Home and Diet Toxins and Preconception Planning. For women who want to rid their bodies and homes of toxins before pregnancy, there’s no shortage of dos and don’ts floating around. In fact, the list can seem overwhelming. So what are the best things you can do to stay healthy and make sure your children will be protected from environmental toxins when you do get pregnant? Web. MD talked to some experts to find the latest tips pre- pregnancy health. Preconception Care: What’s Most Important. Good nutrition, good general health, and exercise are the most important aspects of getting ready for pregnancy. Plan a pre- pregnancy visit with your doctor. Talk to your doctor about your diet and lifestyle; medications, vitamins, and supplements that you’re taking; your medical history and that of your family; and any concerns you may have. Your doctor will advise you on preconception care and any vaccinations that you should have before getting pregnant. Don't smoke or drink alcohol, and limit caffeine. Maintain a healthy weight; try to get health problems such as diabetes under control; exercise at least 3. Women who might be poorly nourished - - not necessarily underweight but not eating properly - - may be more susceptible to environmental exposures,” says Ted Schettler, MD, MPH, science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network and the author of In Harm’s Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development. Make sure you get enough folic acid in your diet, by eating fortified cereal, beans and peas, citrus fruit, spinach, and asparagus. Folic acid helps protect a baby from birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, such as spina bifida, that can happen very early in a pregnancy (often before you even know you're pregnant). It can be hard to get enough folic acid in diet alone. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all women of childbearing age take a daily supplement or multivitamin that contains 4. Here are some other precautions you may want to take: Continued. Pre- Pregnancy Health: Your Drinking Water. Generally, water from the tap is safe. Your local water utility is required to provide a Consumer Confidence Report that lists contaminants detected in your water. If you haven't received a report, you can call your water utility and request one. If your home has lead pipes, lead solder on copper pipes, or brass faucets, significant amounts of lead can leach into your drinking water. Exposure to high levels of lead during pregnancy can contribute to miscarriage and preterm delivery, and to low birth weight and developmental delays in babies. Your local health department or water supplier can advise you how to get your water tested for lead and other contaminants. Pre-eclampsia; Synonyms: pre-eclampsia toxaemia (PET), pre-eclampsia: A micrograph showing hypertrophic decidual vasculopathy, a finding seen in gestational.Home » Women's Health and Pregnancy » Pregnancy Anemia, Causes, Symptoms, Diet, Treatment Pregnancy Anemia, Causes, Symptoms, Diet, Treatment. Types and Causes of Canine Liver Disease. Animals that receive a severe and blunt blow to the front of the abdomen can suffer from liver disease. Pregnancy and the Vegan Diet. As a dad-to-be, does what I eat and drink matter? Eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise will help to keep your sperm in tip-top condition (NHS 2015a). If there are contaminants in your water, you may want to install a water filter that is certified by NSF International, and which removes lead as well as other pollutants. Pre- Pregnancy Diet: What About Fish? Many women worry about mercury in fish. Mercury can harm a baby’s nervous system and may lead to learning disabilities. But you don't want to miss out on the health benefits of fish, either: Fish and shellfish are high in protein, low in fat, and are a good source of omega- 3 fatty acids. This benefits babies’ brain and vision development, and may reduce your risk of pre- term labor. You can limit your risk by eating certain kinds of fish and avoiding others. The FDA and EPA advise women who may become pregnant to avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish, which tend to have higher levels of mercury. They also recommend eating up to 1.
