Fiona Ford

Fiona Ford

Nutritionist, specializing in pregnancy

I am a dietician based at the Centre for Pregnancy Nutrition (CPN), University of Sheffield. The CPN is devoted to nutritional physiology and public health nutrition in relation to pregnancy and lactation. The national Eating for Pregnancy Helpline and website based at the CPN have achieved considerable success in disseminating education about nutrition before, during and after pregnancy to the public, healthcare practitioners and the media.I have been working in this area for 15 years and really enjoy advising pregnant or planning-to-be women on how to ensure their diet is as good as possible.


There is so much information around today - on TV, the internet, newspapers, magazines - that it can be difficult to make an informed choice about whether the latest nutrition headlines are fact or fiction!And there are huge pressures on women today to have all the latest information and advice.


I hope I will help you enjoy your food rather than be worried about everything you eat, as pregnancy nutrition is not rocket science, it is simply about eating a varied, healthy diet, avoiding only a very few foods and coping with food-related pregnancy problems such as morning sickness.I have two children who are quite grown up in some ways, both having now finished university but still enjoy a good family feast back at home.


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Fiona's answers
samessex's profile picture

oh my goodness, sickness!!

Asked by samessex.
hi all. well im six weeks this week and sickness and naursea has well and truely settled in. i havent been sick yet but the feeling is awful!!! i have had to go off sick from work today because of it. I just feel so lethargic. Everytime the feeling hits me, i gag but nothing is coming up. (sorry for details!). its happening morning noon and night. Bought some ginger biscuits today so im hoping they will help. my appetite has gone too. having to make myself eat (which is sooooooo not me!!!). any tips guys? xxx
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MumtoTiana's profile picture

Wind and bloating

Asked by MumtoTiana.
Hi all, I didn't have this last time but at 9 weeks, i'm really bloated and have loads of wind, my stomach's like a rock with it, is there anything i can do?
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Kaylu1984's profile picture

Appetite Changes - Early Pregnancy

Asked by Kaylu1984.
Hello Ladies, I am nearly 7 weeks PG and have not yet seen my midwife. I am looking for advise on appetite. The past few weeks I am really struggling to eat, before I was pg I thought the last thing I'd have to worry about would be my appetite as I've always had a more than healthy appetite. Is this normal? Will it last? I am worried as my friend has suffered complication due to not eating enough. I know it's easy to just say 'well eat more' but I can't, I sit down to eat my meal and I eat three or four bites and I literally can't stomach any more. Help please. x
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LoveMyMonkey's profile picture

How bizzar (cravings i mean)

Asked by LoveMyMonkey.
Seriously i aint ever been a big believer in the whole craving when preggers thing. Im on baby number three and can honestly say i had none - untill last night i think!!!! Im going crazy! Me and my bloke were watching grand designs last night, there was a house getting knocked down in the rain, my mouth was watering, how nice did the rubble look, i could almost smell it! Couldnt sleep last night for thinking of stone and old wet concrete, racking my brain as to where i was gonna get some. Taking all my strength not to go outside and find some old bricks and suck the concrete! Seriously am i weird!! Anyone else fancy the strangest things in there mouths???
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sameera1's profile picture

CARVING SWEETS!!!

Asked by sameera1.
Hi all, I am almost ten weeks pregnant and I am carving sweets than other things, and as I read in some websites that if we carve sweets we are expecting a baby girl is it right? has anyone else experienced it? just wanted to know what you guys thing about it?
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lisalisa21's profile picture

gone off my food at 7 weeks . normal ?

Asked by lisalisa21.
im almost 7 weeks pregnant and the past few days i been off some of my fav food . . is that normal ??
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