Any Euro Mamas out there - what pregnancy advice is given in Europe?

[Essie3]

Just curious. What do they tell you to avoid? Do they advise you to do anything special?

Here's hoping that the whole of Europe recommends a bottle of champagne per week for pregnancy

[Seabright]

I read in an article in the Guardian that in Spain you're told not to eat salad. Hurrah! I always thought Rabbit Food was meant for rabbits, not humans.

I've eaten whatever I've fancied. I found out I was pregnant whilst in France. I'd have starved to death if I'd have avoided everything on the UK "Do Not Eat" list.

[Sassafrass]

Sweden recommends no drinking what so ever. You also get a list a mile long of what not to eat. We're very safety concious =)

[MimieD]

I was living in France when pregnant with DD, there were no real 'forbidden' foods, although sushi and blue cheese were 'discouraged', but eat certain foods (e.g tuna) in moderation. Two glasses of wine per week e.g. was fine and no one bat an eyelid at the local brasserie when a pregnant woman was enjoying a glass. A little espresso in the morning and after lunch was again no problem. Care was consultant-led by the way.

I was worried in the UK that they would give me a whole list of 'don'ts' now I'm expecting DC2 but thankfully my midwife advised me now to just follow the same advice as I was given in France .

[belgo]

IN Belgium:

I've had blood tests that show I am CMV and toxoplamosis negetive. Both are a risk to the baby if I catch them during pregnancy. I have to avoid gardening and make sure that fruit and vegetables are well washed and peeled, and I shouldn't really eat salads in restaurants.

I'm more wary of the risk of food poisoning eg. salmonella as many people use raw eggs in cooking things like mousse, mayonnaise. The eggs are not always pastuerised. There are some dishes that use raw mince meat and I steer clear of them! I also don't eat sea food but then I don't like sea food anyway.

I also have to avoid soft cheeses due to the risk of listeria.

I haven't been given much advice on alcohol during pregnancy. They just expect you to use your common sense.

[bergentulip]

Holland - not given any list of foods, but they are very serious about alcohol consumption.
I arrived here 6.5mths preggers with ds2, when they got to alcohol consumption, I said yes, couple of glasses of wine a week, to which this midwife looked appalled and then got some literature out for me to take home. I said, well, advice by my midwife in UK was - be sensible... and with DS1 etc etc.... basically told her to leave me to be sensible on my own thanks....
she was not having any of it!! (!)

[aiti72]

In Finland: Three cups of coffee a day recommended limit, many pregnant women drink a lot more! I've always found this interesting, even before this resent caffeine research, nordic countries being so strict with alcohol during pregnancy and then our babies swim in caffeine! Personally, if I had to choose -purely by pregnant instinct- from a mug of coffee or class of wine, I'd take the wine.

[bergentulip]

Agree with that theory. caffeine/alcohol.

By the way, pet peeve of mine is people referring to 'Europe' as if the UK is not part of it..... drives me mad .
Perhaps 'continental Europe' would help make the distinction correctly!

[dgomez]

ITALY :they are very health concious about eating in pregnancy, this is what I was told: avoid uncooked meets and no parma ham , roast beef etc, avoid ham and foods rich in salt and preservarives, avoid raw eggs and raw fish, avoid sugar and fizzy drinks, caffeine, alcohol, soft cheeses, moderate pasta and bread, lunch and dinner plenty of raw vegetables ( green leaf) washed in baking soda powder, plenty of vegetables in season at the moment, same for fruits, 5 units a day between fruits and vegetables, mature cheese, 1 yogurt a day, milk, cereals or bread and jam in the morning, plenty of seeds like pumpkin, flax seeds, sunflower, 5 spoons a day of virgin olive oil, 3 times a week fish, 3 times a week meat, 2 eggs a week, plenty of peas, beans and lentils. Once a week it's ok to have a sweet, an ice cream , or anything that you fancy, 2 liters of liquid a day, water is the best , also herbal tees.
I followed this "diet" and so far, at 21 weeks, I gained 3 kilos which is not bad! [hmn]

Ah, no gardening unless you use gloves and careful with your cat's litter.
Sorry message a bit too long!

[Essie3]

Ooh, good point Bergentulip - mea culpa!
Mind you, I'm Welsh and don't consider myself British even.
Don't get me started on Gordon Brown and the whole 'Britishness' thing. Or ClassicFM's 'British music' day - it was all English!!

[AHLH]

In Monaco, my sister wasn't really told not to eat/drink anything, but they were VERY strict with how much weight she put on. She saw the gynae/mw every week who told her much she should weigh to the nearest 250g! They even made her diet at one point. But she was back in her pre-baby jeans in a fortnight.

[staranise]

Spain:

You're tested for toxoplasmosis every trimester, hence no unwashed salad. Also no cured meat (chorizo, salami, jamon serrano etc). I was told to have a litre of milk a day (my mw was very emphatic about this!).

They're obsessed with weight and you're constantly warned about not putting too much on, even told to stay off fruit as it's "full of sugar!"

I was told not to drink alcohol but they drink gallons of coffee, all day, every day.

And they're also obsessed with pelvic floor execercises. The sadistic mw at the hospital insisting on watching while I did them to see whether I was doing them correctly !