Got a question? Our expert is here to help.
Got a question? Our expert is here to help.
Can I eat runny, soft-boiled eggs during pregnancy?
The problem with soft-boiled eggs is the risk of food poisoning, namely a salmonella infection. That’s why expectant mums are advised not to eat them. It is important to cook eggs fully as this process kills any bacteria that may be present on, or in, the eggs. This means the whole yolk and egg white should be solid and no longer runny. Unfortunately, washing the egg shells before cooking does not guarantee that bacteria is eliminated completely.
It is also important to avoid freshly made mayonnaise as that contains raw eggs. Bottled mayonnaise is pasteurised, so that is safe to consume. Salmonella food poisoning can be a serious illness as it can cause dehydration. You will experience severe vomiting and diarrhoea with abdominal pain. Other symptoms may include a high fever.
In severe cases, you may need to be admitted to hospital for an intravenous drip to restore or maintain hydration. Your immunity drops during pregnancy, so you are more prone to falling ill. Although salmonella doesn’t directly harm your unborn baby or cause abnormalities, any associated severe dehydration or high fever can do that.
What should I expect from my first check-up after delivery?
Your doctor will usually ask to see you between two and six weeks after you give birth, depending on whether you had a caesarean section or natural delivery. During the postpartum check-up, she will assess how well you’re healing, including the stitches if you had an episiotomy or tear during a vaginal delivery, or caesarean-section wound.
She will also do a vaginal examination to check if your uterus has contracted appropriately after the delivery, as well as a Pap smear if you had not taken the screening test in the past 12 months. Take this chance to talk about problems you may have encountered, such as breastfeeding or coping with your newborn.
Sometimes, new mums get postnatal blues. It is important that you share your state of well-being and seek help. Ask your doctor when you can resume normal activities, such as exercise or sexual intercourse again. If you’re not planning for another baby soon, she can recommend the appropriate birth-control methods as well.
Fertility can return as quickly as six weeks after delivery, particularly if you are not nursing. If you’re breastfeeding exclusively and your period has not returned, ovulation – and, in turn, conception – is unlikely to occur within six months of your baby’s birth.
ASK THE EXPERT
These questions were answered by Dr Goh Shen Li, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in S L Goh Women’s Clinic at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre D. Got a question? E-mail us at magyoungparents@sph.com.sg.
