Two years ago, the birth rate in the US was 56 live births per every 1000 women. Over the years, statistics indicated a drastic drop in pregnancies when compared to the high numbers recorded in the 1970s through to the 80s. That's probably due to increasing awareness of how crucial wellbeing is while pregnancy and the need to exercise a great deal of caution, especially regarding what you eat, where you go, etc. Below is a compilation of some precautions to take when you are expecting.
1. Avoid artificial sweeteners
By ordinary description, artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes used in foods and drinks to avoid the ingestion caused by actual sugars. Some examples of artificial food sweeteners are aspartame, saccharin, xylitol, sucralose, etc. Under normal circumstances, it may not be harmful to consume foods or drinks with these sugar substitutes. However, during pregnancy, it is better to err on the side of caution.
This is because some women have hereditary conditions like phenylketonuria (PKU), which makes it impossible for the body to digest the main agent in sweeteners. The problem here is not many people are aware of this hereditary condition. Therefore, they only get to find out after noticing signs and symptoms or have been exposed to it. The main compound in aspartame is phenylalanine, which could cross the placenta and cause problems within the growing fetus. Therefore, now more than ever, it would be a good idea to read food labels and ingredients thoroughly before consuming.
2. Exercise caution when outdoors
Understandably, pregnancy is associated with immense hormonal changes, and when that happens, you may want to spend time outdoors for fresh air. However, being outdoors at certain times comes with some risks. For example, exposure to flying insects like mosquitoes is associated with several health conditions. It would help to get a mosquito control company to spray your outdoor space as a preventive measure.
3. Litter box change
If there’s any time you need to stay away from the litter box, it is while pregnant. Cleaning out the kitty’s litter box could expose you to several health hazards as a pregnant woman. There is a microorganism called toxoplasmosis infection, which is extremely harmful to a growing fetus. Exposure to this causative microorganism can hinder growth in the fetus, lead to brain or eye damage, and may increase the risk of premature birth. Therefore, no matter how much you love your feline pets, your pregnancy should take more priority.
This leads to the question of who should be cleaning out the litter box. If you have a partner, spouse, or older kids living with you, they may be ideal persons to perform this chore. After that, it is critical for them to thoroughly wash their hands. However, if you live alone, you may find it useful to rely on external help to carry out this task. If none of these options are answers in your situation, you may have to make the difficult solution by moving your cat(s) to another home until you deliver.
4. Recreational drugs
The risks of damage to a growing fetus exposed to recreational drugs cannot be undermined because their attack is centered in the brain. Babies exposed to recreational drugs while in utero may end up with behavioral and learning problems. Even worse, these babies could be born with an addiction to recreational drugs.
In essence, you cannot leave things to chance when you’re pregnant. Exercising a high degree of caution can save you from causing harm to the baby.
Wow, this should be printed out and handed to every woman at her first pregnancy appointment. A lot of people aren't aware of the cat-toxoplasmosis danger, and they need to be. As for recreational drugs, I would put alcohol right at the top of that list. Fetal alcohol syndrome can so easily be avoided.
ReplyDeleteThis is a lot of good information that I would never have though about. Sharing this with a friend for her daughter
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