• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work & Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
      • Readers’ Choice Awards
        • Lion City university application fairCareer guidance & help with university applications
        • Facing University challenges university in singaporePrepare your child for university in Singapore
        • Hari Raya Puasa bazaarHari Raya Puasa 2023 – how is it celebrated?
        • By Fable Farewell Gifts copyFarewell gifts for colleagues and friends in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Water play areas singapore vivo city shopping centresFree water playgrounds & water parks in Singapore!
        • FIBA 3X3What’s on this week and beyond
        • Hari Raya Puasa bazaarHari Raya Puasa 2023 – how is it celebrated?
        • 10 places for teenagers to hang out in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Lion City university application fairCareer guidance & help with university applications
        • Water play areas singapore vivo city shopping centresFree water playgrounds & water parks in Singapore!
        • 10 places for teenagers to hang out in Singapore
        • Mental health support for toddlers to teens
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • Contemporary Rugs and Floor Coverings – who bought what?
        • Havana Interiors home stylistsNeed decorators, home stylists or an interior designer?
        • Bedrooms: Bed frames, bedding & bedside tables!
        • Affordable art in SingaporeBuying affordable art in Singapore – it is possible!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • property in sydneyBuying property in Sydney
        • international health insurance for singapore expatsHealth insurance for Singapore expats
        • Travel News & Hotel Deals
        • Chloe from E&A InteriorsBuilding a holiday villa in Sri Lanka from start to finish!
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • easter brunches and buffets singaporeEaster Brunches – Easter food buffets & free-flow!
        • New Nibbles: Foodie news!
        • All you need to know about Crab Bee Hoon in Singapore
        • local desserts in singapore - Rainbow ice cream breadMust-try local desserts in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • Niessing gold jewellery in SingaporeI discovered a 150-year-old jeweller in Singapore!
        • slimming facial massage review facial ginzaWe review a Japanese slimming facial massage!
        • yun nam hair care abd scalp treatmentYun Nam Hair Care Reviews DIY Treatments
        • weight gainLondon Weight Management reviews dangers of weight gain
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • weight gainLondon Weight Management reviews dangers of weight gain
        • Here’s why sleep is so important
        • core exercises in singapore7 Singapore Pilates studios for core exercises & more!
        • at-home personal training yoga in singaporeYoga classes in Singapore, and the benefits!
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • Close

Guide to what you can and cannot eat while pregnant

29th September 2018 by Expat Living 2 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/guide-to-what-you-can-and-cannot-eat-while-pregnant/

From old wives’ tales to flat-out fallacies, there are many misconceptions about what can and can’t be consumed during pregnancy. We asked Dr Jasmine Mohd, gynaecologist and obstetrician, to set the record straight.

Myth: Pregnant women should avoid spicy foods.

Truth: Eating spicy foods like chilli or curry isn’t unsafe; it just means a higher chance of bad heartburn. Susceptible women should avoid spicy foods because pregnancy is known to make one more prone to gastric reflux or heartburn. However, if you’re not predisposed to heartburn, there’s no reason to stay away from hot foods. In fact, researchers have found that babies born to mothers who eat a diverse and varied diet during pregnancy and breast-feeding prove later to be more open to a wide range of flavours.

Mmm... salmon
Mmm… salmon

 

Myth: Eating seafood is a no-no during pregnancy.
Truth: The key here is that everything should be eaten in moderation. Fish is high in protein and other nutrients, and an important part of a healthy diet. However, avoid eating great amounts of “large fish” during pregnancy, as they accumulate mercury throughout their long lifespan. Also, avoid eating shark, swordfish and marlin, and don’t eat more than 150 grams (four medium cans) of tuna per week. There’s no limit on white fish or cooked shellfish, but it’s crucial to ensure that all shellfish is fully cooked. Smoked fish is fine to eat as well.

Myth: Eating for two means eating twice as much food.
Truth: In general, women should continue to eat the same amount as they ate before they became pregnant – approximately 1,800 to 2,000 calories a day. During the second half of the pregnancy, only an extra 300 calories or so are required. Eating healthily prevents excessive weight gain for mums and reduces the chance of gestational diabetes.

Myth: Drinking wine is okay, now and then.
Truth: Pregnant women should avoid alcohol altogether. Though consuming a small amount is unlikely to have any adverse effect on the baby, there’s still uncertainty regarding how much alcohol is actually safe to drink during pregnancy. The safest bet is to stay away from it completely.

Myth: Vitamin supplements aren’t necessary until you’re actually pregnant.
Truth: Folic acid supplementation of at least 400mcg per day prior to conception, and during the first trimester, has been proven to reduce the rate of neural tube defects, such as brain and spine malformations, in foetuses. At least 10mcg of vitamin D per day should also be consumed, both before pregnancy and while breast-feeding. Of course, it’s also important to obtain vitamins and minerals through a healthy and varied diet.

Papaya is A-OK
Papaya is A-OK

 

Myth: Eating papaya can cause a miscarriage.
Truth: Papaya consumption is safe and does not cause miscarriage. Papayas are rich in vitamin C, which is important, as well as vitamin A. Excessive amounts of vitamin A are teratogenic – capable of causing developmental malformations – but eating a normal amount of papaya is safe. Having said that, pregnant women should avoid taking supplements with large amounts of vitamin A or consuming large quantities of liver.

Want more? See our Kids section!

 

Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox
Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox

Categories: Health & Fitness Kids Mums & Babies Tags: pregnancy

Expat Living

Expat Living has everything to help you make the most of living in Singapore! We've got information on neighbourhoods, things to do and see, dining, entertainment, schools, travel, fashion, furniture, finance, health and beauty. And more!

You May Also Like

Here’s what inspires a top urologist in Singapore

breast reduction or change of breast size

Not happy with your breast size?

Here’s why sleep is so important

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.