AlcoholWhy you should avoid itAlcohol passes through the placenta and into the fetal system, but the fetus is far less able to process alcohol than the mother, so a few drinks for you means a lot of drinks for your baby. There’s plenty of evidence

Although there is no new research to suggest an essential change to the rules about drinking alcohol in pregnancy, the Department of Health have decided to amend their own guidelines to give a more clear message to women trying for a baby and those

foetus,” explained researcher Professor Deidre Murphy. She added that more investigation was needed into the effect of alcohol on unborn babies.The Department of Health recommends mums-to-be avoid alcohol altogether but if they must drink, to limit

their behaviour and drink to improve their child's health because that isn’t the message at all,” said Dr Yvonne Kelly, from University College London, who led the study."Children whose mums reported drinking low levels of alcohol weren’t at increased risk

, the Department of Health has recently changed its advice to recommend that pregnant women avoid alcohol altogether. So, if you're pregnant and considering whether or not to drink, or how much, then don't beat yourself up about that birthday glass of Pinot Noir

, and because research has found that extreme alcohol abuse can affect an unborn child, mothers who decide to have the odd drink are always advised to make it very occasional. Understandably, other pregnant and breastfeeding women choose to avoid such drinks

potential discomforts of pregnancy.Vitamins and mineralsFolic acidCalcium | Calcium sources other than milkIronMagnesiumProtein in pregnancyFoodstuffs and drinks to avoidFoods to avoidAlcohol: why you should avoid itAlcohol: tips for cutting back

in moderation continue to swing back and forth. Certainly, because alcohol goes into your bloodstream and your baby gets all his nutrition from your blood, it is hard to avoid the fact that alcohol in pregnancy is, generally speaking, not a good idea

, it damages the sperm DNA and passes on a risk of cancer to your child.3.    Avoid recreational drugs, as they can affect sperm quality.4.    Keep alcohol to a minimum – try and give up the beer and keep to just an occasional glass of wine; red is best for its

Although there are some unforeseen health problems in pregnancy which are beyond our control, there are some potential problems such as high blood pressure, swelling, aches and pains, or problem births, which we can try to avoid through good health