When you become pregnant there are so many things you hear mostly pertaining to what you can't have or do. This in turn confuses many moms to be and they have no idea where to start. Below are some facts that will help you along the way.
Fruits, Vegetables and other Protein Sources
The majority of fruits, veges, whole grains, proteins and some dairy is definitely beneficial for mom and baby.
Fish
Many may hear about not eating fish while pregnant because of the mercury content which is a metal that can be toxic to children and even adults. This doesn't mean you have to completely rule fish out, actually you can have certain types of fish but you must monitor your intake. The fish allowable for consumption includes catfish, canned light tuna, pollack, salmon and shrimp. Pregnant women should only consume an intake of 12 ounces per week. If you prefer albacore tuna over regular light tuna then please remember that it contains a higher consumption of mercury so you will want to make sure your intake is only 6 ounces per week.
Foods that contain Listeria (Bacterium)
These are foods that you will want to avoid as they can cause a higher risk of fetal illness, miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. Foods that may contain listeria are unpasteurized milk, refrigerated meat spreads or pates, refrigerated smoked seafood, uncooked hot dogs and deli meats. Also stay away from anything that contains undercooked or uncooked eggs as they may be contaminated with salmonella.
Calories
Even though you are carrying a little one that doesn't mean to eat like your eating for two adults. It is actually recommended that women only need 300 extra calories a day. This intake may vary depending on your weight. If you are at a normal weight then the 300 calorie rule stands but if you are overweight or underweight you will want to manage your intake differently. If you are overweight you will want to take in less calories and take in more healthy foods. If you are underwent you will want to take in more calories for the healthy development of your baby.
Alcohol and Caffeine
It is still recommended by the medical world that no level of alcohol is considered safe while pregnant.
As far as caffeine goes the intake you consume must be limited to less then 200 milligrams (12 ounces) of coffee a day. A study showed that women who drank more the 200 milligrams of caffeine a day were at higher risk for miscarriage. You must be aware that if you are already at any risk for miscarriage or any complications during pregnancy you will want to stay away from caffeine completely.
Environmental
Air Travel
The myth that occurs with this is the radiation that one may receive form X-rays at security checkpoints and high altitudes. This may be a concern to some but it shouldn't be as the amount of radiation is very minimal. There is no evidence shown that the change of pressure when flying contributes to premature labor or miscarriage. If your flight happens to be a long one just remember that you must get up and walk around a bit as long periods of sitting can contribute to blood clots.
Cats
Toxoplasma is a parasite which you can contract from exposure of cat fecal. To avoid this you will want to avoid changing your cat's litter box during pregnancy. This parasite can also be found in uncooked/raw meat, soil and unwashed produce. You will want to make sure you clean your food before use and cook thoroughly.
Computers
No concerns here as radiation is practically non existent due to today's technology of LCD screens and there is no exposure to cathode which you would find in older model computers.
Smoking
This is detrimental to your health as well as your baby's health and can cause an increased risk in a low birth weight baby and increase the risk of premature birth. If this occurs your baby is at greater risk for health problems including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, mental retardation amongst other health issues.
There you have it, the myths vs. the facts when it comes to you and your pregnancy.
Stay Healthy for you and baby!
Stay Fab!
