be more serious and cause the baby to be stillborn, severely disabled or to die after birth as a result of anaemia and jaundice.

The most common time for a baby's blood cells to get into the mother's blood, causing her to produce antibodies, is at the time of birth. However, this can also occur at other times, for example during a miscarriage or abortion, or as the result of having an amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, vaginal bleeding, or turning the baby’s head down (external cephalic version). These events are called 'potentially sensitising events'.

Rhophylac injections contain a medicine called human anti-D immunoglobulin. People whose blood type is rhesus positive (RhD positive) have a substance called D antigen on the surface of their red blood cells. People whose blood type is rhesus negative (RhD negative) are missing this antigen. Whether a person is rhesus positive or rhesus negative is determined by their genes.

Anti-D prophylaxis is offered routinely to pregnant women who are rhesus negative, unless they already have anti-D antibodies in their blood. (This is tested by a blood test at the start of the pregnancy.) Rhophylac injection is given as a single dose between 28 and 30 weeks of pregnancy. The treatment is offered regardless of whether a sensitisation event has occurred, in order to be absolutely certain that the mother does not develop antibodies against the baby.

After the birth, a blood sample will be taken to test the baby's blood group. If the baby is rhesus positive, the mother will be given a further injection of anti-D immunoglobulin. (This is called postnatal anti-D prophylaxis.) Another dose of anti-D immunoglobulin will also be given after any sensitising event that occurs during the pregnancy.

Babies can be safely breastfed after having this injection. There are no known harmful effects on the nursing infant.

Anti-D prophylaxis may not be necessary for rhesus negative mothers if there is certainty that she will not have another child following the pregnancy, for example if she is to be sterilised after the birth. It will also not be necessary if the father's blood type is also rhesus negative, as genetically this means the baby cannot be rhesus positive.

Anti-D immunoglobulin may also be used if a rhesus negative individual is given a blood transfusion of rhesus positive blood. This is to prevent the individual forming antibodies against the transfused blood.

If this medicine is given within two to four weeks of having a live vaccine, such as yellow fever, BCG or oral polio, the anti-D immunoglobulin may interfere with the immune response to these vaccines. This could make them less effective.

If live vaccines are needed after having an anti-D injection, they should be postponed until three months after the last injection of this medicine has been given.

The shunt stays in place for the lifetime of the person. Other conditions include full or partial paralysis, bladder and bowel control difficulties, learning disabilities, depression, latex allergy, social and sexual issues.

RISKS OF HAVING A BABY WITH NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS

To prevent spina difida in a baby, eat all these natural foods which are rich in vitamin B9 (foliate) both before conception and throughout your pregnancy (steamed is best where possible):

STRETCH MARKS

Coconut oil (pure cold pressed) can help to stop stretch marks occurring if applied to the stomach everyday. Use a teaspoon to scoop some into the palm of one hand then rub fingers into the coconut and it will become liquid due to the heat of the hands. Then rub this all over the stomach. It is readily absorbed and has antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and anti-parasitic properties and is good to consume whenever oil is required in cooking.

Honey is another good healer for cars and stretch marks. Melt some in a pan over very low heat, cool then spread onto the areas where stretch marks are. Leave for ten minutes then wash off.

St John's wort: When rubbed onto the belly and breasts during pregnancy, the oil of St John's wort may help prevent stretch marks and topical application is also useful to treat haemorrhoids and aching, swollen veins that can also occur during pregnancy.

SWELLING OF FEET DURING PREGNANCY

In case of swelling of feet during pregnancy, go for a medical check-up and follow the doctor's advice as it could be a sign of an underlying condition that needs treatment. You can also do the following to reduce swelling:

Boil one teaspoon of palm sugar and two teaspoons of fennel together in a glass of water until it is reduced to one half glass. Strain and drink three times a day till the swelling disappears.

Take a handful of coriander seeds and boil in a cupful of water until it is reduced to half. Drink it twice a day for three days.

A decoction made from corn silk (the tassels of silk from the ear of maize) can help in reducing swelling of the feet. Boil a large handful of corn silk in a glass of water. Drink 1-2 glasses. This is not dangerous.

It is important to rest with the feet up as often as possible during pregnancy.

TAURINE

If a pregnant mother has chronic (even low grade) candida, bacterial imbalances or elevated levels of mercury, lead and cadmium (which create zinc deficiency), it could lead to taurine deficiency in the mother and baby. Algae such as chlorella and spirulina can help to chelate heavy metals like mercury from the body.

Placental absorption of maternal taurine can also be blocked if the foetus is under stress from both mercury and microbial challenges. This can set up a condition where the baby's detoxification pathways are inhibited, which could lead to neurological problems, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Taurine deficiency was found in 62% of autistic children, according to one study.

TOXOPLASMOSIS

The Toxoplasmosis gonndiii parasite is found in cat's faeces more often than not and especially if they have caught and eaten rodents, mice or birds. Protective gloves must be worn when cleaning cat litter trays or gardening in soil where cats may have defecated. Pregnant women must especially avoid touching cat litter trays or contaminated soil, water or sand as this parasite can be transmitted to the unborn foetus and cause major defects including neurological disorders, blindness and deafness and in rare cases death and still birth. There are other ways to become infected by this parasite. Visit the Nature Cures Toxoplasmosis page to learn more.

