Although pregnancy is an exciting time for the mother-to-be, it can also be a scary time. Many mothers worry about what foods are safe to eat, what household chemicals are considered safe, and what medications are safe to use. During your first prenatal visit, your obstetrician should give you all of the necessary information on what to avoid during pregnancy. There are certain exposures that may be harmful to you and your unborn child.
Cigarette Smoke
You should avoid any exposure to cigarette smoke while pregnant, including secondhand smoke. Carbon monoxide and nicotine are dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke. According to the March of Dimes, cigarette smoke increases the risk of your baby being born prematurely or with a low birth weight. It also increases the risk of placental complications and congenital heart defects. Babies born to mothers who smoke are at higher risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and for developing asthma.
Mercury
You should avoid exposure to mercury during pregnancy. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend that women who are pregnant or nursing reduce their exposure to mercury by not eating fish containing high levels of mercury, such as swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish. Other kinds of fish and seafood, such as salmon, shrimp or pollack, are considered safer to eat, but you should eat these no more than twice weekly.
Toxoplasma Gondii
The feces of cats, contaminated undercooked meat, or contaminated fruits and vegetables may all contain a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii that can cause toxoplasmosis, a rare but serious blood infection, reports the American Pregnancy Association. Signs and symptoms of toxoplasmosis include fatigue, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. During pregnancy, exposure to Toxoplasma gondii may lead to premature birth, low birth weight, fever, jaundice, abnormalities of the retina, mental retardation, abnormal head size, convulsions and brain calcification. For this reason, the American Pregnancy Association recommends that pregnant women wash their hands after all contact with cats, and not to clean cats' litter boxes at all. They also recommend that pregnant women wash their hands after all contact with raw meat, and to eat only thoroughly cooked meat.
