Good hygiene is paramount. It prevents pregnant women from getting sick from contamination and common flu symptoms.  Here are some steps that you can undertake to keep yourself and your baby healthy.

CLEAN

• Wash hands thoroughly with water and soap (warm water if possible).
• Wash hands before and after handling of food, and after using the restroom, cleaning your baby or handling pets.
• Wash utensils, plates/bowls, cutting boards and countertops with hot water and soap.
• Rinse vegetables and fruits thoroughly.
• Maintain a high level of overall hygiene during pregnancy. Have a cool shower everyday rather than a bath, as sitting in a bath may increase the risk of dirt and infections entering your vagina. Avoid harsh soaps or strong scented gels or lotions which may lead to irritations and allergies.

SEPARATE

• Separate raw food and ready-to-eat food.
• Use separate cutting board for raw meat/seafood and another one for fruits and vegetables.
• Place cooked food on a fresh clean plate. Do not reuse the plate which you have placed the raw meat/seafood previously as that could contaminate the cooked food.
• Wash baby clothes separately from rest of your clothes. This is because newborns tend to have sensitive skin. You can opt to use those special “baby” detergents which are likely hypoallergenic or fragrance-free.

COOK

• Ensure all food is cooked thoroughly.
• 2-hour rule – discard food left out at room temperature for more than two hours. This will help prevent the case of food poisoning.

CHILL

• Your refrigerator and freezer should register at appropriate temperature to ensure foods are kept fresh.
• Use perishable, ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible.

Bacteria usually grow between 4°C to 60°C (also known as danger zone).  If the temperature where the food is left is greater than 32°C, then it should be discarded after one hour. Importantly, do not refreeze anything once it has been defrosted and reheat food only once.

What are the good hygiene habits you have incorporated into your daily routine?

Share with me and rest of the mummies here! 😉

Featured image source: dailymail.co.uk