VARICOSE VEINS

During pregnancy, the blood volume increases and the pressure from the growing uterus on the mother's inferior vena cava, puts pressure on the veins in the legs. It’s already harder for the blood to return to the heart from the legs because of gravity, but add to that the increase in progesterone, which dilates the veins and causes the blood to pool.

Varicose veins usually develop in the legs but can also show up in the vulva or as haemorrhoids, which are a type of varicose veins.

Constipation during pregnancy can increase varicose veins and cause haemorrhoids, so drink lots of bottled mineral water, limit salt intake and eat high fibre foods.

Foods that can naturally relieve constipation are:

Alfalfa, aloe vera, amaranth, anise, apples, apricots, barley, basil, beetroot, bicarbonate of soda, black pepper, black strap molasses, brewer's yeast, brine pickles, brown rice, carrots, chicory, cinnamon, cranberry juice, cucumber, dates, dried fruit, egg whites, figs, flaxseed oil, grapes, gooseberries, lemon, lettuce, mint, miso, motherwort, nutmeg, oats, okra, oranges, parsnips, pears, potatoes, psyllium husks, quinoa, radishes, raisins, rhubarb, rye, soursop, spinach, tangerines and watercress.

Foods rich in the B vitamin complex can help to reduce varicose veins. See the Vitamin page to find out which ones.

VOMITING DURING PREGNANCY (morning sickness)

NATURAL FOODS TO EAT DURING PREGNANCY

Eating plenty of fibre, whole grains, fruit, seeds, nuts, legumes and vegetables per day will provide the mother to be with all the nutrients required to take good care herself and the developing baby.

Expectant mothers consuming foods rich in fatty acids, especially omega 3, during the course of pregnancy reduce the chances of birth defects drastically. Defects related to the brain and spine can be reduced and also the deficiency of vitamin B9 (foliate) in the mother’s body can be reduced. Consuming krill oil and a handful of hemp seeds every day are advisable throughout pregnancy. Krill is very short-lived so does not have time to absorb mercury like other sea foods so is a good addition when sea food should be avoided.

The Omega-3 fats are necessary for the complete development of the human brain during pregnancy and the first two years of life. The Omega 3 fat and its derivative, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), is so essential to a child’s development that if a mother and infant are deficient in it, the child’s nervous system and immune system may never fully develop and it can cause a lifetime of unexplained emotional, learning and immune system disorders.

Foods rich in nutrients like vitamin B9 (folic acid), B vitamins and methionine, are key components of the methyl-making pathway. Diets high in these methyl-donating nutrients can rapidly alter gene expression and are essential, especially during early development of the foetus, when the epigenome is first being established.

Hemp seeds also provide another nutrient vital to the developing foetus; vitamin E. Premature babies are usually low in vitamin E. Neonatologists often put these babies on lung machines and respirators to help them breathe. Sometimes, too much oxygen can cause oxidative stress because oxygen can produce free radical damage when it’s administered through respirators. Vitamin E helps premature babies fight off oxidative stress damage to the heart, lungs and eyes and defend against destruction of red blood cells that can lead to anaemia. Vitamin E is best absorbed, through natural foods rich in this nutrient, by the mother and transported to the foetus.

Maternal choline levels are critical for foetal brain development. Natural sources of choline are: almonds, beans, beef, calf’s liver, broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, eggs, navy beans, oily fish, organ meats, nuts, peanuts, peas,  poultry, quinoa, rabbit, rampion, spinach, Swiss chard, venison, wheat germ.

Iodine is very important to the growing foetus also and can be found in: artichokes, beetroot, chlorella, citrus fruits, egg yolk, dulse, fish liver oils, garlic, halibut, hemp seeds, herring, kelp, kippers, kombu seaweed, oily fish, pears, pineapples, sea salt, seaweed, spirulina, strawberries, turnip greens, watercress, yoghurt.

Alpha Lipoic Acid is one of the major antioxidants and one of the few that gets past the blood-brain barrier. This makes it ideal for both the mother’s and the baby’s brain. It helps remove mercury from the body and though it would be ideal for a woman to have her dental amalgam removed, most women will not do that, even though it will help them avoid Alzheimer’s and dementia as they age. Consuming foods rich in alpha lipioc acid as well as chlorella and raw apples are a few of the main ways to remove mercury from the body.

Micro diet sprouting, especially of hemp seeds, is a good way to obtain high nutrition and essential minerals without excessive bulk.

Try blending steamed vegetables listed with the herbs and spices listed and serving as a potage soup. Similarly blend a selection of the fruits together with nutmeg and honey to provide a tasty nutritious 'smoothie' which will provide all the nutrients required. Add organic live yoghurt to make 'smoothies' or soups creamy.

To help gain good levels of the vital minerals, which the developing baby needs, drink bottled mineral water instead of tap water and use pure unrefined sea salt not table salt.

Dates, figs and raisins.

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