Abstract

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY: MYTHS OR REALITY

Sana Sarfaraz, Bushra Rubab, Wajeeha Fatima, Saima Ramzan, Mahira Iqbal

ABSTRACT

Gestation or Pregnancy is an important part of female populations reproductive cycle all over the world. It normally consists of three trimesters and care should be taken during each trimester for safe delivery of the offspring into the world. The objective of the study was to evaluate awareness regarding contraindication of specific fruits and vegetables during pregnancy, whether they were myths or was there any reality in it, is it associated with particular trimester, did the docters believe such myths and were the patients councelled to avoid food based on myths. It is a cross sectional survey based study in which 250 women belonging to different backgrounds were questioned regarding their beliefs about the myths. From our results we concluded that majority of women were aware of the myths and avoided specific fruit or vegetable about which they had heard myths. The docters did not councel patients to avoid any fruit or vegetable unless there was a comorbid disease associated with pregnancy. Women also avoided some fruits and vegetables due to symptom of nausea and vomiting.

Keywords: Pregnancy, Trimester, Miscarriage, Contraindicated.