The Biggest Dangers For Pregnant Women

The period of pregnancy is one of the most stressful stages of a woman’s life. And it is perhaps a period where almost everybody wants to give her a piece of advice. “Don’t do this, don’t do that!”

As a pregnant woman almost every aspect of your daily routine presents risks - from the food you eat to the way you sleep. This is stressful and it’s bad for you and for the baby too.

With new studies everyday and unverified advice from friends and family, it’s easy to get confused and inundated with information.

It has always been argued that pregnant women shouldn't drink; but a new study in the UK that surveyed 11,000 British mothers who drank mildly during pregnancy said majority found no harmful side effects and a reduced rate of hyper-activity in the children later. But is this not more confusing? What is the definition of mild drinking? What is moderate to you isn’t to the next fellow.

Our everyday products and conduct could become dangerous during pregnancy. The best way to go is to stick to basic facts.
Here are a few facts:

1.         Fish:
The Mayo Clinic recommends that it’s best you cook all your fish to 145 degrees inside and out. It’s also safe to limit yourself to 6 ounces a week.

·         High risk fish: Larger, older fish with high levels of mercury can damage the developing nervous system of a fetus.  Pregnant women are urged to avoid swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tilefish, raw fish or seafood, smoked salmon or other cured fish.

• Low risk: Protein-rich seafood is helpful in brain development, when consumed in moderation. Shrimp, canned light tuna (limit albacore tuna and tuna steak to no more than 6 ounces or 170 grams a week), salmon, pollock, catfish.

2.         Meat:
When it comes to meat, the main principle is how to avoid bacteria, because pregnant women are more likely to be susceptible. But the rule guidelines are fairly instinctive and simple. Keep off stale food and make sure everything is cooked through.

• High risk meat: Refrigerated meat-based spreads and raw, pre-stuffed poultry should be avoided as they tend to breed more bacteria. Deli meats and hot dogs should be cooked to steaming temperatures or just skipped to avoid the food-borne listeria. Liver is high in vitamin A which can cause birth defects if consumed in large quantities.

• Low risk meat: Any poultry or meat that’s fresh, well done and cooked through is safe to eat. 

3.         Eggs/Dairy/Cheese:
They’re protein-rich, satisfying and reasonably priced but are they really worth it? And for dairy products the rules get complicated when it involves pasteurized stuff. The pasteurization process kills listeria, a food-borne bacteria that can cause infection and miscarriages. With pregnant women 20 times more likely to contract the bacteria, the risks are real.

• High risk: Unpasteurized milk or cheese is off limits. Eggs Benedict, eggnog and certain sauces that involve partially cooked eggs, aren't worth the risk. Brie, Feta, Camembert, blue cheese, Mexican-style cheeses are all potentially hazardous. For safety and piece of mind, only consume something that says “pasteurized” on the label.

• Low risk: Hard-boiled eggs, cottage cheese, cream cheese, yogurt are safer bets. Hard cheeses like cheddar and Swiss are more likely to be pasteurized, but make sure you check the label.

4.         Beverages:
Liquids can be just as risky as solid food. But filtered water doesn't have the same appeal as say, a Diet Coke or even glass of wine. Know what's worth the risk.

• High risk: Multiple cups of coffee daily is not good. Consuming less than 200 milligrams, or one cup, a day is recommended. Caffeine can effect the baby's heart rate and growth, and possibly contribute to miscarriages and stillbirths.

Alcohol: Any liquor in the first 3 months can jeopardize your baby's well-being and regular drinking throughout the pregnancy is just a bad idea. Studies have found it leads to stillbirths, heart problems, facial deformities, mental retardation and slow growth.

Even moderate drinking may contribute to slowed development. When it comes to wine or beer, one drink a week after the first trimester isn't expected to do much damage. But it's not recommended by the Mayo Clinic. Keep off!

• Medium risk: Herbal teas: More research is needed on different types of herbal effects but at least one of them, red raspberry leaf, may cause contractions. 

Saccharine, still found in some diet sodas, can lead to birth defects as show by studies on rats. So skip it.  

