Pregnancy Do's and Don'ts

There are plenty of books and people to give advice to a pregnant woman...no dearth of it, actually. But who does one listen to - the well-wishing relatives or the experts in the how-to, what-to books? The key does lie in balance. Some traditional truths exist and the experts also know what they're talking about. So listen to everyone but do what is right for you and always consult your doctor before you try anything.

Areas of Importance during Pregnancy

Each pregnancy is different. However, there are a few areas of care that you could look into for the sake of your health and that of your unborn child. Take a look at the list below and you'll know what we're referring to:

• Food during Pregnancy: There are some foods you may want to avoid if you're pregnant - sushi (contains raw seafood), spicy foods, oily foods, uncooked meats (cause of Listeria), unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses. These have been known to cause infections and miscarriages.

• Pets: Avoid having pets around the house especially cats. Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused due to contact with cat faeces. The parasite can be harmful to the baby in terms of birth defects if the mother has not already miscarried.

• Smoking: Smoking whether active or passive is a definite no during pregnancy. It is a major cause of birth defects, low birth weight and premature births, in almost all the studies done on the subject.

• Alcohol and Drugs: Both these are highly detrimental to the life of an unborn child. Compare the size of an adult and a child. Can you imagine what it would be for an unborn child to feel the effect of alcohol if the mother is drunk or even slightly tipsy? Drugs are even worse. Cocaine is known to hinder a baby's oxygen supply and vital nourishment leading to problems such as serious birth defects and in some cases, addiction in the child.

• Caffeine: Excessive amounts of caffeine in the mother's system are known to be the cause of low birth weights and possibilities of miscarriage. By excess, it means over 300mg of caffeine or more per day. Try to avoid coffee and other drinks and eatables that contain caffeine and you'll be ok.

• Body Temperature: A moderate body temperature during pregnancy is the best for both mother and child. Avoid extreme temperature in the form of hot or cold baths, saunas, steam baths and other temperature related spa treatments. Any type of exposure to extreme temperatures can be damaging to the child.

• Exercise: Exercise is good and it promotes health. If your doctor okay's you, then stick to your exercises but keep a low pace. Do just enough for you to feel flexible and healthy. Swimming is good and so is moderate paced walking. In no way, should you do heavy exercise, scuba diving, high altitude training or weight training during pregnancy.

• Safety around the house: You may want to continue to do all your house chores yourself and that is good because you'll get enough exercise and it will keep you active. However, there are some things you ought to avoid such as aerosol sprays in the form of pesticides, industrial strength cleaners, solvents and paints. These can cause severe complication during pregnancy and birth defects in the child.

These are just a few pointers. Each woman's pregnancy is different. Some enjoy their time with their unborn child. Some find it difficult due to health problems and so on. However, in every case, and at all time, do consult your doctor or care giver when you begin a new thing or decide to stop doing a specific activity. Their advice for you is the best as they know you and your baby very well.