So many mums-to-be, their families, friends and colleagues, are unsure of the best ways to take care of themselves through pregnancy.
We talked to expectant mums across the country to find out their views on pregnancy
health - what they feel are the essential dos and don'ts and how they find information
about the best ways to care for themselves during pregnancy. How right were they?
Click here for some of the topics we covered as we spoke to more
than one thousand mums-to-be; and learn some vital facts to help explode some of the
pregnancy myths we found!
And we're still gathering your ideas. Join our poll, and vote now to tell us what you think about the information that's available through pregnancy in Britain today. Just click on one of the 3 sentences below to make your opinion heard.
Which of these most accurately describes your feelings on pregnancy information:
- There isn't enough available out there.
Vote for this statement now. - There's lots of information but it's often confusing and contradictory.
Vote for this statement now. - There's plenty of information and it's all helpful.
Vote for this statement now.
We're publishing the results of our poll and of our survey through National Pregnancy Week, so make sure you visit our site from September 5th to find out what the mums-to-be of the UK feel about a whole range of pregnancy health issues from workplace attitudes to the role of dads.
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We are looking for:
- Women who have experienced pregnancy discrimination at work.
- Women who found it impossible to stop smoking or drinking during pregnancy.
- Women who had relationship troubles because their partner refused to stop smoking during pregnancy.
- Women who went to special lengths to get their figure back after pregnancy.
- Women who had their first baby when they were over 40.
- Women who felt they didn't get enough support from their GP in the first 3 months of pregnancy (ie before seeing their midwife for the first time.)
- Women who were very overweight when they became pregnant.
In the meantime, remember, if you have a pregnancy question or concern and you want to speak to a midwife, call Tommy's pregnancy information line on 0870 777 30 60 to speak to a midwife from Tommy's.
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Some of the questions we asked, and the right answers...
- Pregnancy at work
- Mother's age
- Pre-conception care
- Alcohol in pregnancy
- Nutrition and diet
- Information
What we know
Last year's National Pregnancy Week's survey found that a third of
pregnant women over-exerted themselves during pregnancy and the biggest single reason for
this was job pressure. Pregnancy discrimination in the workplace remains a huge problem in
the UK: the Equal Opportunities Commission recently published a report which revealed that
over 1000 discrimination cases are brought every single year.
What Tommy's is doing to help
Tommy's Pregnancy Accreditation Programme reaches
more than 300,000 working women and their managers each year, providing information about
how to manage a working pregnancy. We explain how to maximise health and minimise workplace
risks like stress, depression, smoking and high blood pressure.
Promoting better relationships between pregnant employees and their employers, and improving the working conditions of pregnant women in the workplace will give every working mum-to-be the best chance of a healthy baby.
To find out more about the programme, click here, or phone 08707 70 70 70.
We asked you...
This year we looked more specifically at the problem areas,
asking women whether they were given leave to attend antenatal classes, whether they were
passed over for promotion and whether they missed key meetings simply because they were
pregnant.
What we know
The age that women are getting pregnant is diversifying rapidly.
While the number of teenage pregnancies continues to increase, so does the number of women
who are waiting longer to have children - the average age for pregnancy is now over 29,
compared to 26.6 in 1971.
What Tommy's is doing to help
While we believe it's every woman's right to have
a baby, whatever her age, we do think everyone should know the facts. That's why we're
running a groundbreaking new research project into teenage pregnancy to assess:
- risk of pregnancy complications like growth restricted, low birth-weight or pre-term babies
- whether young mums-to-be are getting the vitamins and nutrients essential for the growth of their baby
- whether the fact that younger expectant mums can still be growing during pregnancy themselves, impacts the growth of their unborn baby.
We aim to help give pregnant teenagers the best possible chance for a healthy pregnancy
and a healthy baby.
We asked you...
We asked what you think - is there an age that's too old or
young to have a baby? Did you wait to have your baby? If so, what was your reason - career,
personal choice, medical?
What we know
Giving your baby the best possible start isn't just about caring
for yourself and your baby through pregnancy. Research shows that the food you eat, and the
shape you're in before pregnancy can also influence the health of your baby. It can also
affect how quickly you conceive if you're trying for a baby. And partners play a role here
too. It's important that both mums and dads-to-be ensure they have a balanced diet and are a
healthy weight to maximise chances of conception, and to give their babies the best chance
in the early weeks of pregnancy.
What Tommy's is doing to help
We aim to provide support and information to help
give all parents-to-be the best chance of a healthy baby. We know that pre-conception health
is an important factor in determining health in pregnancy and preventing complications like
problems with development of the baby in the early weeks, and early miscarriage.
So to give all would-be parents the best chance of fulfilling their dream, we've put together a guide all about the best ways to get in shape to conceive! Tommy's guide to pre-pregnancy care covers important information and tips including:
- taking folic acid – women should start taking 0.4mg folic acid supplements as soon as they decide to start trying to get pregnant
- eating foods high in zinc, including wholegrain bread, meat, cheese, eggs and milk – both mum and dad-to-be should be encouraged to eat more of these foods as zinc may improve male fertility and helps with the healthy development of the fetus
- reducing alcohol consumption – again for both mums and dads-to-be, alcohol can seriously reduce the chances of conception as it damages some essential vitamins, and can damage the fetus.
Our guide also runs through essentials like foods to avoid, (and those to indulge in!),
risks of infection, men's pages, and stopping contraception.
And it's free! To order your copy, phone Tommy's pregnancy information line, on 08707 777 30 60.
We asked you...
Are pregnant women are doing the right things during
pre-conception? How many women have unplanned pregnancies? We asked these questions and
more to try to find out how the mums-to-be of the UK understand pre-pregnancy health.
