What you eat during pregnancy may give your child allergies, asthma

What you eat during pregnancy may give your child allergies, asthma

What you ingest now has never been as important as it is now that you are pregnant. A bad diet can affect the development of the baby growing in your womb – diets low on nutrients such as iodine, iron, folate, calcium and zinc, says United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), can lead to stillbirth, low birthweight, wasting and developmental delays for children. And studies show the echoes of nutritional dips can be heard through the years. Studies now point to a mum’s pregnancy health also affecting a child’s predisposition to asthma and even allergies. A study funded by the US-based National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2016 found that the micro bacterial communities in an infant can increase their risk of developing asthma and childhood allergies. This gut population grows while still in the womb, affected by the mum’s diet. The good news is, while some of the conditions are genetic, others may be avoided with attention to the plate. Dr Farida Pithawala, Specialist Obstetrics and Gynaecologist with Prime Medical Centre, says: “The maternal diet during pregnancy is thought to be one of the most influential factors on child health and development. Pregnant women should consume a balanced