SMOKING CIGARETTES
Is it odd to see a pregnant woman smoke?
Major effects of cigarette smoking has been linked to heart disease and lung cancer and it is known that women who smoke while pregnant are prone to preterm labour, Preterm birth is also known as a premature birth, this is giving birth to baby fewer than 37weeks.
Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causes many diseases, and reduces the health of smokers in general.
Cigarette smoking causes about 480,000 or more deaths each year, majorly in the United States.
It causes more deaths each year than the following;
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Illegal drug use
Alcohol use
Motor vehicle injuries
Firearm-related incidents
DRINKING DURING PREGNANCY
IS ALCOHOL A PROBLEM DURING PREGNANCY?
As a pregnant woman, when you drink alcohol, it rapidly reaches your baby through the placenta through your bloodstream. Drinking of Alcohol can cause miscarriage and also premature birth. Too much alcohol can even increase the risk of your baby being stillborn.
Too much intake of alcohol during pregnancy can permanently damage your developing baby’s cells. This could affect how your baby’s face, organs and brain grow, It can cause them to have low IQ as well. It can also damage your baby’s nervous system, meaning that your baby develops a fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is at the extreme end of the spectrum of disorders. Babies with FAS tend to have facial defects, be born small, and carry on being small for their age. They also have learning difficulties, poor muscle tone and coordination, and behavioural problems, for the rest of their lives.
THE DO`S and DON`T OF A PREGNANT WOMAN
The DO`S and DON`T of a Pregnant Woman
Before your little bundle of joy arrives, you’re responsible for helping them grow in a nurturing and healthy environment. It’s commonly known to try and eat healthy while avoiding certain foods, exercise, and taking your
prenatal multivitamins.
Now here are the list of the DO`S and DON`T
Pregnancy DO`S
1: Multivitamin Intake: Eating a balanced diet that’s rich in vitamins and minerals is the best way to provide your body with all of the healthy nutrients it needs to support a growing baby. A healthy diet alone, however, may not be enough for pregnancy.
Prenatal vitamins contain higher levels of certain nutrients that expectant mothers require at higher doses, such as:
{i} Folic acid
{ii} Calcium
{iii} Iron
These vitamins assist with proper development of the fetus and help prevent birth defects.
A multivitamin usually include DHA, EPA, or both. These are omega-3 fats that are important for your baby’s proper brain development.
2: Getting Enough Rest: Pregnancy is demanding, especially in the final trimester, and you’ll need to get enough sleep.
Changing hormone levels, anticipation, and anxiety can make sleep elusive during your 9 months of pregnancy.
Take enough rest if you feel tired and schedule naps whenever you can.
3: Practicing Enough Exercise: We now know that exercise is good for both Mother and Child.
Regular exercise may help you combat many of the issues that arise during pregnancy,
Such as:
{i} Insomnia
{ii} Muscle pain
{iii} Excessive weight gain
{iv} Mood problems
If you regularly exercise before you became pregnant, keep it up.
4: Having Enough Sex: Sex during pregnancy is also important, as long as you don’t have a complicating issue such as placenta previa or another type of high-risk pregnancy. Sex is safe with your partner right up until your water breaks. If you have discomfort, you may have to try new positions.
Pregnancy
DON`Ts
1: Do Not Take Alcohol: There appears to be no safe level for alcohol intake in pregnancy.
Alcohol may greatly impact your baby’s development. People who drink alcohol while pregnant could deliver a baby with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Symptoms of FAS include:
{i} low birth weight
{ii} learning disabilities
{iii} behavior problems
{iv} lagging patterns in terms of growth and {v} development milestones
2: Do Not smoke: Babies born to women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a lower birth weight and are at a greater risk for learning disabilities than children born to nonsmoking mothers.
3: Don’t eat raw meat: Raw, undercooked meat and eggs carry the risk of foodborne illness, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis.
Food poisoning is also a possibility. These conditions can cause serious, life-threatening illnesses that could lead to severe birth defects and even a miscarriage.
