Things to avoid during pregnancy
Here are a few products or lifestyle habits pregnant women and their partners should take care of during pregnancy. From hair highlights to deal with paints, learn more about what’s safe for your baby.
Acupuncture and massage
Acupuncture and massage, are generally considered to be secure during pregnancy, there are still times during pregnancy once they shouldn’t be used. for example, the abdomen should not be massaged during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
It is generally safe to have acupuncture once you are pregnant. you ought to search for a qualified acupuncturist who has extensive training and knowledge with pregnant women. Tell your acupuncturist you’re pregnant because certain acupuncture points can’t be used safely during pregnancy.
If you’re considering using a complementary therapy, it’s important to inform your doctor or midwife. If you then plan to use a complementary therapy, you ought to always consult a professional practitioner.
Exercise
It’s great to be active and stay fit while you’re pregnant but ask your midwife or doctor first to form sure there are not any health problems that prevent you from exercising. If there are not any problems, attempt to do a half-hour of moderate exercise, like walking or swimming, on most days of the week.
Regular exercise can:
help you occupy a healthy weight
help you relax
help cause you to stronger and fitter — good for dealing with pregnancy, labor, and being a parent
help decrease discomforts like backache and varicose veins that affect some pregnant women
Cleaning products
Check the labels of cleaning products to make sure there are not any safety warnings for pregnant women. If you use cleaning products, glue, paint, or other household chemicals, follow the security directions on the label. confirm the space is well ventilated when you are cleaning — open windows and doors.
Some toilet deodorant cakes contain a substance called naphthalene. Exposure to very large amounts of naphthalene can damage blood cells, resulting in a condition called hemolytic anemia. Symptoms that will occur after exposure to large quantities of naphthalene include fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Newborn babies are particularly at risk if they’re exposed to naphthalene.
Hair dye
Most research studies, although limited, show that it’s safe to color your hair while pregnant. Some research studies have found that very high doses of the chemicals in hair dyes may cause harm. however, these doses are compared to the low amount of chemicals when you dye your hair.
Many women plan to wait to dye their hair until after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy when the risk of chemical substances harming the baby is far lower. If you’re coloring your hair yourself, you’ll reduce the risk further by ensuring that you:
wear gloves
leave the dye on for the minimum time
work in a well-ventilated room
Highlighting hair, by putting the dye only onto strands of hair, also reduces any risk. The chemicals used are only absorbed by hair, and not by your scalp or bloodstream.
Semi-permanent pure vegetable dyes, like henna, are a secure alternative.
Pregnancy can affect your hair’s normal condition. for instance, your hair may react differently to coloring or perming and become more or less absorbent, frizzy, or unpredictable.
It’s always an honest idea to try to do a strand test first, using the hair coloring or treatment that you simply shall use. Speak to your hairdresser for advice.
X-rays
You should avoid having an x-ray while you are pregnant. Your consultant will assess whether your treatment can wait until you’ve had your baby. they’re going to assess whether the advantages of treatment outweigh the low risk of getting an x-ray. they’ll also think about using another imaging method instead, like an ultrasound scan.
The risk from x-ray radiation is said to the stage of pregnancy at which the exposure occurs and therefore the dosage amount that reaches the baby. there’s a slight risk of birth defects and physical and mental development problems.
However, repeated exposure to radiation can damage the body’s cells, which may increase the danger of cancer developing. this is often why the dose of radiation utilized in an x-ray is usually as low as possible. X-rays during pregnancy carry a really small risk of exposing the unborn baby to radiation, which could cause cancer to develop during his or her childhood.
Sunbeds
Pregnant women often find that their skin is more sensitive than normal. If use a sunbed when you’re pregnant, your skin can therefore be more likely to burn.
Sunbeds give out ultraviolet (UV) rays, an equivalent sort of harmful radiation found in sunlight. Getting a tan employing a sunbed isn’t safer than tanning within the sun. In some cases, sunbed use is often more harmful. Many sunbeds give out greater doses of Ultraviolet rays than the midday Mediterranean sun.
Prolonged exposure to UV rays increases your risk of developing carcinoma including melanoma, the foremost serious sort of carcinoma. it’s illegal to work a commercial solarium in Australia.
There is no clear evidence about the effect of Ultraviolet rays from sunbeds on an unborn baby. Some studies have suggested there could also be a link between increased UV rays and a folic acid deficiency. this is often because UV rays can break down folic acid