Pregnancy is a beautiful yet stressful experience. So many things can happen during pregnancy that can affect the mother and her unborn baby. That’s why it’s so crucial for pregnant women to avoid certain risks and complications at all costs. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the top health risks pregnant women must avoid at all costs to have healthy pregnancies without complications or problems.
Taking Medications That Contain Acetaminophen
If you’re pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, you must avoid taking medications that contain acetaminophen. It is because acetaminophen can cause ADHD and autism in children. Although there is no direct link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and congenital disabilities, the drug has been linked with other issues such as asthma and hyperactivity disorders (ADHD).
If you have been prescribed an over-the-counter medication that contains acetaminophen, talk to your doctor about whether or not it’s safe for you to use it while pregnant, mainly if it’s been explicitly prescribed for pain relief during labor.
An Acetaminophen lawsuit is a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and McNeil, the drug manufacturers. The suit alleges that the defendants knew their product was potentially dangerous and failed to warn consumers. The result was a failure to disclose the risks of taking the drug.
Smoking or Chewing Tobacco
Smoking or chewing tobacco during pregnancy can cause congenital disabilities. It also increases the risk of miscarriage and premature birth. If you smoke or chew tobacco, you should quit as soon as possible to protect your baby from these harmful effects.
It seems that new mothers are aware of it because, according to CDC, mothers who smoked cigarettes at any time during pregnancy reduced by 36% during 2016-2021, from 7.2% to 4.6%.
If you are planning to become pregnant, you must stop smoking immediately before becoming pregnant. Continue to avoid it throughout your entire pregnancy because even one cigarette can do severe damage to an unborn baby’s health.
It can cause low birth weight and other serious problems such as cleft lip/palate, clubfoot syndrome, and heart defects such as ventricular septal defect (VSD), where blood flows between two chambers instead of through them properly.
Unsafe Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol is a poison, but a Springer Link, 50% of pregnant women accepted consuming alcohol in the first trimester. When you drink it, your body absorbs the alcohol and converts it into acetaldehyde, which is broken down into carbon dioxide and water. Alcohol can cross the placenta and enter your baby’s bloodstream, causing damage to the brain, even at low levels of consumption.
While you may be unable to stop drinking entirely during pregnancy, try limiting your intake as much as possible. And always avoid bingeing on weekends when everyone else does.
Using a Tanning Bed
Using a tanning bed while pregnant can cause skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States. In addition to that, it can also lead to congenital disabilities or miscarriage.
Think again if you’re considering using a tanning bed during your pregnancy. It’s not worth risking your life or your baby over something so simple as getting a darker skin tone, especially when there are safer alternatives like spray tans and sunless self-tanner lotions.
Pesticide Exposure
Pesticides can be found in many products we use every day, such as cleaning products, pesticides, and even food. Pregnant women should avoid pesticides at all costs because they can be harmful to them and their babies.
Pregnant women exposed to high levels of pesticides may experience specific health problems like miscarriages and congenital disabilities in their children. It is why you need to take extra precautions by avoiding anything with pesticide residue or containing any chemical that acts like a pesticide.
Not Breastfeeding Your Baby
Breastfeeding is the best thing for your baby. But according to Forbes, up to 32% of mothers never begin breastfeeding their newborn. It helps to protect your baby from many diseases and infections, including respiratory illnesses like pneumonia. Breastfeeding also helps to lower the risk of breast cancer in mothers, as well as ovarian cancer.
If you’re not breastfeeding your child or only partially breastfeeding them, you’re missing out on some of these benefits. And even more importantly, not giving them what they need.
These Are the Main Health Risks That You Should Avoid During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time of excitement, but it’s important to remember that risks are involved. These can be serious or minor, depending on the situation and how quickly you seek medical attention. For example, some women experience morning sickness and feel nauseous for a few weeks early in their pregnancies. It is normal and not usually harmful to the baby or mother.
Conclusion
It’s important to remember that pregnancy is a time of significant physical and emotional change. It can be hard to know what risks are safe in this situation, so it’s best if you seek the advice of your doctor and other professionals who know what they’re talking about regarding pregnancy. They have all kinds of experience dealing with pregnant women and can help you through any concerns or questions that arise during your pregnancy journey.
