Nutrition

A healthy pregnancy involves a proper diet to ensure a baby's growth and development. Understanding the nutrients you need is essential to a healthy pregnancy. What we eat affects our bodies growth, energy, and strength.

Benefits of Healthy eating during pregnancy.

Improves fertility
Keeps the mother, as well as child healthy.
Easy labor.
ensures a well maintained growth for child during pregnancy and after birth.
Affects childs eating habits during childhood, and in life.

- Vegetables, whole grains, protein and other wise food choices would be beneficial for a pregnancy eating plan. The sooner the diet habits change during pregnancy the better your child's health outcome will improve. A strong baby means a stronger life.

Smoking

As smoking is bad for anyone, it is crucial that smoking during pregnancy is not condoned or beneficial to the child. When finding out you're pregnant, it's encouraged that you quit immediately which may not seem so easy for a mother who smokes regularly.

Causes of smoking during pregnancy.
Complications that include,

Premature childbirth.
A baby born under substantial weight limit.
Death of child before birth ( miscarriage. )
Smoking increases a higher risk of birth defects.
Increases babies heart rate.
Respiratory problems in child / developing.
Lowers amount of oxygen to child.

- ( When a mother smokes during
pregnancy, the chemicals from a
cigarette enters the bloodstream
and intervenes the only source of
the child's oxygen and nutrients. )

Alcohol

It's unknown according to lack of statistics, that what amount of alcohol it takes to harm the baby during pregnancy. If mother's want to take precaution to delude the risks that come with drinking while pregnant, it's said that refusing any alcohol beverage is safer than risking endangerment to a child during birth. Drinking during a pregnancy is prone for tempting birth defects in your child, and is as bad for a child's health.

Drinking during pregnancy

Increases risk of miscarriage
Stillbirth
Low birth weight
Predicaments with learning, speech, hyperactivity, and language.
Defect of low health, and malfunction in development.

- ( Alcohol travels through the bloodstream, crosses the placenta, and reaches the baby. )

Physical Activity

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Physical activity during pregnancy is normal, and common for a regular pregnancy. Mostly encouraged. Moderate physical activity is safe. To prevent harm to you and the baby watching the activities you do is important in preventing strain and pain in your stomach. Uncomfortable positions aren't encouraged. Aerobic and physical is good.

Benefits

Symptoms

Healthy weight during and after pregnancy.
Sleeping better, less exasperation.
Less swelling.
Lack of chances of getting depression.
Prevents back pain.

Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Painful contractions
Vaginal bleeding
Tired
Pelvic pain
Headache
Might cause less movement in baby

Harmful Chemicals

Chemical exposure during pregnancy is only harmful if exposed to for long periods of times and is only dangerous then. It's proven we are exposed to chemicals in many different ways on a daily basis. From foods, beverages, or absorbing them through our skin. There are ways of preventing this if it's essential in trying to reduce the risk of it harming your child during pregnancy.

Most dangerous

Prevention

Causes

Lead.
Fish & Mercury.
Arsenic
Pesticides
Solvents

Miscarriages
preterm delivery
low birth weight
Developmental delays

Drink filtered water / cook with cold water.
Abstain from eating fish.
Wash hands / cover surfaces.
have someone else handle the chemicals / leave.
Avoid toxic products

Harmful Situations

High risk during pregnancy should be prevented at all costs, simply for the protection and safety of an unborn and currently developing child to decrease risk of future complications and even death in some cases.

What to avoid during pregnancy,

Physical violence
abusive relationships
Drugs
Alcohol
smoking
Car wrecks
Be careful with medicines
Limit caffeine
overheating
chemicals
xrays

Drugs & Medicine

Some drugs, such as over the counter, are safe to take during a pregnancy once in a while. Illegal substances are never condoned or safe for a child. However, in most cases over the counter is safe. prescriptions should be cautious with, as well as ask for guidance of safe doses to take by a doctor or personal physician. Make them known of any alternate supplements you are taking to ensure child's safety.

Safe medications for pregnancy.

Benadryl ( allergies )
Claratin ( allrgies )
Tylenol ( cold &flue. )
colace ( constipation. )
neosporin ( first aid. )

- ( Take less of a dose than you would regularly to prevent any further risks. )

CITATIONS.

americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/pregnancy-nutrition
webmb.com/baby/smoking-during-pregnancy
patient.co.uk/pregnancy-and-physical-activity
http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/taking-medicine-during-pregnancy
http://www.ssmedcenter.com/healthy_pregnancy/what_to_avoid.cfm
http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/is-it-safe/chemical-exposure-during-pregnancy/?page=6