Questions about Pregnancy, Answered.

Q: “I think I am getting my period 3 days earlier. The problem is it’s very light and there’s no fresh blood. Only light brown spots.

This is not usual! I have hypo-thryroidism and I realised that I missed my eltroxin for a week now. Would that affect my cycle?”

Submitted by Virgie Leah Bagares-Nemis

(Virgie recently confirmed that she is pregnant with her third child! Congratulations to the Nemis brood!)

A: “Hi, Virgie! It (being pregnant) is an answer! It is an answer! While going through pregnancy you understandably have to make some lifestyle and nutrition alterations.

As you are already pregnant, most probably you are already checked for Toxoplasmosis and Rubella during her previous pregnancy. Toxoplasmosis infection during pregnancy can induce the miscarriage, foetal malformations with the damage to the eyes, brain of the foetus.

In case of negative result for Toxoplasmosis there are some precautions to avoid the contamination during pregnancy: avoid to eat raw and undercooked meat, to wash with a lot of water the fruit and vegetables, do not drink unpasteurised goat milk and if there is a cat at home, try to get someone else to clean your cat’s litter box every day.

Another possible dangerous infection during pregnancy is listeriosis which can be responsible for the miscarriage, preterm birth and neonatal infection.

What steps can I take to prevent listeriosis?

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provide the following advice for pregnant women and all at-risk consumers:

Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats unless they are reheated until steaming hot.

Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, and Mexican-style cheeses such as “queso blanco fresco.” Hard cheeses, semi-soft cheeses such as mozzarella, pasteurised processed cheese slices and spreads, cream cheese, and cottage cheese can be safely consumed.

Do not eat refrigerated pâté or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pâté and meat spreads can be eaten.

Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood unless it is an ingredient in a cooked dish such as a casserole. Examples of refrigerated smoked seafood include salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna, and mackerel which are most often labelled as “nova-style,” “lox,” “kippered,” “smoked,” or “jerky.” This fish is found in the refrigerated section or sold at deli counters of grocery stores and delicatessens. Canned fish such as salmon and tuna or shelf-stable smoked seafood may be safely eaten.

Do not drink raw (unpasteurised) milk or eat foods that contain unpasteurised milk.

Of course, it is recommended to reduce the quantity of caffeine drinks, to stop smoking and alcohol, to avoid eating very frequently some fish with possible high mercury (albacore tuna), to avoid hot tubes, sauna.”

Dr Mira Bajirova
Medical Director and Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology IVF (Paris)
Euromed Clinic
04-3945422