Eating fruit and veg 'halves miscarriage risk'

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Expecting? A good diet with fruit and veg is vital in pregnancy.

A good diet is vital in pregnancy. Eating fruit and vegetables daily halves the chance of miscarriage, research shows.

A study of thousands of pregnant women revealed those who included fruit and veg regularly in their diet were 46 per cent less likely to miscarry.

Chocolate, vitamin tablets, dairy products, fish and white meat also increased the odds of a successful pregnancy.

Underweight women, however, 70% more likely to miscarry. There was also a slight increase in miscarriage in women whose partners were over the age of 45.

This adds to suggestions that men, like women, have a biological clock, and the quality of their sperm deteriorates over time.

A spokesman for the Miscarriage Association, which funded the study, said: We speak to thousands of women who are desperate to find out why they have miscarried and what they can do to prevent it happening again.

While we still don't have all the answers, these findings are going to help women who want to reduce their risk of losing a baby in pregnancy.'

Although the study did not look at the amount of fruit and veg that should be eaten, pregnant women – like the general population – are usually advised to eat five servings a day.

Vitamin tablets were also found to be highly beneficial, halving the risk of miscarriage.

Eating dairy products such as milk, yoghurt and cheese daily cut the risk by a quarter, while twice-weekly meals of white meat or fish reduced it by around 15 per cent.

Those with a sweet tooth also benefited, with regular chocolate eaters 15 percent less likely to miscarry.

The researchers, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said their findings highlighted the importance of a healthy, balanced diet during pregnancy.

Each year, around a quarter of a million British women face the heartache of miscarriage, with most losing their babies during the first three months of pregnancy.

Researcher Dr Maureen Maconochie said: An estimated one in five pregnancies in the UK will end in miscarriage.

It can be a very distressing experience for women, and any advice on how they can improve their chances of achieving a full term pregnancy is likely to be welcome.'

The study of almost 7,000 women looked for links between diet and lifestyle and miscarriage. One of the most important factors was fruit and vegetable consumption, with those who ate the foods daily or almost daily benefiting most.

It is thought that those who eat lots of fruit and vegetables have a healthy diet overall, meaning their bodies are better prepared for pregnancy.

Women who are underweight probably do not eat as well, and were much more likely to miscarry.

The study, published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, also confirmed the importance of a stress-free pregnancy.

Separation, divorce, illness and a stressful job all raised the likelihood of miscarriage, with those who felt relaxed and happy early in pregnancy being 60% less likely to miscarry.

 

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