• Low risk: Diet sodas that contain aspartame: No negative effects have been reported if limited to one can a day. The only risk is from another ingredient in diet beverages called phenylalanine. "Women with a condition called phenylketonuria (PKU - for which your baby will probably be screened for at birth), a rare hereditary condition in which the amino acid phenylalanine is not properly metabolized, are at risk because high levels of phenylalanine can cause damage to the fetus," warns nutritionist Allison Gamble in the magazine, Pregnancy Today.

5.         Depression:
Because of a variety of factors including hormonal changes, physical discomfort and increased stress, depression can rear its ugly head during pregnancy.

The change in mood affects proper eating habits, exercise and sleep patterns crucial to the baby's development. And the latest research says the ripple effect of risks can be high.

Premature delivery and low-birth weight is increased in depressed women. When depression gets really bad, antidepressants can be helpful. But are they safe to take during pregnancy? “Overall, the risk of birth defects and other problems for babies of mothers who take antidepressants during pregnancy is low.

Besides, very few medications have been proven safe without question during pregnancy and some types of antidepressants have been associated with health problems in babies. 

• High risk: Paxil, Nardil and Parnate are a few antidepressants that pose major health risks for a fetus.

• Medium risk: Prozac and Zoloft are both administered to pregnant women suffering from severe depression, especially in the first two trimesters and the risks are low. Persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns (PPHN) has been linked to the antidepressants when taken in the third trimester.

Wellbutrin, the quitting smoking aid and anti-depressant, has yet to show any negative side effects on the fetus, according to the Mayo Clinic, but that may be due to limited research. 

6.         Exercise:
A lot of pregnant women still desire to look like they were before pregnancy and many want to maintain their trim physique. Yes, exercise is crucial. Working up a sweat once a day, for about 30 minutes, is important for a healthy pregnancy regimen. But don't overdo it. The first step is checking with your doctor for recommendations catered to your own body's comfort level. 

• High risk: Before you lace up your sneakers, consider your own health. Exercising should be done with great caution if you're a pregnant woman with poorly controlled diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or placenta previa.

Lifting heavy weights, and exercising to exhaustion no matter what shape you're in can be dangerous for the fetus. 

• Low risk: 30 minutes or less of moderate exercise is healthy for most. Walking, swimming, rowing and stationary cycling are best, since they don't exert too much impact on the joints.

7.         Flying:
If you must travel by air,  be sure to plan accordingly. While flying is fine at certain points in the pregnancy, keeping hydrated and stretching to increase circulation is crucial.

• High risk: Flying after 36 weeks isn't recommended for fear of miscarriage or premature delivery. Also airborne radiation exposure poses a risk to frequent fliers, based on studies of miscarriages in flight attendants.
• Low risk: Flying between 14 to 28 weeks presents the lowest risk of miscarriage, so get your last trip in before you're flying with a screaming baby. And an occasional flight won't present any radiation risks.

"Decreased air pressure during flight may slightly reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood, but your body will naturally adjust," explains Dr. Harms. "And although radiation exposure increases at higher altitudes, the level of exposure for the occasional traveler isn't a concern."

8.         Wellness and beauty products:
During pregnancy, you might need to clear out your medicine or supplements collection and do a fetus-friendly shopping at your local drug store on doctor’s recommendation. To the pregnant woman, note that your medicine cupboard is not your friend.

• High risk: Accutane: A study by the Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS), found approximately 25-35% of infants born to women exposed to the acne medication during the first trimester of pregnancy showed a pattern of birth defects.  Miscarriage is also a risk. 

Retin-A: Check your anti-aging creams and makeup foundations for this chemical. It can pass through the blood stream to the baby, and the effects are still unclear. 

Tetracycline: Bone growth and coloring problems have been shown in some fetuses as a possible result of the drug, according to BabyCenter's pregnancy guidelines. 

• Medium risk: Salicyclic acid: It's been shown to cause birth defects but doctors have deemed it safe for once a day use in a product like a toner or a foundation with low doses of the chemical.

• Low risk:  Sunscreen products with the "active soy" ingredient as opposed to "soy" are less likely to discolor skin like estrogen-rich soy products. Any make-up labeled "mineral-only," "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic" means it's lightweight, oil-free and won't travel through your blood stream and infect your baby with harmful chemicals.

The pregnancy stage is a delicate one and pregnant women are delicate species. Care must be taken at this stage to avoid dangers associated with it. Remember, the simple rule is to follow the basics and always consult your doctor.