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- Smoking - Smoking is not
only bad for you, but bad for your baby as well. Smoking during
pregnancy reduces the amount of oxygen that the baby receives and
increases the risk of miscarriage, bleeding, and morning sickness.
Chemicals inhaled while smoking may lead to other health problems
with the baby. Reduced birth weight, premature birth, increased
risk of SIDS, and stillbirth are other possible consequences.
Pregnant women should also avoid second hand smoke.
- Alcohol - Drinking can
cause fetal alcohol syndrome, including symptoms like low birth
weight, medical problems, and behavior abnormalities. As soon as
you know you are pregnant, stop drinking. For more detailed
information on problems that can be caused by alcohol, visit http://www.nofas.org.
- Caffeine - There are many
conflicting studies about caffeine and pregnancy and some believe
that caffeine is not as harmful as it was once thought to be.
Nevertheless, the FDA warns against caffeine consumption during
pregnancy and suggests quitting or reducing consumption at the
very least. Caffeine has been shown to affect fetal heart rates
and awake time (fetuses grow when sleeping). Decaffeinated coffee
can also be harmful since producers often add additional chemicals
to remove the caffeine. Caffeine can also increase risk of stretch
marks. Suddenly quitting coffee intake can cause headaches; so
most experts recommend gradually reducing the amount consumed.
- Drugs and Herbal Remedies
- Always be careful about drugs or herbal remedies that are not
prescribed by a doctor. These substances may affect the
development of your unborn child.
- Nutrition - Good
nutrition is crucial to a developing child, particularly getting
enough folic acid. Lack of folic acid can cause birth defects. At
least 400-1000 micrograms of this B vitamin is suggested (about
ten times more if you've already had a child with neural tube
birth defects) starting one month before pregnant and throughout
the entire pregnancy. Leafy vegetables, orange juice, and beans
are some natural sources of folic acid. Many stores sell vitamins
with folic acid.
- Exercise - Moderate
exercise is helpful as it improves the mother's mental state and
can increase oxygen flow to the fetus. However, over-exertion can
be dangerous. Most experts recommend reducing your exercise
intensity during pregnancy. Activities like walking, swimming, and
yoga are popular for pregnant women.
- Prenatal Care - Regular
doctor visits are important to your baby's development. The body
undergoes many changes during pregnancy. Some side effects may be
completely normal, whereas other may not. Regular monitoring by a
professional will help ensure that your baby will be born healthy.
- Multiple sex partners -
Multiple sex partners can increase risk of STD's, which in turn
may lead to birth and pregnancy complications, like low birth
weight or premature birth.
- Exposure to chemicals -
During pregnancy, reduce exposure to unnatural chemicals,
particularly pesticides in food. Many people now eat organic
produce, which is grown without chemicals. The simplest precaution
to take before consuming vegetables or fruits is to wash them
thoroughly. Also, removing the outer surface of vegetables can be
helpful since most pesticides will rest on the outside of the
vegetable or fruit.
- Other factors - Many
other factors can affect fetal development, including heart
disease, the mother's age (before 15 years and after 35 years is
riskier), asthma, excessive stress or depression, diseases, and
bleeding. Consult your physician if you are affected by any of
these conditions.
Note: If you find this article useful,
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About the author: Criss White is a professional
web writer on baby and new mother topics. For baby shower supplies,
information, and more baby related articles by this author, visit My Baby
Shower Favors (http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com).
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