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During Pregnancy
Prenatal Care
Nutrition & Pregnancy
Environmental Factors
Myths & Misconceptions
New Horizons
Seek Prenatal Care Early
As soon as you think that you are pregnant, see your
doctor for a prenatal visit. A baby’s organs begin
to develop in the first eight weeks of pregnancy and
most birth defects occur in the first three months of
pregnancy, therefore, receiving early prenatal care is
vital. By detecting birth defects early in the pregnancy,
the condition can be monitored or treated before birth.
Some complications may be avoided and if a problem does
develop, special advanced planning can make for a less
complicated birth.
Your doctor may suggest performing
certain tests when you attend your prenatal visits. Routine
testing in the early stage of pregnancy may include checking
blood for signs of anemia, confirmation of immunity to
childhood diseases, a pap smear and cultures for sexually
transmitted diseases. A test called alpha-fetal-protein
will be done during the 16th to 18th week of your pregnancy.
This test can show if there is a likelihood that your
baby may be affected by a neural tube defect or Down
syndrome. Further testing is necessary to confirm any
abnormal results. If you happen to be a mature mom or
have other risk factors, your doctor may suggest either
amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS). These
can provide information about the baby’s genetic
make-up and enhance early diagnosis of a birth defect.
In addition, your doctor may order an ultrasound, which
can provide a peek at the baby to check for abnormalities.
Your doctor can advise you regarding the options available
to you if prenatal testing reveals a birth defect.
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Nutrition & Pregnancy
A woman’s nutritional health is important both
while pregnant and before pregnancy occurs. It is through
adequate intake of an appropriate balance of vitamins
and minerals that an environment to support the proper
development of a fetus is derived. When a fetus is deprived
of the materials it needs to grow and develop correctly,
there remains the potential for disturbance in the normal
development process.
Therefore, the food choices that
you make during pregnancy have a direct impact on the
development of your baby. It’s
important to eat a well-balanced daily diet that includes:
6-11 servings of grain products
3-5 servings of vegetables
2-4 servings of fruits
4-6 servings of dairy products
3-4 servings of proteins
Ask your doctor if you should also include extra iron
or calcium supplements. But beware! Too much of a good
thing can be harmful. Mega-doses of vitamins, especially
A and D, can be toxic to you and your baby. Talk to your
doctor about the right combination of vitamins for you.
The best action is to enjoy a variety of healthy nutritious
foods and take a multiple vitamin with folic acid daily.
Thankfully, the list of foods to
refrain from enjoying while pregnant is short. However
it is essential to avoid raw or undercooked meat and
raw shellfish as these may harbor bacteria that causes
food poisoning, dangerous for both mom and baby. And
remember that no "safe" amount of
alcohol consumption has been determined. Do not drink alcohol
while you are pregnant.
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Environmental Factors
Several toxic substances in the environment may alter normal
prenatal development. To prevent birth defects, it is important
to avoid smoking and the use of alcohol and drugs even
before you become pregnant. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is 100%
preventable by not consuming alcoholic beverages during
pregnancy. Remember that within a few weeks from conception
your baby's blood supply is connected to yours. Therefore,
any alcohol or drug that you consume gets to the fetus.
This can be especially damaging early in pregnancy when
organs are being formed. Although medications prescribed
by your doctor are meant to help you, some of them can
be harmful to a developing fetus. So, no matter what medication
you are taking, be sure that you inform your doctor when
you are planning a pregnancy and when you become pregnant.
Before you take any over the counter medicines, check with
your doctor to be sure that they are safe for your baby.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a type of virus that in most
healthy individuals causes cold-like symptoms. Usually
people contract this virus in childhood, and most adults,
therefore, are immune to it. However, if contracted during
pregnancy, this virus can damage the fetus' eyes, ears,
and/or brain. If you are frequently exposed to large numbers
of small children and are unsure of your CMV immune status,
talk to your doctor.
While you are pregnant, do not handle any cat litter.
It can transmit toxoplasmosis, which can cause serious
harm to your developing fetus. Another source of contagion
with toxoplasmosis is undercooked meat.
Chemicals at home and at work should also be avoided to
prevent exposure to the fetus. Exposure to toxic chemicals
is common. These include cleaning solvents, insecticides,
paint thinners, lead, and mercury. Don't forget any substances
that you may be exposed to while engaging in hobbies, such
as stained glassmaking. And if your work exposes you to
radiation, take extra precautions to protect yourself from
exposure while you are pregnant to prevent jeopardizing
the health of your baby.
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Myths & Misconceptions
Media, family, and friends love to tell the latest tales,
sometimes passing along stories that are based more on
fancy than fact. Many of these topics remain controversial
and continue to remain under scrutiny. One example is the
effect of caffeine on a developing fetus. Although
research has suggested that caffeine can produce skeletal
abnormalities in animals, there is no evidence of a similar
response in humans. You may elect to consume caffeine in
moderation until more research results are available in
this area.
Electromagnetic fields have also been
a topic of discussion in regard to their effects on human
development. Electromagnetic fields are the energy emitted
from computer screens, power lines, and household appliances.
While it is well known that exposure to radiation is
a direct cause of birth defects, there is no evidence to
suggest that the energy from these items cause birth defects.
Until more research is completed, you can minimize exposure
by maintaining a distance of an arm’s length from
your computer terminal as the strength of electromagnetic
fields decreases significantly after 24 inches.
Although pica appears more frequently in some cultures,
any pregnant woman can experience it. Pica is the urge
to eat substances that are not considered appropriate as
food. Common cravings for women who are experiencing pica
include clay, starch, plaster or paint chips, and ashes
to name a few. So you can see that, while not unusual,
pica can be harmful. For example, clay and dirt can contain
toxoplasmosis and paint chips can contain lead, both of
which can interfere with the normal prenatal development
of a baby. If you find yourself craving these or other
non-food items, resist the temptation to eat them and,
if the urge is too strong to resist, enlist the aid of
your doctor and family in finding ways to avoid ingesting
them.
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New Horizons
With advances in modern medicine come advances in the opportunity
to impact the outcome of pregnancy. More children born
with birth defects are surviving thanks to progress in
medical and surgical care. But researchers are trying to
discover ways to intervene before a baby is born with a
birth defect. One of these new techniques is called fetal
surgery. Obstetricians operate on the baby while it is
still inside the womb to correct certain defects or minimize
complications. Not all birth defects can be addressed with
fetal surgery, but it can provide an option for some babies
that was previously unavailable. Genetic engineering is
another option that is now being explored. Researchers
have been able to locate the genes for certain birth defects
and it is anticipated that by manipulating the errant gene,
we may be able to improve the outcome for the child. While
this research is still in its infancy, the possibilities
for the future will greatly impact the survival and quality
of life for children with birth defects and their families.
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