Unborn babies are resilient, otherwise the human race would
have died out long ago. However, there
are many things that could affect your baby that you can work to avoid. These things may cause premature birth, affect
birth weight, or could even cause long-term effects to your child. There are things that should be avoided at
all if possible and things that can still be used, but with caution.
Avoid
Drugs, Cigarettes and
Alcohol
Street drugs can pass through to your baby, causing illness
or even addiction. These types of drugs
increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and still birth. Even if your child survives childbirth, they
face an increased risk of learning and behavioral problems as well as serious
health problems. They may also cause
physical abnormalities. Babies suffering
from withdrawal because they were born with an addiction may experience greater
irritability, sweating, shaking and seizures.
Needle use also increases the risk for mother and baby to catch diseases
like HIV or hepatitis.
Although the French and others may disagree, smoking
endangers your health and your baby’s.
While smoking, you inhale hundreds of chemicals including tar, nicotine,
and carbon monoxide. These chemicals can
cross into the placenta. Smoking affects
your breathing, which may cause challenges during labor. Carbon monoxide limits the amount of oxygen
in your blood stream, which limits the amount that will reach your baby. Smoking increases the risk of miscarriage,
premature birth, and SIDS. It may also
cause abruption, which is when the placenta separates from the uterus. Babies born from mother’s who smoke tend to
be smaller and suffer from more health problems. Babies exposed to smoke are more likely to get
respiratory infections. Smoking and
co-sleeping should never be mixed as well, whether smoking while pregnant or
after the baby is born. Luckily, many
women find the smell of smoke abhorrent while pregnant and find it easier to
quit at this time. And if you can make
it through these 9 months, it may be easier to quit for good.
Alcohol is a trickier subject. Experts know too much alcohol can be
responsible for fetal alcohol syndrome, other birth defects, and learning
problems. Fetal alcohol syndrome often
causes deformities of the face, head, heart, arms, and legs. Fetal alcohol syndrome may cause the baby to
grow slowly both in and out of the womb.
It’s possible that the baby may also suffer from alcohol
withdrawal. These effects are most often
seen in babies whose mothers had at least 6 drinks per day. The effects of a few small drinks here or
there, or even moderate drinking, are less well known, but most experts will
agree that it is best not to risk it by drinking any alcohol at all.
Prescription
Medication without Doctor Approval
Prescription drugs, like over the counter drugs, should be
run by your doctor to confirm that you should continue taking them. Your doctor will help you weigh the pros and
cons of continuing your medication. It
is possible for some medications to pass through your bloodstream and into your
baby, while other medications are important for your health. Your doctor may recommend alternatives that
are known to be safer versions of some medications as well. They may also be able to advise you about
safe over-the-counters for some of the known side effects of pregnancy like
nausea, heart burn and headaches.
X-rays
Although in some cases there are some medical reasons for
you to have an x-ray, it is best to avoid x-rays when possible. Discuss the fact you are pregnant with anyone
ordering x-rays to weigh the pros and cons.
If you do have an x-ray, make sure the technician knows so they can
shield your baby well.
Fever and External
Heat Sources
There are many things that might raise your core body
temperature, which could cause problems with your pregnancy. Showers, warm baths, hot water bottles, and
warm beverages are fine. But things like
electric blankets, saunas, hot tubs, and steam rooms could have unknown
effects. Heatstroke is known to be
lethal to a fetus, so take caution with excessive sun and heat. Also long-lasting fevers in the first
trimester have been linked to miscarriage and spinal defects. To help keep your fever down, drink plenty of
fluids, take acetaminophen, and try showers or cool cloths.
Use Caution
Over-the-Counter Pain
Medications
Most doctors will agree that aspirin should not be used
during pregnancy. There are a few
studies that suggest that low-dose aspirin can help prevent certain conditions
like preeclampsia, but there isn’t enough evidence to that. As far as breastfeeding, 4-6% of the aspirin
is transferred to breast milk and can build up in the body. It has also been linked to Reye’s Syndrome, a
rare disorder of the brain or liver.
Acetaminophen, most often taken in the brand name Tylenol,
is most recommended by doctors. There is
a long history of women safely using acetaminophen during pregnancy. It is also most safe to take while
breastfeeding as very little passes into the breast milk.
Ibuprofen, often known of as Advil or Motrin, is more
difficult. Most doctors advise against
its use, but studies do not always confirm this to be the case. There is evidence that using ibuprofen in the
third trimester could cause harm as it has been shown to cause heart or lung
problems. Some studies suggest an
increased risk of miscarriage if taken during the first trimester while others
find no such links.
Cat Litter and other
animals
Sometimes it seems like people want you to give up your pets
just because you are pregnant. But with
proper care, you can still keep your pets and have a healthy child. In fact, some studies suggest that being
pregnant with an animal may reduce your child’s risk of animal allergies.
The main worry with cats is toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that
you may not even notice or may appear to be an average flu, but could cause eye
or brain damage in infants. If you’ve had
it before, which is likely if you’ve been around cats all your life, you are
unlikely to get it again and unlikely to be able to pass it on to your baby. But don’t assume this is the case and relax
your hygiene standards. Toxoplasmosis
would be found in cat feces, mostly in the feces of outdoor cats. So the litter box is the problem. Your best option is to have someone else
clean your litter box for you but if that isn’t an option, remember that it
takes more than 24 hours for the litter to become infectious so if you clean
the litter box every day, it should not become infectious. Still, wear gloves and remember to wash your
hands after cleaning the litter. Also if
your cat walks on your counters, make sure you wipe them down before you put
any food items on them.
Cat feces can also be a problem in the garden, since outdoor
cats may use it as a litter box. So be
sure to wear gloves and wash your hands after gardening. And cat feces is not the only place where one
may get toxoplasmosis. Eating raw or
undercooked meat could give you toxoplasmosis.
