How important is it to eat a healthy diet? Can I still eat chips, candy, and soda?
A nutritious diet is an important component of a healthy pregnancy. In 1950, a precursory study identified an important link between nutritious foods and pregnancy. Babies born to women who ate minimally during an eight week period suffered a higher rate of morality and defects than women who ate regularly. Similarly, babies born to malnourished mothers have a higher rate of neurological disorders and handicaps, and are at a greater risk to develop degenerative diseases later in life than babies born to women who eat a nutritious diet.
Ideally, nutritious food should be a part of a woman’s life before she becomes pregnant. Many key developmental processes occur very early on in pregnancy – often before a woman knows she is even pregnant.
The problem with a diet rich in chips, candy, and soda is that these foods do not supply the vitamins and minerals necessary to support both the health of the baby and the mother. An occasional soda or handful of chips is not a problem so long as these types of foods do not form the basis of an expectant mother’s diet.
What level of exercise is OK? When should I start exercising? When should I stop?
Regular physical activity has many benefits and is recommended throughout pregnancy in moderate amounts. Some benefits of regular exercise are less discomfort and fatigue, a sense of well-being, stronger abdominal and back muscles to improve posture and reduce strain, and an increased likelihood of early recovery after delivery. Moderate yoga, walking, swimming, and cycling on a stationary bicycle are usually safe exercises for expectant women.
Because appropriate exercises can change as a pregnancy progresses, pregnant woman should always check with their doctors before starting a new exercise. Pregnant women should immediately stop exercising if they experience any of the following: pain, strong cramps, uterine contractions at 20-minute intervals, vaginal bleeding, leaking of amniotic fluid, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, palpitations, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), constant nausea and vomiting, trouble walking, edema (swelling around joints), or if the baby is less active than normal.
How much weight should I gain? How can I control weight gain?
Pregnant women need to eat more calories than non-pregnant women to ensure proper development of the fetus; however, the amount of weight gained will vary from woman to woman (click to view WebMDs useful website on pregnancy and weight gain). The National Health Service recommends that women who begin pregnancy at a healthy weight should gain between 22 – 26 pounds. Both insufficient weight gain and gaining too much weight pose risks to the health of the mother and the fetus. Still, pregnancy is also not the time to be dieting! Women who are prone to being overweight and those with eating disorders should check with professionals before becoming pregnant to mitigate potential risks. Try to be within 15 pounds of your ideal weight before pregnancy.
Can I drink alcohol or caffeine when I am pregnant? What levels are safe?
Alcohol should be avoided entirely. Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy put their babies at risk to develop fetal alcohol syndrome – a disorder characterized by growth retardation, facial abnormalities, and central nervous system dysfunction. Caffeine should be avoided as well, or at least limited. Be sure to check food labels. Along with coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, and chocolate, caffeine is now found is more than 200 foods, beverages, and over-the-counter medications.
Are vaccinations safe while pregnant? Are certain vaccinations recommended?
As with many other health issues during pregnancy, it is better to go over your vaccination history with a doctor prior to becoming pregnant. Some vaccinations are safe to recieve during pregnancy and others are not. Pregnant women should not recieve vaccines of live viruses, even if they are attenuated. An example of this type of vaccination is the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccination. However, rubella poses a serious threat to the health of a mother and unborn baby if contracted during pregnancy. A woman who is hoping to become pregnant should check to make sure she has recieved this vaccination. Safe vaccinations to recieve during pregnancy include the flu shot, tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, polio, and pneumococcus. Vaccinations derived from genetically engineered forms of viruses or toxoids are also considered safe for pregnant women. . Some vaccinations are safe and others are not. Click here to read a DiscoveryHealth webpage specifically about pregnancy and vaccinations.
Is it safe to have sex when I am pregnant?
As For most women, it is safe to have sex all throughout pregnancy, though not necessarily comfortable. However, sex should be avoided if a pregnant woman is at risk for pre-term labor because semen contains substances that cause the uterus to contract. Sex should also be avoided in cases of unexplaines bleeding or a history of pre-term labor, the pregnant woman has placenta previa (a condition where some of the placenta covers the cervix), water has broken, or in cases where a pregnant woman is carrying multiple babies and is in her ninth month. A doctor should be contacted immediately if a woman bleeds bright red blood after sex, especially if it is accompanied by a fever, or if a pregnant woman is leaking any fluid. This Parents.com article explains in greater detail when sex during pregnancy could be risky.
What Environmental Hazards should I be aware of?
The March of Dimes estimates that there are four million chemical mixtures in homes and businesses. Many of these chemicals have not been tested to discern whether or not they pose health risks to pregnant women and unborn babies. The majority of exposure to environmental hazards occurs in the workplace. Many routes of exposure are possible. Chemicals can be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. For pregnant women to experience deleterious effects of the known environmental health hazards however, exposure needs to be constant and in high doses. Chemicals pregnant women should be concerned about are: lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, pesticides, and organic solvents like alcohols, degreasers, paint thinners, and varnish removers. Pregnant women should contact their worksites to become aware of areas of risks and ask to be removed from these areas. Click here to learn more from the March of Dimes' website about Environmental Health Risks to Pregnant Women.
What is morning sickness? Can it be avoided?
The extent to which an expectant woman experiences morning sickness differs with every woman. That said, up to 70% of pregnant women experience some type of morning sickness. Common symptoms include queasiness and an upset stomach. More rare symptoms include nosebleeds and bladder infections. Foods that a woman loved before becoming pregnant may cause sickness now. It is useful to substitute five or six small meals a day instead of three large meals to avoid exacerbating the symptoms. By the fourth month, most women overcome morning sickness. Medical professionals can prescribe medication that can ease some of the symptoms of morning sickness. Click here to read more in Mayo Clinic's health library about morning sickness.
I have heard about Folic Acid before but I don't know what it is. Is it important?
Folic Acid is a B vitamin that makes new cells. It is very important that pregnant women take the recommended amount of 400 micrograms daily. In the developing fetus, folic acid prevents birth defects affecting the neural tube (also called Neural Tube Defects, or NTDs). A well-known example of a neural tube defect is spina bifida. Folic Acid is also important for the development of the baby's spine, brain, organs, skin, and bones. The developmental processes that require folic acid occur very early on in pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. Thus it is important even for women who do not think they are pregnant now but would like to be pregnant in the future to regularly take folic acid supplements. Click here to read the CDC's webpage about folic acid and to learn what cereals contain added folic acid.
When should I see a doctor once I know I am pregnant? What happens at a prenatal visit?
Once a woman finds out that she is pregnant, she should call a doctor, midwife, or other health professional right away. Although prenatal visits may seem like a waste of time if the pregnant woman is feeling fine, these visits are important for the long-term health of the mother and baby. The goal of these visits is to monitor the progress of the developing fetus and identify problems before they become serious health risks. Women who take advantage of prenatal care options tend to have healthier babies and are less likely to deliver prematurely. At prenatal visits, women are taught about pregnancy, their doctors or health professionals monitor chronic health conditions, tests are performed to monitor the health of the mother and baby, and expectant mothers are introduced to support groups or government programs, like WIC which can help ensure their baby is healthy. The is the typical schedule for prenatal visits:
- 4 - 28 weeks: 1 visit per month (every 4 weeks)
- 28 - 36 weeks: 2 visits per month
- 36 weeks - birth: 1 visit a week
Click here to watch Dr. Siobhan Dolan describe the importance of prenatal care
