Almost half of women are confused by the advice they receive in pregnancy, a survey has found.
Overall 45% of 1,300 women surveyed for the baby charity Tommy's and Johnson's Baby said they had received conflicting advice. Four in ten were confused about what foods were safe to eat, 31% did not know which prescription drugs were safe to take and 22% did not know what type of exercise was advisable.
Almost one in three were not sure if they could dye their hair, 15% were confused by advice on alcohol, a similar number did not know if it was safe to fly and 7% were unsure whether sex was advisable during pregnancy.
One in 20 women said they did not know that the reason why they needed to take folic acid in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy was that it protected against spinal defects in the foetus.
Tommy's midwife Sharon Simms said: “Research is revealing new findings all the time about the best ways for women to keep their babies healthy, so it is vital that mums-to-be get the most up-to-date information from their midwife and other credible sources.”