No doubt about it, pregnancy can be one of the most thrilling and most worrisome times in a woman's life. Of course, when you're pregnant, what you don't put into your body or expose it to can be almost as important as what you do. But worrying out about every little thing you come into contact with can make for a long and stressful three trimesters. And fretting about things you did before you knew you were pregnant or before you found out they could be hazardous won't do you or your baby any good.
Questions abound regarding what women can and can't do during pregnancy. But the answers may not always come from the most reliable sources, so you might worry unnecessarily. Some warnings are worth listening to; others are popular but unproven rumors.
Knowing what could truly be harmful to your baby and what's not a real concern is the key to keeping your sanity during these 40 weeks. You'll need to be particularly mindful of a handful of things during your pregnancy, some of which are more harmful than others. Your doctor or other health care provider will talk to you about what should be completely avoided, what should be greatly reduced, and what should be carefully considered during pregnancy.
Should I avoid it? Although it may seem harmless to have a glass of wine at dinner or a mug of beer out with friends, no one knows what's a "safe amount" of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome FAS is caused by drinking a lot of alcohol during pregnancy. What that amount is versus a safe amount is really not known. Because of the uncertainty, it's always wise to be cautious and not drink any alcohol at all during pregnancy.
What are the risks to my baby? Alcohol is one of the most common causes of physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities. It can be even more harmful to a developing fetus than heroin, cocaine, or marijuana use. Alcohol is easily passed along to the baby, whose body is less able to get rid of alcohol than the mother's. That means an unborn baby tends to develop a high concentration of alcohol, which stays in the baby's system for longer periods than it would in the mother's.
And moderate alcohol intake, as well as periodic binge drinking, can possibly damage a baby's developing nervous system. What can I do about it? If you had a drink or two before you even knew you were pregnant as many women do , don't worry too much about it. But your best bet is to not drink any more alcohol for the rest of your pregnancy. If you're an alcoholic or think you may have a drinking problem, talk to your doctor about it.
He or she needs to know how much alcohol you've consumed and when during your pregnancy to get a better idea of how your unborn baby might be affected.
Your doctor also can start you on a path to getting the help you need to stop drinking — for your sake and your baby's. It's wise to cut down or stop caffeine intake. Studies show that caffeine consumption of more than — milligrams a day about 2—3 cups of coffee, depending on the portion size, brewing method, and brand might put a pregnancy at risk.
Less than that amount is probably safe. High caffeine consumption has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and, possibly, other pregnancy complications. If you're having a hard time cutting out coffee all at once, here's how you can start:. And remember that caffeine is not only in coffee. Green and black tea, cola, and other soft drinks contain caffeine. Try switching to decaffeinated products which may still have some caffeine, but in much smaller amounts or caffeine-free alternatives.
If you're wondering about chocolate, which also has caffeine, the good news is that you can eat some in moderation. A cup of brewed coffee has 95— milligrams of caffeine, but the average chocolate bar has 5—30 milligrams. So, small amounts of chocolate are fine. Are there some I should avoid?
Foods that are more likely to be contaminated with bacteria or heavy metals are ones to try to avoid or limit your exposure to.
Those you should steer clear of during pregnancy include:. Also, although fish and shellfish can be an extremely healthy part of your pregnancy diet they contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and are high in protein and low in saturated fat , you should avoid eating certain kinds due to high levels of mercury, which can damage the brain of a developing fetus. Although it's important to eat plenty of healthy foods during pregnancy, you also need to avoid foodborne illnesses, such as listeriosis , toxoplasmosis, and salmonella , which are caused by the bacteria that can be found in certain foods.
These infections can be life-threatening to an unborn baby and may cause birth defects or miscarriage. Be sure to thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables , which can carry bacteria or be coated with pesticide residue. And be mindful of what you're buying at the grocery store or when dining out. When you choose seafood, eat a variety of fish and shellfish and limit the amount to about 12 ounces per week — that's about two meals.
Common fish and shellfish that are low in mercury include: canned light tuna, catfish, pollock, salmon, and shrimp. But because albacore or white tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna, it's best to eat no more than 6 ounces or one meal of albacore tuna a week. You may have to skip a few foods during pregnancy that you normally enjoy.
But just think how delicious they'll taste when you can have them again! Pregnancy is the prime time to get out of cleaning kitty's litter box. But that doesn't mean that you have to keep away from Fluffy!
An infection called toxoplasmosis can be spread through soiled cat litter boxes and can cause serious problems in a fetus, including prematurity , poor growth, and severe eye and brain damage.
A pregnant woman who becomes infected often has no symptoms but can still pass the infection on to her developing baby. Have someone else change the litter box, making sure to clean it thoroughly and regularly, then wash his or her hands well afterward.
Should I avoid them? Some, yes; others, no. There are many medicines you should not use during pregnancy. Be sure to talk to your doctor about which prescription and over-the-counter OTC drugs you can and can't take, even if they seem like no big deal. Even common OTC medicines that you can buy in stores without a prescription may be off-limits during pregnancy because of their potential effects on the baby.
Certain prescription medicines may also harm the developing fetus. The type of harm and extent of possible damage depends on the kind of medication. Also, although they may seem harmless, herbal remedies and supplements are not regulated by the U.
That means that they don't have to follow any safety standards and thus could be harmful to your baby. To make sure you don't take anything that could put your baby at risk, talk to your doctor about:.
