three pill bottles

Pregnancy scare stories – the truth

By Pregnancy & birth

Keeping safe

30 May 2008 15:23

We get the low-down on whether those scaremongering pregnancy stories are worth the paper they’re printed on

Reading the newspaper can be a bit of an ordeal when you’re pregnant. Every week, there’s a story about yet another thing that’s now off limits for mums-to-be – and chances are it’ll be something you did just yesterday, leaving you panicking that you’ve harmed your baby.

So, to put your mind at rest, we asked our experts to delve behind some recent horror story headlines and explain whether they’re worth the worry.

‘Oily fish linked to prematurity’

Oily fish is renowned for boosting unborn babies’ brain development, but a recent American study linked it to premature labour. The researchers claimed the risk was caused by high levels of mercury in fish such as mackerel, salmon and sardines, particularly canned varieties.

P&b verdict Firstly, let’s put the risk into proportion – of 1024 women studied, only 44 gave birth prematurely. ‘But mercury does cross the placenta, so stick to the Food Standards Agency’s guideline of one portion of oily fish a week,’ says nutritional therapist Alli Godbold.

‘Fresh fish is less likely to be contaminated than tinned, plus it’s higher in omega-3, the fatty acid that’s important for your baby’s development.’ And more importantly, avoid marlin, swordfish and shark – these contain the highest levels of mercury.

‘IVF link to pregnancy complication’

If you conceived through IVF, this is the last thing you want to hear. But Norwegian research suggests you’re at increased risk of placenta praevia, where the placenta implants at the bottom of the womb, blocking your baby’s exit. This can cause bleeding and premature labour, and means you’ll need a caesarean. It’s thought IVF pregnancies are more at risk because the embryo is implanted lower in the uterus to improve the chances of success.

P&b verdict ‘You have to balance the advantages of IVF with the risk of placenta praevia,’ says obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Gabrielle Downey. ‘The most important thing is that you’re pregnant. Your 20-week scan will determine the position of the placenta, and if it’s low, you’ll be monitored to avoid the risk of complications.’ In any case, although placenta praevia can cause problems, often the only consequence is forgoing a natural birth – not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.

‘Hair dye in pregnancy causes childhood cancer’

It’s hard enough to feel glam in pregnancy without enduring nine months of bad hair days. But with a study by the University of North Carolina linking hair dye with a rare type of childhood cancer, should you be cancelling that colourist appointment?

P&b verdict The study sounds pretty terrifying, but the scientists themselves admit that more research is needed to prove the link. ‘There’s no reliable evidence to suggest pregnant women shouldn’t dye their hair,’ says midwife Karen Hone.

‘Your hair is dead, so it can’t absorb dye, and only the slightest amount would be absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin.’ Oh, and the study only found a link with cancer when mums-to-be used dye in the last month of pregnancy – so if in doubt, get your roots done earlier!

‘Caesarean fertility warning’

Ah, caesareans – the tabloids’ favourite subject. Within the past year, studies have linked a previous caesarean to stillbirth, placenta praevia, placental abruption (where the placenta detaches from the uterus, causing haemorrhaging), and future fertility problems. According to a Scottish study, 67 per cent of women who’d had a caesarean went on to have another baby – six per cent fewer than those who’d had natural births.

P&b verdict Sections are riskier than vaginal deliveries, but any link with fertility problems is hazy, says Dr Downey. ‘The research suggests that women who’ve had a caesarean are less likely to have more children through choice, rather than because of any surgical trauma,’ she explains.

A previous caesarean does increase the chances of certain complications, but you’ll be under consultant care in subsequent pregnancies to monitor potential problem areas. And, Dr Downey says  there’s no reason why you can’t attempt a natural birth. ‘Seventy per cent of women who have a “trial of labour” after a previous section achieve a vaginal delivery.

‘Obese mums-to-be put babies at risk’

Put that doughnut down… Researchers from the University of Teesside recently interviewed staff from 16 maternity units, who said that obese women have a higher risk of complications such as pre-eclampsia (a life-threatening placental disorder), high blood pressure and diabetes. They also said that overweight women were harder to scan, making it difficult to check your baby’s wellbeing.

