Pregnancy Dos and Don’ts.   

Many women have questions on the dos and don’ts of pregnancy.   What medications can you take?   Can you travel on an airplane?  Can I get in a hot tub?  Are my pets safe to handle?   In this video, I will talk about the most commonly asked questions on what you should and shouldn’t do once you are pregnant.   These are “must knows” if you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant.  Click to watch, or continue reading below.

 

Dos and don’s of pregnancy.

When you are pregnant, there are some modifications you have to make for example, if you have a cat, if you love to eat out, or what kind of exercises you do.  If you have just found out you are pregnant, you probably have a ton of questions about what you can do and what you shouldn’t do.  We are going to go over some general do’s and don’t

DO:  Taking a prenatal vitamin daily, include 15 to 30 mg of iron and 0.8 mg of folic acid to reduce the risk of neural tube defects

DO Wear your seat belt properly.  The lap belt should be placed across the hips and below the uterus.  The shoulder belt goes between the breasts and to the side of the uterus.  The safety of air bags is still being studies, but the current recommendations are to NOT turn your airbag off.

DO Dental work:   Do not put off important dental treatments just because you are pregnant. It’s safe to get teeth pulled, root canals, cleanings and even x-rays (with shields on the abdomen and neck) while you are pregnant, so take care of your oral health.

Don’t  use alcohol, tobacco or illicit drugs.    These can all be harmful to the fetus.     If you are struggling with any of these addictions, talk to your doctor about going to a substitution program in your area.

DO  Exercise.   For most pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies, following an exercise program s important and safe for your pregnancy.   Exercise should be no more than Moderate intensity.  This means that you should be able to carry on a normal conversation during pregnancy.    If you have to take a breath in between 2-3 words, you should take things down a notch.   Now isn’t the time to start training for your first marathon.    A general strategy might be Aerobic exercise and strength training 30 minute daily 5-7 days a week.  This should be modified to what fits for you.   As a general guideline, don’t life over 20 lbs.   This is a general rule and

 

Don’t spend time in a sauna or hot tub.   This could cause an increased risk for neural tube defect.  If you choose to get in a hot tub or sauna, keep it short so as to not increase your internal core temperature.

 

DO  Feel safe swimming in public pools.  No studies have shown that this causes harm to the baby.

 

DO get your flu shot.   And Do make sure your Pertussis vaccine is up to date.

 

Don’t travel to areas known to be affected with Zika Virus.  Zika virus  exposure during pregnancy cause congenital microcephaly.    This means the baby’s head is smaller than expected.  Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.  If traveling to areas affected with Zika virus is unavoidable, be careful to take precautions against mosquito bites including wearing long sleeve shirts and pants, sleeping under a mosquito net and wearing insect repellent.   If your sexual partner has traveled to affected regions, you should abstain from having sex or use a condom for the rest of your pregnancy.

 

Don’t handle rodents or kitty litter.

 

DO wash your hands frequently.

 

Don’t eat overly raw meats, fish, poultry or eggs.

 

Don’t eat unpasteurized dairy products.

 

DO rinse fruits and veggies thoroughly under running water for about 30 seconds.

 

Don’t sleep on your back later in pregnancy.  Your enlarging uterus can put pressure o you aorta, restricting blood flow back to the heart.  It’s best to sleep on your left side.

 

DO continue to go to continue employment if you would like.   Unless your job puts you at risk for unsafe environmental exposures, or increase physical demands not safe with pregnancy, or unless your doctor has determined that you are at a higher risk for preterm delivery, it is safe to continue working.

 

DO continue to have sex.   In theory, intercourse may stimulate labor due to physical stimulation of the lower part of the uterus and the release of oxytocin as a result of orgasm.   However, unless you are having vaginal bleeding, preterm labor or your water has broken, most studies have not shown an increased risk of preterm labor, early delivery or complications due to infections.   (the exception to this is if you acquire a new sexually transmitted disease.

 

DO travel.   Most airlines will allow women to fly up to 37 weeks of pregnancy .  Commercial airline travel is generally considered safe with uncomplicated pregnancies.     Walk frequently throughout the flight to keep circulation flowing. . this helps reduce the risk of blood clots.  This goes the same with car travel.  If driving long distances.  Stop the care every hour or two and  take a walk to keep the circulation flowing.

DO feel fine about using hair dyes and other cosmetic products.  Chemicals from hair dyes do not absorb very easily into the scalp and are generally considered safe.   Plant based hair dyes are probably safer than ammonia-bases products.  It’s best to choose plant based dyes.

 

DO use insect repellents when needed.  CDC has advise women to reduce their risk of getting viral infections like West Nile and Zika virus but wearing protective clothing and using insect repellent with DEET.

 

Don’t take anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen or] Naproxen.     There are certain citations where your doctor might ask you to take a daily baby aspirin, but otherwise,  anti-inflammatories.

 

DO take Tylenol unless your doctor has told you otherwise) for general aches and pains.

 

Don’t spray paint kids rooms.   If you have an air compressor and like to pain with an air sprayer, leave that to your husband or partner.

 

DO roll pain kids rooms.  When it’s time to start getting the baby room ready, you can pick your favorite baby color, then roll on the pain.  It’s best to wear a mask, though an make sure the room is well ventilated.  Open windows to keep fresh air circulating.

 

Don’t use harsh concentrated cleaning chemicals.   If you have a tough cleaning job that requires harsh, strong chemicals, leave that to your husband or partner to do.

 

DO clean in well ventilated area.  When you are cleaning with chemicals, open windows to keep fresh air moving.  Or, try cleaning with a steam cleaner.

 

DO attend all of your prenatal visits.   These visits are important  to keep you and your baby safe and healthy.

 

Remember. This is a general list and may be different for you depending on your healthy and any pregnancy complications.  Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns or questions.