Ensuring a Healthy Pregnancy
Dos and Don'ts for Pregnant Women
Weight Gain
Plan to gain about 25 pounds. If you are very overweight this may be reduced to about 15 pounds. You should not attempt to lose weight while you are pregnant. Avoid refined sugars. Whole grain products rather than highly processed flour are preferable and help to avoid excess weight gain. Maintain a high protein intake. Watch your salt intake to avoid excessive swelling.
Exercise and Sports
Be aware that your balance will be affected by the growing uterus, and you may fall more easily. Do not undertake activities that are likely to make you fall or become injured. Shortness of breath during pregnancy is very common so if you get very winded it is time to slow down. Get in shape before pregnancy and stay in shape while pregnant.
Medications
Always consult with your obstetrician with regard to medications. All medications are not dangerous and therefore you should not risk a serious illness that could injure you and your baby simply because a medication is recommended. The following medications should be specifically discussed with your doctor.
- ACE inhibitors
- Oral antidiabetic drugs
- Phenytoin, Tegretol, Valproate
- Lithium
- Accutane
- Statins
- Anticoagulants
- "Natural Medications"
See Your Dentist
Dental x-rays, if needed, are always best done before you get pregnant. They may be done while pregnant provided a shield is placed over the abdomen and pelvis however, so do not object if the dentist really feels you need an x–ray to save a tooth. In the event a dental emergency arises, do not fear local anesthetics or many of the common pain medications such as Codeine or Tylenol. It is best to avoid the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen while pregnant. Gum disease often gets worse while pregnant. Bleeding gums are common. Any major gum disease should be treated before pregnancy.
Travel
Plan to travel only to civilized places that have good medical care. Do not become isolated or "trapped" in a place you cannot easily leave. Going out on a boat with no means of getting back to land quickly may result in disaster in the event of an emergency such a hemorrhage. Do not travel to malaria infested areas unless absolutely necessary. Make sure the pregnancy is viable before travel. Be sure that the doctor verifies that there is a fetal heart beat before leaving.
Fever
Call your doctor if you get sick. Treat all fevers over 101 since high fevers may cause birth defects. Tylenol (acetominophen) is safe if you are not allergic to it. If that does not work then use sponge baths. Aspirin may aggravate the effects of heat and therefore should be avoided. Hot tubs and saunas may be used as long as the body temperature does not rise.
Raw Meat
Avoid eating raw meat at all costs. Raw meats (beef, pork, buffalo, etc.) frequently contain toxoplasmosis, an infection that attacks the baby and causes serious birth defects and sometimes death. Meat should never be cold. Cooking meat to medium or more is always safest. Wash your hands after handling raw meat and don't put cooked meat on the same plate or board where the raw meat had been.
Listeria Prevention
Listeria is an infection that can kill a baby in the uterus. Listeria is often found in the following. Avoid these foods while pregnant.
- Hot Dogs
- Soft Cheeses
- Refrigerated pate
- Refrigerated smoked seafood, "jerky", "nova"
- Raw milk
Fish (Mercury Ingestion)
Fish is healthy and should be consumed while pregnant, however, certain fish are rich in mercury and should not be consumed in excess while pregnant. Scavenger fish and fish that eat other fish are particularly prone to excess mercury levels. The following rules apply to fish consumption.
- Shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel are high in mercury
- Limit fresh caught or frozen tuna steaks
- Canned tuna: 1 can per week
- Weight less than 135 pounds - less than 1 can per week
Smoking
Smoking causes miscarriage, infertility, perinatal death, low birth weight, and preterm delivery. Nicotine Replacement Therapy is generally not recommended, as the risks in human pregnancy are unknown. Smoking cessation medications such as Bupropion (Zyban, Wellbutrin) maybe used if absolutely necessary to avoid smoking but the best policy is to quit before you get pregnant and stay off them forever.
Cats
Cats are great pets and make a great companion but they may also carry toxoplasmosis (discussed above). You need not get rid of your cat but follow the advice listed below and you will reduce the risk of catching toxoplasmosis from your cat.
- Ask your partner to change the litter box
- Wash your hands after handling the cat
- Don't let kitty lick your face