Got a question? Our expert is here to help.
Got a question? Our expert is here to help.
Is it safe to have an occasional glas s of beer or wine when I’m pregnant? The standard advice is still strictly no alcohol of any sort during pregnancy as it will be passed on to the baby. There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption, but binge drinking (four or more glasses of wine or beer) and daily alcohol consumption – especially during the first trimester of pregnancy when your unborn baby’s organs are developing – increases the risk of foetal alcohol syndrome.
Symptoms include microcephaly (small head and brain), heart defect, visual and hearing problems, as well as intellectual disability. While it is unlikely that drinking one glass will result in serious detrimental effects, it’s best to err on the side of caution.
I read about new mums who ate their placentas after childbirth. Are there any benefits to this practice? Some common beliefs are that the organ helps increase the mum’s energy levels and breast milk production. It is also said to reduce the risk of depression and insomnia, as well as improve one’s complexion.
But there’s no reliable scientific evidence to support these claims. In Singapore, it seems more popular with locals, though – I’ve not had any expatriate patients even asking about this practice. Mums-tobe should be aware that this is not the standard recommended practice in the medical community.
If you wish to take your placenta, inform your obstetrician any time before the delivery. While some mums take the placenta home to cook, there are service providers who process it into pills. The company will give you a container to store the placenta delivered after birth; you will then have to contact it to collect the organ. Remember, the agreement is between you and the company, and you’re eating the placenta at your own risk.
ASK THE EXPERT These questions were answered by Dr Christopher Ng, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Gynae MD Women’s and Rejuvenation Clinic. Got a question? E-mail us at magyoungparents@sph.com.sg.
