Of course, pregnancy is a joyous period of a woman’s life and as the body starts to change, lifestyle also has to change. When you discover that you are carrying a baby, you get a rush of responsibility, as this is the first time you have ever taken on the full responsibility of bringing a new life into the world, and with this in mind, here are 5 things that you should avoid when you are with child.
- Massage & acupuncture – It is generally accepted that pregnant women should avoid acupuncture and while massaging your back or neck is fine, avoid massaging the abdomen area. If you were receiving acupuncture treatment prior to the pregnancy, make sure you inform the practitioner that you are expecting and they would probably tell you to wait until the baby is born before continuing with the acupuncture treatment.
- Cats – There is a condition called toxoplasmosis, which is caused by a parasite that lives in cat feces and this can seriously affect the pregnancy. This doesn’t mean you can’t go near a cat, just make sure that you don’t handle them, at least until you have given birth. To better prepare for motherhood, these breastfeeding jumpers will come in very useful during feeding time.
- Alcohol – There are no safe limits regarding alcohol and pregnancy; you are advised to abstain until after the baby is born, then you can toast a glass of champagne after the birth. Drinking during pregnancy can cause serious harm to the baby and it simply isn’t worth taking the risk.
- Foods – There are some foods you should avoid when pregnant; certain types of fish are known to contain high levels of mercury – Tuna, Mackerel, Marlin Shark and Swordfish should all be avoided during pregnancy. Talk to your physician about diet when pregnant and they can point you in the right direction.
- Avoid hair dye in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy – There are chemicals in hair dye that can damage a fetus, so you are advised to avoid dying your hair for the first 3 months of your pregnancy. Click here for a few reasons why dental implants are so popular.
- Saunas & sunbeds – Both of these are thought to present a risk to the baby; too much heat is not good for a developing baby and the UV risk with sunbeds is very real. Your physician should go through many things with you when you discover you are pregnant, often handing out useful information packs for mums-to-be, which is a great idea.
- X-Rays – You must always tell medical staff that you are pregnant, as in most cases, any form of radiology treatment would be suspended until after the birth. Even dental X-Rays should be avoided during your term; tell your dentist you are carrying a child.
There are Australian websites where you can acquire a wide range of products for pregnant women, plus you can read the free resources online to help you prepare for motherhood, which is a unique experience.
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