Alcohol is best entirely avoided in early months, and kept to no more than one unit at mealtimes during later months .

 > Danger of fetal alcohol syndrome > prenatal mortality , or physical and mental development impairment in live births .

Caffeine in drinks or drugs at greater than ~ 100mg daily

 > Raised possibility of spontaneous abortion in late 1st or 2nd trimester

Tobacco consumption (e.g. cigarettes) should be avoided

> Fetal Growth Retardation leads to underweight babies at birth

Avoid soft & blue-veined cheeses or unpasteurised milk products , raw or undercooked egg foods, undercooked meat , poultry & pâté

> Bacterial contamination may cause disease such as listeriosis with resulting miscarriage , still birth , or    severe illness in the new born baby

Liver and liver products are not desirable during pregnancy

> An excess of vitamin 'A' is teratogenic, leading to various malformations - ( e.g. craniofacial ,  cardiac    or thymic ) in the fetus

Fresh fruit and vegetables should be thoroughly washed to remove soil and dust traces ( recommended to wear rubber gloves)

> toxoplasmosis from soil parasites (e.g. in cat faeces) may be passed to the fetus and cause serious    problems such as eye or brain damage

"Pica" eating is undesirable and likely to be harmful

> Ingestion of clay, gravel, grass, clothing, laundry starch, charcoal, ashes, plaster , baking soda, mothballs or other non-food items may lead to reduction of uptake of proper nutrients, fecal impaction, fetal  hemolytic anemia, parasitic infections