Amphibians and reptiles may carry salmonella in their
feces. Ask for someone else to clean
their enclosure if possible. If not
possible, use gloves and wash your hands when cleaning the cages. Clean the cage outside if possible. If your animal needs a bath, bathe it in the
tub then clean the tub. Thoroughly wash
your hands after handling the animals or their cages. And don’t let your pet near food preparation
areas.
Birds can transmit toxoplasmosis, like cats, or
campylobacter, salmonella, chlamydiosis, and other protozoal infections. The veterinarian is capable of telling you
about any problems your bird may have, but to be on the safe side, always wash
your hands after handling your pet. And
if no one else can clean the bird cage, use gloves and wash your hands
afterwards.
Lying on Your Back
Throughout your first trimester, it is perfectly fine to lie
on your back. As your uterus gets
heavier, you may find yourself struggling to get comfortable on your back
though. Doctors worry that your uterus
may press down on a major vein responsible for returning blood from your lower
body to your heart, which may cause you to feel dizzy or put your feet to
sleep. More importantly, the doctor is
concerned that it could interfere with blood flow to your baby. That means your baby may not be getting
enough oxygen and nutrients. You may
find yourself suffering from backaches, breathing problems, digestive problems,
hemorrhoids, and low blood pressure from this.
Doctors instead recommend that you sleep on your side, especially the
left side. Use pillows if needed to make
yourself more comfortable.
If you are suffering from heartburn, it might help to sleep
with your head and shoulders propped up, which may also help with nasal
congestion, which often is a problem in the third trimester like heartburn.
Whatever position you try to fall asleep in, don’t panic if
you wake up on your back. Just roll back
to your original position.
Lunch Meats and soft
cheeses
Lunch meats and soft cheeses could carry listeria, a
dangerous foodborne illness. Listeria
grows best at room temperature, so deli meats that sit in display cases can be
susceptible. Listeria is known to cause
miscarriage and stillbirth for some pregnant women when encountered.
Also raw or undercooked foods could carry toxoplasmosis or
other bacteria that could cause infection which may lead to miscarriage,
stillbirth, or infection for your growing baby.
As long as the food is fully cooked, those bacteria should be killed in
the cooking process.
Fish
Fish is low fat, especially saturated fats yet often
contains the important DHA about which we hear so much as it is important for
brain development. The potential problem
with fish is mercury though, which could damage a developing infant’s nervous
system. Most fish like salmon are fine,
but others like marlin and shark are likely to contain high levels of mercury.
Caffeine
Research indicates that high levels of caffeine can result
in a miscarriage or low birth weight.
Its main effect on you is increased alertness. Other possible effects include an upset
stomach from the stimulated release of stomach acid. Caffeine is also a known diuretic, which
means it increases the elimination of fluids, which can result in water or
calcium loss. While pregnant it is
especially important to stay hydrated and you may be suffering enough from an
upset stomach, but you may also find yourself dragging and longing for the
energy kick from some caffeine. You have
to weigh the pros and cons for yourself.
And remember, some growing babies seem to get the same excited alertness
from the caffeine and may be more active, which may keep you awake from
discomfort.
Most experts recommend not exceeded 200 mg of caffeine,
which is like a chocolate bar and a mug of regular coffee, or two mugs of tea
and a can of cola. Tea has less caffeine
than coffee, and herbal teas are a nice pick me up, but remember that some
herbal teas may increase blood pressure or cause other issues while pregnant
depending on the herbs inside.
Various chemicals
Chemicals are all around us.
Some are benign, but some can cause birth defects and other
problems. Many chemicals have not been
studied enough to know for certain what the problem is. It is best to play it safe while pregnant for
this reason.
Most doctors will recommend you avoid oven cleaner, aerosol
cleaners, dry cleaning agents, and spot removers. When painting, avoid oil-based paints,
varnish, shellac, turpentine, paint strippers and make sure the area is well
ventilated. Be careful if you are doing
home repair around lead paint or asbestos.
Asbestos is linked to cancer, and lead can increase the risk of
miscarriage and cause long lasting effects.
When working outside, avoid insecticides, weed killer, and
fertilizer. A more recent warning
recommends you avoid BPAs, or bisphenol A and other phthalates found in
plastics and other places. To be safest,
read all warnings and follow instructions on all chemicals you might be using
around the home or at work.
Hair color and perms are considered to be low risk. There is minimal exposure to the chemicals
and you are typically in a well-ventilated area. Let your cosmetologist know that you are
pregnant, and they should use the safest products. They will also be able to best choose the
products that will get you the result you desire, as you may find your hair
reacts differently to dyes and perms while you are pregnant.
The Great Outdoors
While you are more pregnant, you may find you are more likely
to get sunburn. It’s recommended that
you use sunscreen while outside.
Although you can use bug spray, it’s safer to wear long sleeves and
apply the bug spray to that. If you can
find a DEET free bug spray, that’s the safest.
DEET has been linked to birth defects.
But tick bites can be just as bad, so weigh the pros and cons.
EMF
EMFs, which is basically the wireless signals all around us
from cell phones to smart meters and everything in between, are a newer
controversial topic not just for pregnant mothers but for many people. Some people link these signals to headaches,
anxiety, depression, fatigue, and nausea.
There is not enough scientific evidence to confirm this, but WHO does wonder
if this needs to be studied further.
Some studies suggest that these magnetic fields may be connected to
increased asthma, risk of miscarriage, or low birth weights in infants from
exposure during pregnancy but there are too few of these to really confirm
this.
Bibliography
Excellent. I had forgotten about a few of these.
ReplyDeletegood job!
ReplyDelete