Alcohol has been associated with higher rates of miscarriage, low birth weights, and a condition called fetal alcohol syndrome that can include mental retardation and other defects. To be safe, eliminate or cut down on caffeine. During pregnancy it's safest if you sweeten foods and beverages with sugar and other natural sweeteners like honey or molasses, rather than artificial sweeteners. Make sure, though, that sugars don't take the place of more nutrient-dense calories in your diet. Foods to Forgo One concern for pregnant women is food contamination.
Contaminants can exist naturally in foods or come from pollution.
Even a little bit of contamination can affect the health of your baby. To avoid lead contamination, fruit juice and acidic foods should be stored in glass or plastic instead of leaded crystal or ceramic containers. Test the lead content of tap water from older homes with lead pipes and faucets. Large fish can be contaminated with mercury. Because these toxins usually accumulate in fat, stick with low-fat fish and trim the fat off the fish you eat.