Also, let all of your health care providers know that you're pregnant so that they'll keep that in mind when recommending or prescribing any medicines. If you were prescribed a medication before you became pregnant for an illness, disease, or condition that you still have, your doctor can help you weigh the potential benefits and risks of continuing your prescription. Did you exercise regularly before getting pregnant?
Keep it up. Regular exercise helps you combat the frequent mood and hormonal changes and fatigue occurring in this first trimester. It also helps prevent weight gain and battle insomnia. Were you not so faithful about getting enough exercise prior to getting pregnant? No worries! There are several ways you can adopt a more active lifestyle, even during pregnancy.
But before you begin any kind of new exercise regimen, contact your OB provider who will suggest options specific to your needs, taking into account your current state of health and what is best for your baby. Not only can pregnant women get a flu shot , they are highly encouraged to do so!
According to the CDC, the flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women than in healthy women who are not pregnant. Because of changes to your immune system, heart and lungs, you are more prone to serious illness from the flu. Also, some evidence shows that contracting the flu during pregnancy can raise the risk of complications, including premature labor. The flu vaccine reduces that risk. Even better, the flu vaccine can also protect the baby from contracting the flu after birth.
Do you have a regular dental checkup coming up? A dental visit can identify any potential dental needs. Hydration helps prevent preterm labor. It also helps prevent headaches, kidney stones and dizziness. Are you already battling constipation and hemorrhoids? Good news: staying hydrated helps fight both. If your urine is light yellow to clear, you are getting enough hydration.
If it is dark yellow, you need to increase your water intake. Are you already more tired than usual during your first trimester of pregnancy? Ask your partner to help out more, maybe picking up a few extra tasks around the house to ease your burden. Are you going it alone in this pregnancy? Ask a friend or family member if he or she can help.
Soft cheeses with a white coating on the outside have more moisture. This can make it easier for bacteria to grow. There's a small risk of getting toxoplasmosis if you eat raw and undercooked meat, which can cause miscarriage.
Cured meats are not cooked, so they may have parasites in them that cause toxoplasmosis. Liver and liver products have lots of vitamin A in them. This can be harmful to an unborn baby. Try to eat British Lion eggs eggs with a lion stamp on them because they are less likely to have salmonella in them.
Salmonella is unlikely to harm your unborn baby, but you could get food poisoning. If you eat eggs that are not British Lion, or not from hens, make sure the whites and yolks are cooked thoroughly. You can have 2 tuna steaks, or 4 medium-size cans of fish, as well as 2 portions of oily fish. You should limit tuna because it has more mercury in it than other fish. They may also consider using another imaging method instead, such as an ultrasound scan.
The risk from x-ray radiation is related to the stage of pregnancy at which the exposure occurs and the dosage amount that reaches the baby. There is slight risk of birth defects and physical and mental development problems. However, repeated exposure to radiation can damage the body's cells, which can increase the risk of cancer developing.
This is why the dose of radiation used in an x-ray is always as low as possible. X-rays during pregnancy carry a very small risk of exposing the unborn baby to radiation, which could cause cancer to develop during his or her childhood. To find out more, visit Inside Radiology - Radiation risk of medical imaging during pregnancy.
Make sure your dentist knows that you're pregnant. If you need a dental x-ray, your dentist will usually wait until you've had the baby, even though most dental x-rays don't affect the abdomen or pelvic area.
It is vital you tell your doctor or specialist if you are or may be pregnant because some procedures can affect the fetus. Your doctor or specialist will refer you for an appropriate radiology procedure if it is safe to do so. You must also inform the hospital or radiology practice when you make the appointment and the medical staff performing the procedure if you are or may be pregnant. In general, you do not need to interrupt breastfeeding to have radiological tests such as an x-ray, MRI, CT, angiogram, ultrasound or mammogram.
These examinations do not affect breastfeeding. But it is important that you tell your doctor or specialist if you are breastfeeding. Some procedures can involve a radioactive substance being injected into your vein that will take a few days to flush out of your body through your urine.
While it is in your body, a very small amount of radioactive substance can be passed on to your child through the breast milk. Your doctor or specialist and their staff will give you instructions, such as to express and throw away breast milk for a short time after having the scan, so that your child is not exposed to the radioactive substance unnecessarily.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Listeria bacteria can cause serious problems during pregnancy. Listeria can be transmitted by eating contaminated food, but there are steps you can take to avoid infection. Read more on myDr website.
Everyone knows that when you're pregnant, you're eating for two. Less obvious, however, is knowing the particular foods pregnant women shouldn't eat in order to avoid infectious, food-borne diseases, as these can cause miscarriage, low birth weight or a higher risk of Mum getting sick.
Read more on Parenthub website. Pregnancy Pregnancy and Exercise Pregnancy: Exercises to do and avoid 5 votes, average: 5. There is no conclusive evidence on what is a safe level of drinking while pregnant. Current guidelines recommend avoiding alcohol altogether while pregnant or breastfeeding to reduce potential harm to your baby.
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website. Make sure you know the important facts about which foods you should avoid or take extra care with when you're pregnant. InsideRadiology provides free and easily accessible, accurate, up to date and credible information about medical imaging tests and procedures. Read more on InsideRadiology website.
Many women will travel during pregnancy for work, recreation and visiting friends and relatives. In general, the second trimester is the safest and most comfortable time to travel. Read more on Better Health Channel website.
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering. Video call. This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.
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