View report page

Indigestion.
Generally speaking, fried food is much less digestible
than boiled or steamed food, and is better avoided during
pregnancy. Digestion may be helped by eating and drinking
separately, that is to say, the mother should take her meal as
dry as is palatable, avoiding gravy or soup, and later she may
have the fluid part of the meal. If this does not help, the Doctor
should be consulted.
Teeth.
It is always wise to have the teeth seen to at intervals,
and especially during pregnancy any dental defects should be
treated. The expectant mother should consult a Dentist, so that
her mouth will be made clean and healthy before baby arrives.
The state of the teeth has a very important bearing on the
general health.
Diet.
An ordinary mixed Diet is what the mother requires, but
she must also see that it contains all the things her child needs.
Milk is more important than any other single item in the
mother's food. She is well advised to have up to 2 pints every
day to build up the baby's skeleton and teeth, and to protect
her own teeth. If preferred, the milk can be taken with equal
benefit in any prepared form, for example, milk puddings, junket
Ovaltine, jellies made entirely with milk, blancmange, custards,
groats made with milk, milk with soda water. All foods derived
from milk are also excellent, for example, butter and cheese,
and may be taken liberally.
Vegetables.
All vegetables are particularly good. Two helpings daily
should be taken, if possible. Lettuce, carrots, watercress,
tomatoes and spinach are especially valuable. The water in
which the vegetables have been cooked need not be thrown away,
but may be used in gravies or soups. It contains valuable salts
for the baby's teeth.
Fruit.
Take some uncooked fruit every day. Cooked fruits and
dried fruits are very good.
Meat.
Meat, fish, liver, etc., can be taken once daily, unless the
Doctor advises otherwise. Seasoned or salted meat, such as
bacon, ham and sausages are generally not advisable.
Eggs.
Eggs are excellent, and one may be taken daily, unless the
Doctor advises otherwise.
35