When a woman becomes pregnant, it is very important for her to lead a healthy life. This includes eating plenty of nourishing food, getting plenty of rest, and exercising regularly. It is also vital that she avoids anything that might harm her or her baby.
After a woman becomes pregnant, it is important that she makes wise decisions on what she chooses to eat, as bad decisions can have a range of negative effects on the developing baby. It is important that that she gets all the nutrients a developing baby needs. Once pregnant, a woman’s body becomes more efficient in making use of the energy obtained from food. Following the old saying "eating for two" is not necessary. There are some foods that are recommended a woman avoids during pregnancy, due to consequences they can have on the health of both the mother and the baby:
• Raw seafood, such as oysters or uncooked sushi
• Cheese with a white, 'mouldy' rind, such as Brie and Camembert, blue-veined cheeses like Stilton, uncooked ricotta and fetta
• Raw or undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs. All are possible sources of bacteria that can harm an unborn child.
• Liver and liver products should be avoided, too, because they may contain large amounts of vitamin A, too much of which could be bad for a developing baby.
Another way in which a woman must look after her health during pregnancy, is by making sure she limits her drug intake significantly. For a pregnant woman, drug abuse is very dangerous as it can effect a women's own health but then can also effect the development of her baby. If drugs are used the baby maybe not develop and ultimately develop a deformity
All illegal drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, pose a threat to a pregnant woman. Legal substances, such as alcohol and tobacco, are also dangerous, and even medical drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, can be very harmful and sometimes fatal. Many women choose to avoid alcoholic drinks during pregnancy. Australian Guidelines recommend that women who are pregnant, hoping to become pregnant, or breastfeeding avoid alcohol altogether. This is because there is no clear evidence of what amount of alcohol is safe
After about ten weeks of the pregnancy, most of the body organs and systems of the baby begin to develop. During this stage, some drugs (alcohol in particular) can cause malformations within the developing foetus, in organs such as the heart and a variety of limbs.