What NOT To Do While Pregnant. . .Part 2

Congratulations! You are pregnant!

Most women either already know, or receive a great deal of information of the things they should do to maintain a healthy pregnancy and help their baby grow

Image by Ivan Makarov via Flickr

well and healthy, too.

We have been looking at some of the things to avoid while pregnant. Some of these may seem obvious, but I have learned in 30+ years of obstetrics, some patients will think it everything is OK that has not been specifically spelled out as harmful to them or their baby.

Last time we looked at what we shouldn't do regarding our pets. Today we will look at substances we can take into our bodies which can affect our babies.


I am always amazed at women who continue to smoke (or drink alcohol or use drugs, for that matter) during pregnancy. It is estimated that 25% of American women smoke during their childbearing years. Most of these women would be appalled if someone were to pour a shot of liquor into their baby's bottle, or put a lit cigarette up to the newborns mouth and nose. Yet, drinking and smoking during pregnancy is still considered acceptable by so many portions of our society. Let's look at these, and some substances you might not think about, and how they affect a pregnancy.

SMOKING

The plain and simple truth of it is that smoking harms your baby. When you smoke, carbon monozide attaches to your hemoglobin molecules in place of the oxygen that would normally attach there. That is oxygen your baby's body doesn't receive.

Smoking damages blood vessels which carry blood and nutrients to your baby through the placenta. Baby's who can't receive enough nutrients and oxygen will grow to be smaller at birth.

The nicotine and carbon monoxide found in cigarette smoke has been associated with many pregnancy complications such as:

• Low Birth Weight Babies
• Preterm Delivery
• Premature Rupture of Membranes
• Placental abnormalities
• Increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Women who smoke during pregnancy are 3.5 times ore likely to delivery a baby that is les than 5.5 pounds at birth. These babies often do not function as well as normal weight newborns. Pregnant smokes are 2.5 more likely to have preterm labor than non-smokers.

Smoking affects not only the baby, but the placenta as well, increasing the likelihood of placental abruption (a premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall). Placenta previa is also more common in smokers. Both of these conditions can be life-threatening to the mother and baby and can result in blood loss and hemorrhaging.

Quitting smoking (hopefully before you become pregnant) during pregnancy is one of the greatest things you can do for your health and the health of your baby. Contact your health care provider for a referral to smoking cessation classes. Most hospitals offer these classes free of charge. Here are some other resources;

• smokefree.gov
• 1-800-Quit-Now
• The National Tobacco Cessation Collaborative
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Kicking the habit is never easy, but when the goal is a healthy newborn and a healthy mother, the incentive is great to help most women to stick with a smoking cessation program throughout the course of their pregnancy. But don't start back once the baby is here: second hand smoke is a major risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome!

ALCOHOL

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause both physical and mental birth defects. FAS, or fetal alcohol syndrome is one of the most common causes of mental retardation.

No one knows exactly how much alcohol lead to birth defects. THERE IS NO DEFINED "SAFE LIMIT". The level can vary from woman to woman. THERE IS ALSO NO SAFE TIME TO DRINK DURING PREGNANCY. The best thing to do for your baby is to avoid alcohol while pregnant, this means avoiding beer, wine, liquor and wine coolers.

Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may have:

• Abnormal facial features
• Small head size
• Low body weight
• Poor coordination
• Difficulty paying attention
• Poor memory
• Learning disabilities
• Speech and language delays
  
• Intellectual disability or low IQ
• Poor reasoning and judgment skills
• Vision or hearing problems

Fortunately, FAS is 100% preventalbe. Do NOT drink while you are pregnant. The alcohol passes across the placenta to your growing baby. I always like to say, if you wouldn't put in in the baby's bottle, don't put it in your mouth while you're pregnant.

ILLEGAL DRUGS

Illegal drugs, and even some over-the-counter and prescription drugs can hurt your baby. The drugs cross the placenta and enter the baby's bloodstream. Some can lead to birth defects while others can cause your baby to be born too small or very sick. Babies can be born with addictions to the drug and begin withdrawal shortly after birth. These babies often cry more than the average baby, tremble, and have trouble sleeping. Other symptoms of withdrawal from illegal drugs may include: irritability, convulsions, diarrhea, fever, feeding difficulties and sleep abnormalities.


Cocaineand/or Methaphetaine use during the early part of pregnancy increases the risks of miscarriage. Use of either drug in the second and third trimesters increases the risks of premature labor and placental abruption.

Babies born to mothers who have used herion have a higher risk of having intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain), low blood sugar and premature birth.

No illegal drug is safe for your baby. Contact your health care provider, be honest about any and all drugs you are taking and ask how to manage any medical problems or conditions you may have while seeking treatment for addiction.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

There is often the belief that if a drug is prescribed, it must be safe. There are many drugs that are considered safe for use in pregnancy. There are others, however, that should not be used, or only used when absolutely necessary.

Some drugs if taken in the early weeks of pregnancy can be especially harmful to your baby. These may include:

• Accutane (used to treat acne)
• Soriatane (used to treat psoriasis)
• Thalomid (used to treat multiple myeloma, leprosy and some complications of AIDS

Some drugs used to treat high blood pressure in the mother, such as Captoril and Enalopril, should never be taken during pregnancy as they can damage the baby's kidneys and contribute to birth defects.

It is important to discuss all medications you take with your physician or health care provider. The FDA classifies prescription drugs to show which medications are safe to use in pregnancy and which have more risks to the baby. Your physician can help you understand these classifications and how it impacts your pregnancy.

BEING SAFE WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

There are some ways to be as safe as possible with prescription drugs to help ensure your baby's health:

• Be sure to never take someone else's prescription medication
• Take your own prescription medication according to the label directions
• Never take more than the amount ordered by your health care provider
• Never take medication with alcohol or narcotics
• Make sure you ask your health care provider or pharmacist questions about the medication before you get home

Remember, your baby cannot protect or care for itself. He or she is relying on your protection from the harmful substances in the world. Do everything you can to give your baby the very best start possible.