Fiona Ford answers your nutrition in pregnancy & breastfeeding questions
Fiona Ford MSc is a State Registered Dietician based at the Centre for Pregnancy Nutrition (CPN), University of Sheffield. Fiona also holds a degree in Health Research.
The CPN hosts the national Eating for Pregnancy Helpline and website, which provides information for women about healthy eating and food safety before and during pregnancy, and while breast feeding.
Fiona has been working in this area for 15 years and really enjoys advising pregnant or planning-to-be women on how to ensure their diet is as good as possible. Fiona has two grown-up children.
Are mushrooms safe in pregnancy?
Mushrooms are my favourite food ever but I have read you shouldn't eat them while pregnant. Is this true?
Fiona says: mushrooms are great to eat during pregnancy. They are packed full of goodness and are one of your recommended five portions of fruit and vegetable per day. I would guess that the confusion has come around self-picked wild mushrooms as there is always a risk of eating a poisonous variety. However, as long as you get your mushrooms from a reputable greengrocers or supermarket there is no problem.
Why am I still getting morning sickness at 19 weeks?
Fiona says: some women do experience nausea and vomiting up to 22 weeks of pregnancy and a very small number continue to experience the symptoms after this time.
It is important to keep hydrated and to eat well during the times of day when you feel at your best. It is also important to try and eat small meals and snacks every two to three hours as hunger and low blood sugar may make symptoms worse. Cold food does not have as strong a smell as hot food (so may make you feel less nauseous) and will still provide all the nutrients you need. Try, for example: a bowl of cereal, a sandwich or some toast. Also, snacking on plain or ginger biscuits in-between can help.
If you think the nausea is getting worse and you are losing weight and/or becoming dehydrated, talk to your midwife or doctor.
How can I stop headaches in early pregnancy?
I am 11 weeks pregnant and have been getting really bad headaches and feeling sick for the past four weeks. What can I do to feel better?
Fiona says: sorry to hear you’ve not been feeling good. Unfortunately, symptoms like these are a natural part of pregnancy. They can be experienced by up to 80% of women and last up to 22 weeks. There are, however, things that you can try which may help.
Low blood sugars and dehydration can contribute to symptoms. So although you may not feel like it, try to eat a snack or small meal every two to three hours. Sandwiches, toast, cereal, a banana or a plain or ginger biscuits are often best if you are feeling sick. Also, try to sip water throughout the day to ensure you are well hydrated. Cutting back or avoiding caffeine during this time may also help. If you find that you are feeling very sick first thing in the morning, try having a plain or ginger biscuit before getting out of bed as this has been found to help reduce the feeling of morning sickness.
What will combat nausea apart from water? I'm on six litres a day!
I am 18 weeks pregnant with my second baby. I still feel nauseated, so I drink between four and six litres of water a day to cleanse my mouth. But it means I'm constantly going to the loo. Is there anything else I can use to stop the nausea because I deal with customers in my job and it's becoming embarrassing!
Fiona says: oh dear, pregnancy sickness is usually finished by your stage of pregnancy and I do know how miserable you feel. Accept support from your partner, family and friends and rest as much as possible as tiredness can make nausea worse. Following the advice below usually provides a solution for most women, but then for most women their pregnancy nausea stops by about 12-14 weeks of pregnancy.
No wonder you are going to the loo so much, drinking all that water! It is quite common for pregnant women to produce more saliva than usual but it is not one of the more frequently reported side-effects of pregnancy. Some women find excessive salivation makes their nausea worse. I wonder if your problem is not actually pregnancy nausea but excessive saliva production. Try and find an alternative way of making your mouth feel better. Maybe sucking mints or chewing gum (sugar-free types best for your teeth). Sucking ice chips or brushing your teeth more often can also both help - although I appreciate this won't be easy when you are dealing with customers.
To reduce pregnancy nausea, try eating small, frequent meals, once every two hours or so throughout the day, based on starchy carbohydrates. You could try:
* Bread or toast
* Plain biscuits or ginger biscuits
* Banana
* Breakfast cereals
* Plain crisps
Glucose tablets may help prevent blood sugar levels from dropping (low blood sugar levels may cause nausea). Also, avoid any foods or smells that trigger symptoms; avoid drinking cold, tart, or sweet beverages; avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Why am I losing weight in pregnancy?
I'm 21 weeks pregnant and when my midwife weighed me I discovered I had lost a few pounds. Normally I put on weight really easily. It's made worried as I have been eating lots, I am not excessively exercising and not been sick.
Fiona says: try not to worry. Weight can fluctuate by a few pounds depending on the time of day, your level of hydration and even the clothes you are wearing. If you have been eating well this can indicate that there is no cause for concern.
Weight gain should start during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and is often different from woman to woman. A rough guide is that overweight women should gain around one stone during pregnancy, normal weight women gain two stone and underweight women gain three. Many women gain more or less than this and still have perfectly healthy babies.
If you experience continued weight loss of around 10% of your normal pre-pregnancy body weight this could indicate a cause for concern and may indicate that your baby is not growing properly but your midwife can soon check this out so if you are still worried speak to her.
I gained over six stone in my first pregnancy - will it happen again?
I'm really concerned about my weight gain during my current pregnancy. During my last pregnancy, I gained six-and-a-half stone and really struggled to lose it (it took me three years). I am currently 21 weeks pregnant and have gained 12 pounds so far. Is this normal? How much should I expect to gain each week?
Fiona says: I’m not surprised it took a long time to lose all the weight from your first pregnancy but it sounds as though you are on track in this pregnancy.
The optimal weight gain during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy weight. An easy way to remember the guidelines for total weight gain is the one, two, three rule which recommends that overweight women gain around one stone during pregnancy. Normal weight women gain two stone and underweight women gain three stone. This works out at a rate for the second trimester of one pound per week for underweight women, three-quarters of a pound per week for normal weight women and half a pound per week for overweight women.
‘Eating for two’ isn’t recommended during pregnancy as the average woman does not need any extra calories for the first six months of pregnancy and only about 200 extra calories per day for the last three months. Two hundred calories is equivalent to two slices of wholemeal toast and margarine/butter, a jacket potato with an ounce of cheese; or one slice of cheese on toast.
If you find your appetite has increased and you are gaining too much weight, try having healthy snacks such as fruit and low fat yogurt in-between meals. Add bulk to meals with such things as salad and extra vegetables to help you to feel full without adding excessive calories, and drink water regularly throughout the day. Light exercise such as walking or swimming is also beneficial to support appropriate weight gain during pregnancy.
More expert answers
Eileen Hayes answers your toddler questions
Dorothy Einon answers your child behaviour questions
Zita West answers your fertility and pregnancy questions
Fiona Ford answers your pregnancy and breastfeeding nutrition questions
Thirza Ashelford answers your parenting questions
Alison Brown answers your bump, birth and baby questions
Please note: gurgle experts cannot answer questions directly nor answer every question. They reply to questions posted in the Chat & Answers section of the site at their and gurgle's discretion. If you would like to ask a question, please post it in the appropriate area of Chat & Answers where fellow gurgle users may respond to it. There is no guarantee that an expert will answer your question.
The information provided by our experts is intended for educational purposes only. Neither the expert nor gurgle can be held responsible or liable for any loss or claim arising out of the use, or misuse, of the suggestions made on this site. As our experts do not know your specific circumstances, they are not suggesting any specific course of action for you to follow. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with your doctor or other healthcare professional for individualised health and medical advice.
Published September 2008
Related Articles
Last Modified: 23/09/2008