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I couldn’t help but notice the news story earlier last week that warned that a poor diet during pregnancy can lead to obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes in unborn children, the effects of which are irreversible.  The story is based on a study which was carried out, in mice, at the Royal Veterinary College in London.

There is a wealth of evidence linking maternal diet to long term health outcomes for the unborn child and health later in the life course.  Eating a healthy balanced diet is an important message for us all, but this is particularly so for women trying for a baby or who are already pregnant. 

Pregnant women need to consume a balanced diet to provide enough energy and nutrients for the unborn child to grow and develop, as well as for their own health.  This should include plenty of fruit and veg, plenty of starchy foods such as bread, rice potatoes, pasta (trying to choose wholegrain varieties), foods rich in protein such as lean meat, chicken, fish (aiming for at least two servings of fish a week, including one oily), eggs, beans and pulses – these foods are also good sources of iron – and milk and dairy foods.

Pregnant women and those trying for a baby are also recommended to take certain supplements.  This includes a daily 400 microgram folic acid supplement from the time contraception is stopped until the 12th week of pregnancy, as well as eating foods containing folate – the natural form of folic acid – such as green vegetables, brown rice and fortified breakfast cereals.  Pregnant women should also take supplements contain 10 microgram of vitamin D each day.

For pregnant women there are certain foods to avoid, more advice can be found on eatwell website.

The Agency continues to keep abreast of this topic which, for example, includes presenting at the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease meeting in Nottingham later this week.