Unhealthy diet you should avoid during pregnancy

"Pregnancy is a time that you want to care about what you eat," says Manaan Mumma, a nutritionist. "You are no longer eating just for yourself but also for another human being."

If you are like Christine Karina, who loves trying out absurd recipes, then you ought to be even more careful about your diet.

"I had cravings when I was pregnant. I would try something new whenever I felt like," says Christine, with a smile that announces that she is a foodie.

Speaking of cravings, doesn't it happen to nearly every expectant mother?

You've to watch for what you crave for because you might harm not only yourself but your baby too, observes Manaan.

The baby has to get what the baby asks for. And so, it is a fair to assumption that many mothers-to-be have good intentions for their unborn babies – even when they're gobbling up chunks of tasty gourmet.

But often, inadvertently or while aware, pregnant women (sacred as they may be in their distended bellies) will commit culinary faux pas: subtle mistakes that could bear heavy repercussions for the developing foetus and the mother herself.

Non-nutritious substances: pica

Have you ever bumped into a pregnant woman feasting on a porous rock (or soil)? It is a fairly common phenomenon in Kenyan culture. In medical terms the habit is referred to as pica.

'It is because I am pregnant,' some will defend their actions.

If you have ever thought such activity crass you are right; in the sense that it is totally dangerous and unhealthy.

"The soil is teeming with parasitic eggs and pathogens," says Dr Stephen Mutiso, an obstetrician/gynaecologist at Kenyatta National Hospital. "The eater risks getting infected with worms, bacteria, fungi and viruses. If that eater is a pregnant woman an infection would also put the foetus in danger."

Usually, says Esther Kariuki, a nutritionist, eating soil is a sign of lacking minerals like iron.

"The best way to replenish that mineral in your system is to eat foods rich in iron like meat," she adds.

The liver conundrum

Just imagine nicely done pieces of liver: don't they seem just too sweet to say no to? That liver has a soft texture that teeth easily sink into can't make it any better.

And yet that is exactly what health professionals require of pregnant women.

"Liver contains high amounts of vitamin A," says Esther, "which is considered dangerous to a baby's development."

If a pregnant woman has to eat liver, advises Esther, she has to eat as little as possible.

"She should avoid liver altogether. We recommend regular meats instead of liver. An expectant mother can get enough vitamin A from vegetables like carrot and iron from meat," Esther adds.

Alcohol and other substances

This is a bummer. As an individual adult it is your right to drink alcohol. However, when you are pregnant the alcohol gets to your baby too, says Dr John Ong'ech, an obstetrician/gynaecologist.

Research has proven that babies whose mothers drink alcohol – or expose themselves to substances like marijuana and heroin – are likely to be born with congenital conditions and birth defects.

Plus, pregnant women are advised to avoid coffee; either use it sparingly or avoid it altogether. Caffeine has been associated with low birth weight.

Cravings

In her book 'What to Eat When You're Pregnant' obesity researcher Nicole Avena records her findings. She writes: "Genuine hunger-driven cravings are for food groups (like meat), rather than specific food items (like ice-cream)."

By this, she means that not all culinary desires for a pregnant woman qualify as cravings. For instance, you can't crave for soil. You may feel inclined to eat it but you ought to involve your mind in discerning if it is good for you.

Look at it this way: you wouldn't crave for poison, would you? That is because your mind knows the consequences. In Avena's opinion, real cravings are for food – not spices or little pleasures.

Fat and sugars

Before a woman sets forth to be pregnant, it will be important for her to make sure that she is within a healthy weight and not obese, says Dr Lyudmila Shchukina, an obesity specialist at East Africa Bariatric clinic.

She says: "Fat and sugar are the main contributors to overweight and obesity, which in turn predisposes one to obesity and high blood pressure."

Shchukina further argues: "Don't start pregnancy when you are already obese. And if an obese pregnant mother develops diabetes there is a real risk of their babies being born with diabetes too."

But aside from that, a diet high in fat and sugars will result to a big baby, which may result in complicated and difficult birth.

At the same time, a diet high in fat and sugar heightens the risks for pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and postpartum haemorrhage.

The weight of an expectant mother is a key factor in the health of both mother and baby. Gynaecologists will monitor the weight of a pregnant woman, "to make sure that she is not gaining anything more than 0.5Kg per week. At full term, healthy weight gain is between 10 and 14Kg," Dr Mutiso says.

Unbalanced diet

Well, nutritionists like Manaan will tell you that apart from a few instances – mentioned above – nearly every other food are good. But not entirely, because, it is well established that only balanced diets are healthy.

"A balanced diet of proteins, vegetables, fruits and carbohydrates (not too much of one or a few) is essential for healthy development of pregnancy, both for the mother and the baby," says Manaan.

And that, pretty much, sums it up: a balanced diet. And if it sounds like a cliché that's probably because your pregnancy depends on it.