Precautions During Pregnancy

Hearing the news of pregnancy is one of the most precious moments in every woman's life. Being pregnant is a happy feeling and demands more attention to one's health. This is because, whatever a woman eats or adopts a certain lifestyle can have a direct impact on the baby's health. During the nine month's of pregnancy, certain dos and don'ts have to be religiously followed to protect unborn baby from any sort of damage.

Precautions During Pregnancy

Diet
It is no secret that a proper well-balanced nutritious diet is the key to give birth to a healthy baby. In simple words, healthy foods rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins can keep pregnancy complications at bay. Here are some pregnancy diet tips:

Although fish provides proteins in ample amounts, one should avoid eating certain types of fish as they are high in mercury levels. Fish like shark, lobsters, swordfish, tuna, tile fish and mackerel have unacceptable levels of mercury and so come in the list of things to avoid during pregnancy. On the other hand, salmon and sardines are the species of fish that contain lowest amount of mercury but still their intake has to be limited to avoid mercury poisoning. It is recommended that servings of salmon have to restricted up to 12 ounces per week. It is observed that alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking can damage the developing fetus and so one should abstain from following these habits. Caffeine beverages like coffee are notorious for causing sleep disturbances which need to be avoided during pregnancy as it can lead to longer labor at the time of delivery. Till now doctors have not been able to find any link between caffeine intake and birth defects but to be on the safer side, one should avoid or considerably minimize consumption of beverages like tea and soft drinks.

Cooking
Whether it is about eating poultry products like chicken or seafood such as fish, it has to be properly cooked. One should not commit the mistake of eating it raw as it can cause food poisoning. No wonder, raw meat is categorized as one of the foods to avoid during pregnancy. Toxoplasmosis and listeriosis are some of the infections reported during pregnancy that mainly occur due to improperly cooked meat. Cooking destroys the harmful bacteria present in raw food products, thus making it fit for consumption. Food poisoning during pregnancy may get cured but the baby is likely to develop health problems after birth. Also, one has to properly wash all vegetables and fruits before making any salad. Healthy cooking habits involve steaming, boiling, baking or grilling the meat. Avoid deep frying and prefer to cook in olive oil.

Medications
Medications for common ailments during pregnancy should not be taken without consulting a doctor. Certain medications like painkillers, antibiotics or decongestants for common cold can cause harm to the unborn baby. So, prior consent of a qualified doctor is necessary before taking over the counter medications during pregnancy.

Sexual Activity
Many couples ask can sexual activity have a negative impact on the developing baby. To be honest, sex should take a backseat during pregnancy as it can be uncomfortable for the 'would be mother'. Sexual intercourse when the woman is heavily pregnant may cause complications in the fetus. Sex, no doubt is a source of pleasure but is tiring and many times, cumbersome for 7-8 months pregnant women. Pregnant women are also advised to stay away from strenuous activities like running that cause physical exertion.

Keep in mind that adhering to these precautions is essential to ensure normal delivery and to keep the baby's health away from any sort of illness. Complications in pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or even birth defects. Pregnant women would certainly not like to face these troublesome issues that make permanent scars on the mind. This is possible, only when women have healthy well cooked food complemented with a light exercise such as walking for a stipulated period of time.