Pregnancy Precautions:
Determining the Safety
of Your Daily Grind
By Shel Franco

On an average day, you stumble out of bed and slip on your running shoes. Then, there's a hot shower, a cup of coffee, a stressful day on the job, no lunch, a glass of wine with dinner and, finally, bed-time -- much later than you had planned.

Sounds pretty routine to most people, but certain components to the average day can be harmful to the pregnant woman and her growing child.

Smoking
The media is abuzz about the harmful side effects of cigarette smoking and second-hand smoke. Experts now agree that smoking during pregnancy can deprive growing fetuses of life sustaining elements such as oxygen and other nutrients. Is it any surprise, then, that Dr. Ed Shaxted, an obstetrician and gynecologist in the United Kingdom, would list smoking as the top activity to stop during pregnancy?

After nine years of "lighting up," Michelle Marie Alcido, of Houston, Texas, discovered she was pregnant. "As soon as I found out that I was going to have a baby, I threw my cigs away and I was done," she says. And as an added bonus, her husband -- a smoker of 15 years -- quit, too.

For some women, the knowledge that they are pregnant gives them enough power to quit on the spot. "[The] incentive of the pregnancy made it easy [to quit] most of the time," says Crystal Porter, of Springfield, Ill. "The night I took the home pregnancy test and it showed positive, I pushed the pack away from me and said, 'I quit.'"

For others, dads-to-be included, a gradual approach is more realistic. "[My husband] used the tapering method," Alcido says. "He reduced his smoking by one cigarette every three or four days until he was smoking no more."

Drinking and Eating
A cup of coffee. A can of cola. A glass of wine. Are they really that big of a deal?

The jury is still out. But one thing is certain: There is enough research to indicate that the possibility for harm is there, especially when caffeine and alcohol are used in large quantities, to warrant dropping the alcohol and even small amounts of caffeine.

To be safe, reach for decaffeinated coffees and teas, replace the cola with a much-needed glass of water, and relax with the help of soft music and massage.

A large order of fries; a loaded pizza; a skipped breakfast or two. How much does perfect nutrition really matter?

"I am, and always have been, a junk-food junkie," says Kyle Looby of Springfield, Ill. "It was very hard to change that when I became pregnant. But for the sake of my baby, I did."

Most experts agree that poor nutrition can lead to low birth rate, prematurity and even birth defects. And it's not just what you do eat that affects your pregnancy; it's also what you don't eat.

When Susan Chyczewski, of State College, Penn., found out she was pregnant, she knew she had work to do. "I had to change my eating habits," she says. "[I had to stop] skipping meals."

Self-Medicating
Pregnant women are not immune to headaches, colds and allergies. While a sniffle and a sneeze might send your non-pregnant self to the medicine cabinet, it's important that you are absolutely certain the medication you are taking will be safe for your baby.

Many obstetricians will provide you with a list of safe over-the-counter medicines. If you are ever in doubt, call your doctor before you start taking any questionable drug.

Likewise, your doctor's advice is needed before you stop taking any prescription medications. Dr. Shaxted points out that some illnesses pose a much greater threat to the pregnancy than do the medications for controlling the illnesses.

Dangerous Physical Activities
It's not just what you're putting into your body that can be harmful. What you're doing physically also can pose risks to the baby growing inside of you.

"I had to limit my snow skiing after becoming pregnant," says Judith Turner, of Salt Lake City, Utah. "The obstetrician expressed particular concern about the first and last trimesters."

Hormonal changes and shifts in your body's center of gravity can make your normal recreational activities hazardous during pregnancy.

"Avoid dangerous sports [such as] hang-gliding [and] bungee jumping," says Dr. Shaxted. "Remember that horse riding is the most dangerous sport [here] in the United Kingdom."

And you shouldn't simply be concerned with your recreational activities. How you make your living could pose a threat to your unborn child.

Jobs that require extensive physical strain, exposure to chemicals or a high-pressure atmosphere are not conducive to a healthy pregnancy. While the paycheck might be keeping you afloat, staying on the job might not be the wisest thing to do.

"[I had to] go on sick leave early during my pregnancy because my job was stressful," says Linda Vich, of Manitoba, Can.

The bottom line is if you can't quit completely, lessen the activity. And that goes for anything that might come into question during your pregnancy. By playing it safe, your healthy baby will thank you.

 

Want to see more? The Dangers of Smoking for Two Pregnancy in the Workplace: How and When to Tell Your Boss Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy Guidelines for Exercise During Pregnancy Pregnancy Today MomsTalk Discussion Board

About the Author: Shel Franco is an iParenting contributing writer living in the Pennsylvania with her husband, Todd, their two sons and one pug dog.