What we know
We know that many women are still finding it very hard to give up
or cut down on smoking and drinking during pregnancy. Last year's survey showed that 2 in
5 women continue to drink and 1 in 5 smoke whilst pregnant.
What Tommy's is doing to help
We're doing everything we can to make the facts
simple and clear. It's often difficult to know and understand it all, so we've summarised
the basic information.
Heavy drinking can severely damage your baby because alcohol passes quickly and easily across the placenta. Some alcohol from every drink you have will reach your baby's bloodstream. This is most dangerous during weeks 6 to 12 of your pregnancy when the vital organs are being formed, but each stage of pregnancy has a different risk associated with drink alcohol.
The safest option is not to drink at all during pregnancy, however very light drinking
is unlikely to harm your baby. Bingeing is far more harmful than drinking regular small
amounts. Limit yourself to one or two units of alcohol a week. (A unit is equal to half a
pint of normal strength beer, lager or cider, a single measure of spirits, or a small glass
of wine. Remember, home poured drinks are always more generous than pub measures!)
If you have been used to drinking a lot and find it hard to cut down now you're pregnant, you may need extra help. You can call Drinkline which offers personal help and support on 0800 917 8282.
We asked you...
We looked at how well expectant mums understand the dangers of very
heavy drinking and the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome as well as looking at the problem of
unplanned pregnancies and the fact that many women smoke and drink in the early stages of
pregnancy simply because they hadn't realised they were pregnant.
What we know
Many women remain unsure about what they should and shouldn't be
eating during pregnancy. For example, last year's survey revealed that two thirds of
pregnant women said they would eat Parma ham and swordfish but Parma ham is raw meat so
carries a risk of toxoplasmosis, which can result in miscarriage or stillbirth. Swordfish
should also be avoided as it contains high levels of mercury which could cause neurological
damage to the baby.
What Tommy's is doing to help
We provide clear and up-to-date information about
pregnancy health, including what is good (and not so good) to eat during pregnancy. Check
out the tables below for more about what the experts recommend.
Good enough to eat
| Food type | Good sources | How many portions per day? | Why are they important? |
| Protein | Chicken; red meat; fish; nuts and pulses. | 2-3 portions (one portion is around 50-75g of meat, poultry or fish). | Protein is vital for the growth of your baby as it builds news tissue for bones, muscles and organs |
| Dairy Products | Milk; cheese and yoghurt. | 1-2 portions (one portion is around 300ml of milk, or 30g of cheese). | Dairy products provide calcium and vitamin D - essential for strong bones and teeth. |
| Carbohydrates | Wholegrain bread; pasta; rice; potatoes; and breakfast cereals. | 5-10 portions (one portion is around half a cup of cooked pasta, or one slice of bread). | Carbohydrates are packed with energy and provide fibre and protein. |
| Fruit and vegetables | Eat a combination of differently coloured fruit and vegetables. Every pigment has different nutrients, each key to your baby's development. | 5-10 portions (one portion is half a cup of cooked vegetables or one piece of fruit). | Fruit and vegetables provide essential vitamins, minerals and fibre. |
| Fluids | Plain water and fruit juice. | 2 litres. | Fluids keep you hydrated and help avoid constipation which is a common complaint during pregnancy. |
Foods to avoid
| Infection | Foods to avoid | |
| Listeria: | A bacteria which causes a mild gastroenteritis or flu-like illness. It can also lead to miscarriage and stillbirth. | Pâté, un-pasteurised dairy products and mould ripened cheeses (eg, Brie). (Cheese made from pasteurised milk is fine, including hard or creamed cheese, mozzarella, ricotta or yoghurt). Ready-cooked meals may contain Listeria, so heat thoroughly. |
| Salmonella: | An infection which is a common cause of food poisoning, which can cause severe symptoms during pregnancy such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea. The infection causes harm to the unborn child and can lead to miscarriage and stillbirth. | Raw eggs or undercooked meat may carry salmonella. Cook all meat thoroughly. Ensure eggs are cooked so whites and yolk are solid. (Desserts like mousses, and sauces like mayonnaise may contain raw egg. Shop bought, non-refrigerated mayonnaise is safe.) |
| Toxoplasmosis: | An infection caused by a tiny parasite which can cause miscarriage or damage to the unborn baby if caught by the mother at any stage of pregnancy. | Avoid raw or undercooked meat, and smoked-only or cured meat like Parma ham. Avoid unwashed vegetables and fruit, and un-pasteurised goats' milk and goats' milk products. |
We asked you...
We found out whether pregnant women ate differently through
pregnancy. We asked if expectant mums changed their dietary habits when planning for a
baby.
What we know
There is a direct link between stress and pregnancy problems like
miscarriage and premature birth. Not having the right information and wondering whether
you're doing the right thing can be one of the major stresses of being pregnant.
What Tommy's is doing to help
We run a comprehensive pregnancy information
service offering expectant mums and their families the information and support they need to
find the best ways to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
We offer:
- a pregnancy information line staffed by friendly midwives who are available to answer your questions and give you all the information and support you need for a healthy pregnancy – 0870 777 30 60.
- 15 information leaflets on a variety of topics related to health in pregnancy
- 2 pregnancy books with information about what to expect through pregnancy presented in a fun style which is easy to read and full of essential tips.
Each month we respond to hundreds of requests for literature, and our midwives support thousands of women each year, helping them to reduce known pregnancy risk factors.
We asked you...
We want to know about the information you receive about
pregnancy. Is there enough out there? Is is clear or confusing? Is there a time in pregnancy
where no information is provided?
For more information about any of the topics above, or if you have any questions about your pregnancy, phone our pregnancy information line on 0870 777 30 60 to speak to one of Tommy's midwives.
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