Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS gives advice to pregnant women on the potential implications of a high level of sugar in their diet when pregnant for their children developing asthma.

There is no specific advice given to pregnant women on the potential implications of high a level of sugar in their diet and a link to asthma in children. However, NHS Choices provides advice to pregnant women or those planning a pregnancy on eating healthily during pregnancy. The advice includes information on consumption of sugary foods during pregnancy and suggestions on how to lower intake by finding healthier alternatives. Details of that advice can be found here:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/healthy-pregnancy-diet.aspx

Public Health England's Start4Life social marketing programme encourages pregnant women to eat a healthy diet. The Start4Life website provides guidance on healthy eating, including directing mothers-to-be to practical tools such as a 28-day plan for boosting fruit and vegetable intake during pregnancy. Start4Life’s Information Service for Parents also provides guidance via email on a healthy diet during pregnancy, and promotes the Healthy Start food vouchers scheme, which enables eligible mothers-to-be to get free fruit, vegetables and vitamins.

Start4Life leaflets and posters are used by healthcare professionals to provide information on a healthy diet to pregnant women.