What women eat during pregnancy have have a profound effect on childhood obesity and allergies.

We all know that what women eat and drink in pregnancy can have a significant effect on the baby developing inside of them.

For the most part, these guidelines have been limited to what NOT to eat and drink. Raw fish. Blue cheeses (oh, cruel world). Wine (it just gets crueller).

But now, new guidelines have been released that suggest what women eat even before pregnancy can prevent childhood obesity and allergies.

In a News Limited exclusive, it’s been reported that what a woman eats in the three months before a child is born, and during pregnancy, can have a huge impact on the child’s health.

According to the six Australian and New Zealand scientists who worked on the Early Life Nutrition Guidelines:

The new guidelines are encouraging women (and men) to lose weight before they conceive. Apparently, when women are overweight it increases their chance of gestational diabetes – and the chances of their child growing up overweight. Women are encouraged to gain no more than 9-18 kilograms during pregnancy (unless they are already thin).

Luckily, no one has banned eating to satisfy cravings. So if gherkins are your thing, go for it.

What did you eat during pregnancy?