Harmful Substances to Avoid During Pregnancy

With this new life growing inside of you, you will have to start avoiding things that otherwise have become a daily part of your life. Remember, baby is very fragile and something that is basically harmless to you could hurt baby. In this article we will discuss things that you should avoid during your pregnancy.

Alcohol should definitely be avoided during pregnancy. This one is a no brainer. If you drink socially, now is the time to put down that glass of wine or that bottle of beer for baby's sake. If you are an alcoholic, it is now time to get some professional help. Drinking during pregnancy can have very harmful effects on baby such as, fetal alcohol syndrome. FAS is a condition that produces infants who are born undersized with mental deficiencies. These children have deformities of the head, limbs, heart or central nervous system. Later on in life, these children have the tendency to have learning, behavior, and social disabilities. Drinking hard alcohol or heavily during pregnancy can also cause miscarriages, low birth weight, pre-maturity, and complications during labor and delivery.

Smoking cigarettes should also be avoided during pregnancy. If you smoke cigarettes you will want to immediately or as soon as possible quit smoking for the health of your baby. Cigarettes can be very harmful to baby causing baby to have under developed lungs at the time of birth or asthma problems throughout life. Besides moms who smoke are more likely to deliver baby with apnea and are twice as likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Realize that your baby is more important than your habit. Kick it and you and baby will do fine.

Second hand smoke should also be avoided. If someone in the household smokes, make a rule that they have to go outside. Ask friends and family members who smoke to go far away from you while indulging in cancer sticks. Secondhand smoke can be worst than first hand. So make a conscience effort to stay as far way from smokers as possible.

Cocaine and other Drug Use. Cocaine is one of the top substances to avoid if you are pregnant. Using cocaine during pregnancy could damage the placenta; reduce blood flow and retarding fetal growth. Miscarriages, premature labor and still births are common amongst mothers who used cocaine throughout their pregnancies. The more the mother chooses to use cocaine the greater risk the baby has of dying or being born abnormal with mental and physical health problems. Other drugs such as LSD, Crack, Ecstasy, and prescription pills should also be avoided to the fullest. If you have a drug problem and you are pregnant, it is now time to get some professional help for the sake of your baby.

Caffeine seems like something small, but it can have a big risk factor on your unborn child. You should avoid coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, caffeine pills or anything with the substance inside of it. Caffeine may double the chance of having a miscarriage or cause baby to have rapid heartbeats. If a mother used caffeine frequently during pregnancy, after birth, the baby may have rapid breathing or heart rate, also baby maybe at a higher risk for SIDS. So say goodbye to that morning cup of coffee and hello to a healthy baby.

Keeping baby healthy and happy is the most important thing of all. Let go of these substances if they are problems for you and start baby's life off right. I hope this article was of some help to you God willing.

Resources
What to Expect When You are Expecting by Arlene Eisnberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, and Sandee E. Hathaway, B.S.N.