The 7 Sins of Pregnancy
The 7 Sins of Pregnancy
There is so much conflicting advice out for expecting moms. This article aims to pinpoint the definite risks in pregnancy, given by trained professionals.
1. Cigarettes
Smoke contains thousands of toxic substances, including nicotine and hydrogen cyanide and toxic heavy metals such as lead and arsenic and increases your chances of developing heart disease and cancer.
Smoking constricts blood vessels. During the pregnancy this means that less oxygen is able to cross the placenta, putting your baby at greater risk of having a low-birthweight or being stillborn. Cyanide lowers the fetus’s ability to use vitamin B12 which is vital for the formation of red blood cells. Smoking during pregnancy is associated with an 8 % increase in pre-term delivery and a 3% increase in abruption placentae (a complication during pregnancy in which the placenta prematurely separates form the wall of the uterus.
It is important to also note that non-smoking women who are exposed to other people’s smoking during pregnancy are more likely to have lower-birthweight babies.
2. Alcohol
Some doctors agree that the odd glass of wine every now and then is okay but there are certain doctors who are adamant that even one drink could affect your baby’s development. This is because alcohol crosses the placenta during any stage of pregnancy. Heavy drinking can lead to Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) which is a condition that causes babies to have problems with sight, hearing and later learning development.
The problem is no one knows how much is too much so to abstain altogether may be the best thing to do.
Like alcohol, various medicines (prescribed, over the counter and complementary) can cross the placenta and enter the baby’s bloodstream, causing birth defects. Always check with your doctor before taking any medication at all during pregnancy.
3. Caffeine
Caffeine can make your heartburn worse, as it increases the production of stomach acid\ and can also cause heart palpitations, which pregnant women are more prone to. It is also a diuretic, so can leave you feeling dehydrated and listless.
Research shows that high doses of daily caffeine during pregnancy may cause an increased risk of miscarriage. Sons born to women who drink the equivalent of three cups of coffee a day during pregnancy are more likely to have undescended testes at two years of age- a condition that could lead to testicular cancer in later life. In addition a new study done by the Kaiser Permanente Division shows that women who consume 200grams or more of caffeine per day ( 2 or more ups of regular coffee) had twice the miscarriage risk. Take note that coffee, tea, colas, energy drinks, chocolate and green tea has caffeine in it.
4. Soft and Blue Cheese
Pregnant women should not eat soft, mould-ripened chesses such as brie or camembert and blue- veined cheeses such as Danish Blue or consume unpasteurised milk and other dairy products. These products can contain bacteria such as listeria.
It is rare but Listeriosis can cause stillbirth, miscarriage or sever illnesses in new born babies.
5. Unwashed Greens
Soil left on unwashed fruit and vegetables (and even on washed and pillow packed salads) may cause toxoplasmosis – an infection caused by parasites. Toxoplasmosis infection may lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or survival with growth problems, blindness, water on the brain, epilepsy or deafness.
In addition, handling cat litter and doing the gardening without gloves also has the same risk. It is also present in raw or undercooked meat, and in unpasteurised goat’s milk, so avoid these.
6. Raw or partially cooked Eggs
Salmonella is a bacteria that causes a type of food poisoning (symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) and is found in raw/partially cooked eggs. It can cause cramping, abdominal pain and dehydration. Pregnant women have an increased risk of contracting salmonella poisoning due to hormonal changes that suppress the immune system.
Seafood also carries the risk of food poisoning. Meet and poultry should be cooked thoroughly, and no pink meat should be left.
7. Oily Fish
Eating oily fish is good for you and essential for your baby’s development, however because of high mercury levels; you need to limit your intake. Oily fish contains mercury and at high levels this can harm your baby’s developing nervous system. Raw fish and sushi can cause infections and may also be detrimental to the foetus. Pregnant women should limit their intake of tuna to two portions of fresh tuna or four times per week. So-called “white fish” such as hake can be eaten freely.
[ Your Pregnancy Magazine]
