Pregnancy - Do and Donts: Part 2

Pregnancies don'ts:

You should not drink ANY alcohol: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause physical and mental birth defects. Each year, up to 40,000 babies are born with some degree of alcohol-related damage. In fact, no level of alcohol use during pregnancy has been proven safe. Therefore, the March of Dimes - leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health recommends that pregnant women do not drink any alcohol-including beer, wine, wine coolers and hard liquor-throughout their pregnancy and while nursing. In addition, because women often do not know they are pregnant for a few months, women who may be pregnant or those who are attempting to become pregnant should abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages.

When a pregnant woman drinks, alcohol passes swiftly through the placenta to her fetus. In the unborn baby's immature body, alcohol is broken down much more slowly than in an adult's body. As a result, the alcohol level of the baby's blood can be even higher and can remain elevated longer than the level in the mother's blood. This sometimes causes the baby to suffer lifelong damage. In February 2005, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, surgeon general of the United States, warned pregnant women and women who may become pregnant about the risks of alcohol during pregnancy. To view the press release click here

Should Not Smoke or be Around People Who Do: Smoking during pregnancy can harm the health of both a woman and her unborn baby. Currently, at least 10 percent of women in the United States smoke during pregnancy.

Statistics from the United States are compelling. According to the U.S. Public Health Service, if all pregnant women in this country stopped smoking, there would be an estimated 11 percent reduction in stillbirths and 5 percent reduction in newborn deaths. Cigarette smoke contains more than 2,500 chemicals. It is not known for certain which of these chemicals are harmful to the developing baby, but both nicotine and carbon monoxide play a role in causing adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Studies suggest that babies of women who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy may have reduced growth and may be more likely to be born with low birth weight. Pregnant women should avoid exposure to other people's smoke too. I think it is not worth the risk!

Don't use illegal drugs: According to American Pregnancy Association Consumption of illegal drugs is not safe for the unborn baby or for the mother. Studies have shown that consumption of illegal drugs during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, low birth-weight, premature labor, placental abruption, fetal death and even maternal death.

Avoid fish: We know that fish can be very nutritious and are packed with great nutrients such as omega-3, the B vitamins and lean protein. But unfortunately, fish can also have some unhealthy contaminants. Mercury is a contaminant found in fish that can affect brain development and the nervous system. Please refer the below Chart obtained from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Avoid Eating (Highest Mercury level)

Grouper
Marlin
Orange roughy
Tilefish
Swordfish
Shark
Mackerel (king)

High Mercury (Eat no more than three 6-oz servings per month)

Bass saltwater
Croaker
Halibut
Tuna (canned, white albacore) See tuna chart below
Tuna (fresh bluefin, ahi)
Sea trout
Bluefish
Lobster (American/Maine)

LOWER MERCURY (Eat no more than six 6-oz servings per month)

Carp
Mahi Mahi
Crab (Dungeness)
Snapper
Crab (blue)
Herring
Crab (snow)
Monkfish
Perch (freshwater)
Skate
Tuna (canned, chunk light)
Tuna (fresh Pacific albacore)

LOWEST MERCURY (Enjoy two 6-oz servings per week)

Anchovies
Butterfish
Calamari (squid)
Caviar (farmed)
Crab (king)
Pollock
Catfish
Whitefish
Perch (ocean)
Scallops
Flounder
Haddock
Hake
Herring
Lobster (spiny/rock)
Shad
Sole
Crawfish/crayfish
Salmon
Shrimp
Clams
Tilapia
Oysters
Sardines
Sturgeon (farmed)
Trout (freshwater)

Avoid Caffeine: Caffeine is one of the most loved stimulants in America! But now that you are pregnant, you may need to lighten up on the daily intake of your favorite drinks and treats. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it increases your blood pressure and heart rate, both of which are not recommended during pregnancy. Caffeine also increases the frequency of urination. This causes reduction in your body fluid levels and can lead to dehydration. Caffeine is not only found in coffee but also in tea, soda, chocolate, and even some over-the-counter medications that relieve headaches. Be aware of what you consume.

Avoid Contact with Reptiles: Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any contact with lizards, iguanas, turtles, or snakes as the salmonella bacteria is transferred through their feces and can affect your pregnancy. Also, children under the age of 5 are also at risk for contracting salmonella if they are in contact with reptiles.

Don't disregard food borne illness: Women have highly increased susceptibility to food borne illness during a pregnancy, and fetuses share the risk. Food borne illness in pregnant women can cause serious harm or even death to an unborn baby, and complications include premature birth, meningitis, mental retardation, sepsis, stillbirth, and spontaneous miscarriage (abortion).

Avoid:

Raw or unpasteurized milk or cheeses, or lightly cooked foods made from them. Soft cheeses, such as feta, Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, blue-veined, ricotta and Mexican-style cheese, are commonly unpasteurized and thus are best avoided unless thoroughly cooked.
Raw fish or shellfish, including oysters, sushi, clams, mussels, and scallops. Ready-to-eat, refrigerated seafood products (smoked salmon/ lox, jerky, etc.)
Foods containing raw or lightly cooked eggs, including certain salad dressings, cookie and cake batters, sauces, unpasteurized eggnog and meringues.
Pates
Raw meat or undercooked ground, chopped or shaped meats
Raw or undercooked poultry
Ready-made or prepackaged salads
Raw sprouts of any kind
Unpasteurized fruit or vegetable juices, including ciders
Presliced cantaloupe
Food from salad bars and smorgasbords.
Reheat until steaming, or Do Not Eat at All: Leftovers, hot dogs, cold ready to eat meats, including: ham, bologna, and other lunchmeats (cold cuts), fermented and dry sausage, and other deli style meat and poultry products.

Take Special Care when cooking and Eating
Wash hands often, for at least 15 seconds. Use hot, soapy water before and after handling food and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and handling pets. Limit use of antacids. Ingestion of antacids increases the risk of food borne illness because it reduces the stomach acids which normally control bacteria. Be particularly cautious about the food safety track records of dining establishments you frequent. Avoid places that appear unsanitary. Follow regular safe food handling tips especially carefully.

Don't take very hot baths, hot tubs, or saunas: High temperatures are dangerous for your growing baby. A warm bath is a great way to relax during pregnancy, but don't let yourself get overheated. Your body temperature should never be higher than 102.2 degrees F (39 degrees?C) for more than 10 minutes. Very hot baths, hot tubs and saunas probably will be at least this hot, if not several degrees hotter.

Check the water temperature with a thermometer before getting in. If a pregnant woman's body temperature is too high, the baby may have a birth defect. Also high body temperature can cause the pregnant woman's blood pressure to fall. As a result, the fetus may receive less oxygen and nutrition.

Avoid sex in some conditions: Sex is usually safe during pregnancy unless your doctor has indicated that you have a high risk pregnancy. Although there are few reasons to avoid sex during pregnancy, there are some situations when your health care provider may indicate that sex should be avoided. These situations include:

History of premature birth or labor
History of miscarriage
If your water has broken
If you experience unexplained vaginal bleeding or discharge
If you have placenta previa, or a very low-lying placenta
If you have an incompetent cervix or if it has dilated
If you or your partner has a sexually transmitted disease

So in case you are pregnant or planning for it please keep all these points in mind and don't forget to consult your doctor for extra precaution. Don't you think it is worth taking precautions for the healthy birth of your baby who is so special?