While you
probably already know about the things you should do during pregnancy such as
ensuring a healthy diet including adequate folic intake and prenatal checkups,
do you know what things you should avoid during pregnancy? There are
many, but what follows is a list of a few things you should avoid.
1. Eating too much seafood
But how much
is too much? There is still some controversy, but most experts agree
that somewhere between 6g – 12g per week is safe. However, it is
still advised that you choose fish lower in mercury such as salmon, crab,
shrimp, and canned light tuna. Shark and swordfish are two examples
of fish to avoid, due to their higher mercury content.
2. Exercising heavily
This is
especially important if you were not very active before getting pregnant. If
this is the case, you will need to start exercising slowly. Even
just beginning a regular walking program can improve your endurance before the
birth of your baby.
If you are
more conditioned and you exercised prior to pregnancy, you will likely be able
to continue your exercise routine. However, you will want to avoid
high-impact exercises, contact sports, and other sports/activities where there
is a risk of falling. Weight lifting is generally safe in a low-risk
pregnancy, but you do not want to be lifting too much weight and straining.
You never
want to exercise to the point of exhaustion or overheating, as this can be
dangerous for your baby.
Always check
with your physician before beginning or continuing any exercise program, as
there are times when exercise is not recommended during pregnancy.
3. If you have oral sex, your partner
must not blow air into your vagina
This can
result in an air embolism, an air bubble that develops in a blood vessel of the
body. If this air bubble makes it to the heart or lungs, it can be
life threatening.
4. Do not have sex with people whose
sexual history is unknown
When you do
not know someone else's sexual history, it is never a good idea to have sex
with that person. Not only do you risk contracting a
sexually-transmitted infection (STI), your unborn baby does too.
If your
partner possibly has genital herpes, you should avoid sex with your partner
during the third trimester. Also, avoid oral sex if your partner gets
cold sores. This is because an infected mother can transmit the
herpes virus to the baby during a vaginal birth, and herpes is very serious in
newborns. If you do have herpes sores or you feel an outbreak coming
on before the birth of your baby, a cesarean section will be necessary.
5. You should not smoke or breathe in
second-hand smoke
It is known
that tobacco smoke increases the chances of having a low-birth weight infant,
one who is at increased risk of dying from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome),
and other medical complications for both the mother and baby.
6. You should not drink alcohol
Alcohol is
the only cause of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, a completely preventable
disorder. Children exposed to alcohol in uterus can have a wide
range of disorders ranging from identifiable facial features to less obvious,
but serious, learning disabilities and impairments in reasoning, to name a few.
There are
many things that you need to avoid when pregnant. A few of these
have been discussed above, and can help ensure that the baby you have is as
healthy as possible when born.
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