According to the American Pregnancy Association, of the nearly 6 million pregnancies that occur in the U.S. each year, about 2 million pregnant women will experience a pregnancy loss and 875,000 will experience complications. Sometimes these events are unavoidable. However, you can still take control by learning what is good for, or potentially harmful to, your baby. Adjusting your lifestyle and eliminating harmful habits will increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy.
Mercury
Being pregnant means monitoring your meals more closely. Eating foods containing high amounts of mercury can damage your baby's delicate brain and nervous system. Mercury exists in many different species of fish and shellfish; scratch them off your menu. This includes shark, swordfish, sea bass, king mackerel, marlin and bluefish. If you have a soft spot for seafood, however, it is possible to protect your baby while still enjoying seafood. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, pregnant women can safely consume up to 12 ounces a week of species with low mercury contents, such as salmon, shrimp, tiliapia, catfish and crab.
Alcoholic Beverages
There is no safe way to drink alcohol when you are pregnant. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy puts your baby at risk for developing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). FASDs are preventable disorders that produce birth defects, facial deformities, developmental problems and heart conditions. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association, FASDs affects approximately 40,000 babies in the U.S. each year. Alcohol even affects fetuses during the earliest stages of pregnancy. Therefore, you should stay away from alcohol even if you are not yet pregnant, but are planning to become pregnant.
High-Intensity Exercise
Exercising during pregnancy helps reduce unpleasant symptoms such as back pain, fatigue, constipation and depression. However, certain types of exercise are dangerous to perform during pregnancy. High-intensity exercises that involve moving fast, bouncing around or jerking your body can cause you to fall down, pull a muscle or get hit in the stomach. Avoid activities like team sports, jogging, running, gymnastics, horseback riding and high-impact aerobics. Stick with low-key activities like walking, swimming and low-impact aerobics; they will help you stay fit and stay safe.
Smoking
If you are a smoker, quit. It is essential to the health of your baby. Smoking cigarettes during pregnancy increases your risk of miscarriage or premature delivery. Smoking also puts babies at risk for low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, stillbirth, respiratory disorders and other birth defects. Even after your baby is born, keep in mind that nicotine is also secreted in breast milk. If you plan to breastfeed, refrain from smoking right after giving birth.