P&b verdict This one is true – obesity does increase your risk of complications. ‘Pregnant women often overindulge because they’re “eating for two”,’ says Alli. ‘You don’t have to deny yourself treats entirely, but do follow the basics of healthy eating – plenty of fresh fruit and veg, lean meat, chicken and fish, and wholegrain foods rather than white, sugary, fatty ones.’

And what if you’re obese already? ‘Pregnancy isn’t the time for faddy diets – you certainly don’t want to cut out food groups or miss meals,’ says Alli. ‘But you do need to be more cautious about your diet and avoid overeating. Gentle exercise, like a brisk walk or swim, will help, too.’

‘Peanuts during pregnancy increase allergy risk’

According to a Montreal researcher, eating peanuts in pregnancy quadruples the risk of your baby being allergic to nuts, even if there’s no family history of allergies. The theory goes that babies can be ‘sensitised’ to peanuts in the womb, causing allergic reactions later, which, in extreme cases, can be fatal.

P&b verdict The jury’s still out. Another recent study by the University of Portsmouth found that in most cases, mothers of children with nut allergies had avoided peanuts in pregnancy, showing no link between the two. ‘The current advice is to avoid peanuts only if you have a close family history of allergies,’ says Karen. ‘Other nuts are thought to be safe.’

‘Lethal bug hiding in healthy salads’

You thought you were being virtuous by opening a bag of salad for lunch, but no – research suggests that prepared salads often carry a bacterium that can cause a rare but serious infection called listeriosis. Pregnant women are 20 times more vulnerable, thanks to a slightly lowered immune system, and the infection can lead to miscarriage, premature labour and stillbirth.

P&b verdict Listeriosis only affects about one pregnancy in 20,000, but the consequences are serious enough that the Food Standards Agency recommends avoiding the main culprits – soft and veined cheeses and paté. Bagged salads aren’t currently blacklisted, but you should wash them yourself before eating.

‘Personally, I would just buy a whole lettuce and prepare it yourself,’ says Alli. ‘It doesn’t take long to chop it up, wash it thoroughly then dry it in a clean tea towel. You can then keep it in a sealed bag in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.’

‘Pregnant women should completely avoid alcohol’

Until recently, mums-to-be were advised not to exceed one to two units of alcohol, once or twice a week. But now the Government recommends avoiding booze entirely.
That’s because alcohol can cause conditions ranging from poor growth and learning disabilities to facial deformities. No one knows exactly how much it takes to cause problems, hence the new guidance to abstain altogether.

P&b verdict ‘There’s not enough evidence to suggest that there’s any safe amount of alcohol in pregnancy, which is why the Department of Health now recommends not drinking at all,’ says Karen. ‘If you must drink, stick to one or two units a week, and definitely don’t get drunk.’

Don’t panic if you’ve been drinking what you thought was a ‘safe’ amount so far –the Government stresses that they’ve changed their advice simply so mums-to-be don’t underestimate the risk of drinking, rather than because of any concrete evidence linking the occasional glass of Pinot with pregnancy complications.

‘4D scans threat to baby’

It’s the ultimate bonding experience, but are 4D scans, where you see lifelike, moving images of your baby, actually putting him in danger? A recent article in the British Medical Journal warned women off ‘keepsake’ scans, because they expose babies to higher-frequency doses of ultrasound than conventional scans, and are less likely to be performed by trained sonographers.

P&b verdict A bit of a grey area, this. ‘Because 4D scans are so new, there’s no long-term evidence to prove whether they’re safe or not,’ says Dr Downey. ‘They are theoretically more risky, because of the higher levels of ultrasound waves.

Midwives and obstetricians only recommend scans for medical reasons, but if you do have a 4D scan, choose a company with doctors or trained sonographers – skilled clinicians are experienced in minimising ultrasound exposure.’