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http://www.bygpub.com/natural/pregnancy.htm

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If you choose to avoid BPA while pregnant, a wide range of BPA-free plastics and
glass containers are available.

Lead is linked to low birth weight, preterm delivery, and developmental delays in
children. If you have an older home with pipes made of lead, it can leach into your
tap water, and home filtration systems may not prevent it from reaching you.

If you�re in doubt about your tap water, have it tested.

Bottled water isn't necessarily purer; it's often repurposed municipal water.

Caffeine from coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy beverages, and other sources may
increase the risk of miscarriage, reduced birth weight, and stillbirth, but the
research is conflicting. The March of Dimes recommends limiting caffeine
consumption to 200 milligrams a day. That's about the amount found in 12 ounces of
coffee.

Unpasteurized juices, such as cider purchased from roadside stands, at farms, or in

stores. These products are prone to germs, including E. coli. Check the label to be
sure juice is pasteurized.

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"While it�s probably safe to drink the herbal teas found on supermarket shelves,
pregnant women should avoid large quantities of herbal tea, and completely avoid
herbal supplements," Lu says.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics says that avoiding certain food allergens, such
as peanuts and peanut products, during pregnancy and when nursing a child may
reduce allergy in susceptible children.

But there�s little, if any, benefit to avoiding allergens during pregnancy and
breastfeeding for everyone else.

Before changing your diet, talk to your doctor about your family history of
allergies and asthma, and speak with a registered dietitian who is knowledgeable
about food allergies.

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Excess Calories

You�re eating for two now, but you don�t need twice the calories. Gaining too much
weight threatens your health, and may increase the risk of childhood overweight in
your future child.

In the second trimester, add 340 calories a day to your pre-pregnancy calorie
needs, and 450 a day more in the third trimester. But if you�re very overweight at
conception, or if your physical activity level drops, you may need fewer calories
during pregnancy. Still, pregnancy is not a time to try to lose weight. Ask your
doctor or dietitian what calorie level is right for you.

There is room for treats like ice cream, chips, and cookies during pregnancy, but
it�s important to choose foods that do double duty by providing the additional
calories you need, as well as the extra nutrients that maximize your baby�s
development.