Freshwater fish caught in rivers and streams can have very high levels of mercury. For information on the safety of freshwater fish in your area, check with your state fish advisory. You can also use the Environmental Defense Fund’s Seafood Selector to help find the safest options. Continued. Preconception and Pesticides“There is no question that there are causal associations between some - - not all - - pesticide exposures and infertility or pregnancy compromise, including miscarriages and birth defects,” Schettler says. Avoid exposure by using natural pest control methods in your home and yard. The EPA provides information on integrated pest management and beyondpesticides. According to the American Pregnancy Association, this is especially important during the first trimester of pregnancy, when a baby’s nervous system is developing rapidly. What about pesticides on your plate? Although there's no proof that eating organic will ensure a healthier pregnancy, it is a great way to lower your exposure to pesticide residues. If you can't go totally organic, Evans recommends consulting the “Dirty Dozen” list put out by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). It lists the 1. 2 most pesticide- contaminated fruits and vegetables. Pre- Pregnancy Health and Home Cleaning Products. You may also want to think about how you clean your house. Some cleaning products contain solvents that can be hazardous at high levels of exposure. There are a number of natural cleaning products on the market that don't contain harsh chemicals. Look for ones that don't contain harsh solvents, fragrances, chlorine, or ammonia. Or you can make your own. Baking soda can be used as a powdered cleanser to scrub greasy areas, pots and pans, sinks, tubs, and ovens. A solution of vinegar and water can be used to clean countertops, windows, and other surfaces. Preconception Care: Are Plastics and Dry Cleaning Safe? Some plastic wrap and containers contain phthalates, which can leach out when heated in a microwave. Although government and industry consider phthalates to be safe, one study found that pregnant women with higher levels of phthalates were more likely to have baby boys with slight changes to their genitals. As an alternative, use glass containers to store food, and use a paper towel instead of plastic wrap when your microwave. When it comes to dry cleaning, some doctors say that clothes laundered by conventional dry cleaning pose no risk to pregnant women; others say to avoid them altogether. The biggest concern is around perchloroethylene (“perc”). If you have some clothes that have to be dry cleaned, hang them outside and let them air out before bringing them in. Continued. Avoiding Toxins Pre- Pregnancy: Solutions for the Nesting Instinct. Even if you’re just planning your pregnancy, you may be feeling the urge to get the house in order before a baby is born. But you should be careful about exposure to toxins from renovation work or new furniture and other items. If your home was built before 1. The EPA has a list of labs where you can send paint samples for testing. Removal of lead paint must be done by a professional lead abatement specialist. If you have lead paint removed, you should stay out of the house until it has been cleaned thoroughly. You may also want to be choosy about new furniture and carpet, which can give off chemical fumes. Men should also see their doctor to discuss important preconception care on their part. Web. MD Feature provided in collaboration with Healthy Child Healthy World. Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD on October 1. Sources. SOURCES: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Patient Pamphlets: “Good. Health Before Pregnancy,” “Nutrition During Pregnancy”Joel Evans, MD, author, The Whole Pregnancy Handbook: An Obstetrician's. Guide to Integrating Conventional and Alternative Medicine Before, During, and. After Pregnancy, Gotham, 2. Center for Women’s Health. Stamford, Connecticut. Ted Schettler, MD, MPH, science director, Science and Environmental Health. Network; author, In Harm’s Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development. Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, 1. Larson Duyff, R. American Dietetic Association Complete Food and. Nutrition Guide,Third Edition; Wiley, 2. March of Dimes: “Environmental Risks and Pregnancy,” “Caffeine in. Pregnancy,” Smoking During Pregnancy,” “Preconception Risk Reduction: Drinking. Alcohol During Pregnancy”. Kimberly Rider, author, The Healthy Home Workbook, Chronicle Books. Organic Baby, Chronicle Books, 2. Kids. Health: “Health Experts Continue Weighing Possible Risks vs. Benefits of. Eating Fish During Pregnancy”. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency: “What You Need to Know About Mercury. Fish and Shellfish”. American Pregnancy Association: “Pesticides Exposure During Pregnancy,”. Hair Treatment During Pregnancy,” “Preconception Health for Men”. University of California Newsroom: “Study Warns of Cleaning Product. Risk”Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: “Q& A: Bisphenol A and. Trying to Conceive: Your Pre- Pregnancy Checkup. We all know about the importance of prenatal medical care in assuring the health of a pregnant woman and her baby. But most experts now recommend that women start seeing an obstetrician before they become pregnant for something called pre- pregnancy or preconception care. It may seem excessive - - after all, why start worrying before you're pregnant? But a doctor can help even at an early stage. He or she may run tests to make sure that you and your partner don't have any hidden illnesses that could affect your pregnancy or your chances of becoming pregnant. Your doctor can also give you advice about exercise, eating, lifestyle and folic acid supplement. Some studies show that preconception care can increase your chances of becoming pregnant and reduce the risks of miscarriage or birth defects. What to Expect During a Pre- Pregnancy Checkup. Your doctor will want to start a pre- pregnancy checkup by getting a full medical history from both you and your partner. He or she may also want to run a number of tests - - such as blood tests and a Pap smear - - to make sure that neither of you have any medical conditions that could affect pregnancy or your chances of conceiving. Your doctor might test for illnesses such as: Finally, depending on your ethnicity, your doctor may recommend genetic tests for: Sickle cell anemia. Thalassemia (an inherited form of anemia)Genetic diseases common in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, such as Tay- Sachs disease. If it's time for you to update your vaccines, it's important to do so before you are pregnant. A few specific vaccinations, such as the MMR (measles- mumps- rubella), varicella (the virus that causes chickenpox), or hepatitis A vaccines increase the risk of birth defects. Experts advise that you wait at least 2. Continued. Managing Diseases in Pre- Pregnancy. If you have an existing medical condition, such as epilepsy, high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes or a thyroid disorder, it's especially important to seek out medical care before getting pregnant. Not only is it crucial to keep these illnesses under control during your pregnancy for both your and your baby's sake, but some common medications used to treat these conditions - - such as certain high blood pressure and anti- seizuredrugs - - can have an adverse affect on your pregnancy. If this is true of a medication that you're currently using, your doctor may be able to suggest a substitute. Prior to conception, you and your doctor will need to discuss all medications you are taking, including any over the counter medications.
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