Easy safety tips that can protect your baby’s health

A reasonably healthy lifestyle and some common sense are generally enough to keep you safe, but will that be enough during your pregnancy? Growing a baby takes a lot of energy and effort, and though much of the process is left up to Mother Nature, you will likely need to adjust your routine to help your baby’s development. After all, the needs of a tiny fetus are often much more specific than your own, and your growing baby relies on you to for nourishment and protection. The best way to increase your chances for a healthy pregnancy and a well-developed baby is to become aware of some commonly ignored dangers and do your best to eliminate them from your prenatal life.

Food Safety for Expectant Mothers

A healthy adult has the immunity to fight off common viruses and infections, often before any symptoms appear. However, pregnancy brings a peculiar shift in the way your body fights off illness: once your baby begins to grow inside you, your defenses divide to protect the fetus as well as your own body from infection. The result is a slightly weakened immune system and a tiny baby that is more prone to serious, long-term complications than you are. In turn, food and kitchen safety is crucial to ward off harmful bacteria that your immune system may not be able to handle very well right now.

First, beware of raw food in any form. Sushi, undercooked meats and raw eggs are off limits, but you should also be careful about the produce you choose and how it’s prepared. Wash and scrub everything well, especially if you intend to eat the skin, and be sure to keep cutting boards separated and sanitized in order to avoid cross-contamination. Food poisoning can resemble other pregnancy symptoms at first, but it can escalate quickly and lead to severe consequences like miscarriage, growth problems and even birth defects.

Hidden Environmental Hazards

Food hazards are relatively easy to avoid with a keen eye and healthy home habits, but you need to look out for the less visible dangers, too. Teratogens are environmental toxins or airborne substances that can cause problems in your developing baby, and they are scattered throughout your surroundings. Although you won’t be able to isolate every single hazard, where you choose to go and the products you choose to use will determine how much risk you face.

Drugs and alcohol are examples of obvious teratogens; viruses and toxic chemicals are more difficult to spot. However, avoiding germs and toxins can be as easy as staying in touch with your community, reading labels closely and going green. For instance, steer clear of areas where infections are prominent if you haven’t been vaccinated, and be sure to get the flu shot if you’re pregnant during flu season. As for household safety, use non-toxic paints and cleaning agents whenever you can, forego medication unless your doctor recommends it and add several houseplants to keep the air in your home clean.

Even if you can’t eliminate every toxin from your home, work and daily routine, there are plenty of things you can do to decrease their prevalence. Don’t be afraid to question the safety of any activity or environment, and speak with your doctor about recent findings to make sure your lifestyle continues to give your baby the best chance for strong and healthy development.

From Publishers Weekly

Aiming to fill a gap in the market, Jones has collaborated with perinatal nutritionist Hudson to produce a volume that combines both recipes and nutritional advice aimed specifically at the mother-to-be. Delicately balancing optimum and unnecessary weight gain with the required dietary needs for a healthy lifestyle, Jones and Hudson also addresses the requirements of diabetic, vegetarian and vegan diets. After an introduction providing a summary of needs an (more…)