6 precautions to take during the first trimester of pregnancy

02/24/2016

Written by: Ella James

Being pregnant can be one of the most thrilling and rewarding times of your life, but it can also be the most worrying. You have to constantly double think everything that you’re putting into your body now that you’re sharing it with your unborn child. Thoughts of what you ate when you were first 2 weeks pregnant will constantly race through your mind. You might not know if you ingested something that put you or your baby at risk.

Health complications that can affect a fetus include alcohol, smoking, medications, and even certain things you eat. Needless to say this will cause some unwanted stress, which isn’t good for your baby either. You should always be mindful of these complications, but it doesn’t need to drive you crazy. Knowing ahead of time of what could pose as potential threats could be life changing.

Here are some tips and precautions you will want to look out for during those first 3 months of pregnancy.

• Avoid Smoking or Secondhand Smoke

One of the most preventable complications of pregnancy is avoiding smoking before and during pregnancy. Smoking before pregnancy increases your chances of misconception by approximately 30%. Smoking while you are pregnant is even worse. It increases the risk rate of complications your baby might have by an alarming rate. Some studies have shown that it increases the chances of a premature birth by 30%. It should go without saying that you should try and avoid smoking, especially during you first trimester, at all costs.

• Watch What You Eat

Having a good grasp of what you’re eating during your first trimester can make all the difference. Fish is a great food source, rich in protein and omega 3 fatty acids, but you may not want to eat a lot of it during your pregnancy. Some fish may contain high levels of mercury which could be unhealthy for your baby. Try eating a smaller amount of fish if you must, less than about 12 ounces a week. Also, make sure you eat plenty of iron. 38% of pregnant women each year suffer from anemia, an iron deficiency that causes harmful effects to the fetus.

• Try to Drink Less Caffeine

Caffeine is everywhere. It’s in the coffee we drink with breakfast, and it’s in the soda we drink for dinner. It may be hard to avoid, but try to cut down on the caffeinated beverages during your pregnancy. Caffeine has been known to induce levels of anxiety, uneasiness and sleeping problems. An important thing to remember here is that if you are ingesting high amounts of caffeine, it is best to ween off them than to suddenly stop. A sudden cutoff of caffeine may result in headaches and irritability.

• Avoid Alcohol

While on occasional drink is okay before pregnancy, try and avoid alcoholic beverages while pregnant. Drinking alcohol could be very harmful to you and your baby. Drinking it while you are pregnant means that your baby is also drinking it as the alcohol content passes through your blood and into the fetus. This could cause a range of side effects that include the fetus growing slower, your baby developing learning problems, and visual and hearing complications.

• Avoid Certain Medication

Although you may want to take a pain reliever during your pregnancy, some medication could do more harm than good. Some drugs can interrupt the development of the fetus. Make sure that you meet with your doctor to ask him what medications are okay to use, and which ones aren’t. Some drugs that may cause harmful side effects are certain antibiotics, anti-depressant drugs like lithium, and diethylstilbestrol which is a hormonal drug.

• Don’t Let Stress Get the Better of You

No doubt, you will get your fair share of stress from your pregnancy week by week. Your body and your life is about to take a drastic turn and naturally this might make you a bit uncomfortable. Serious anxiety may have complications with your immune system, leaving you more susceptible to infections. This in turn can lead to premature birth. A good tip to remember is to not let that stress get the better of you. Talk about what’s bothering you to your partner, family or friends. Get plenty of sleep, as this will leave you better rested for your daily activities.

Conclusion

Although there are many factors to consider during your first trimester, try not to overthink everything. This will just add on to your unwanted stress. Just remember to eat right, avoid smoking and drinking, and make sure you get plenty of rest. The bottom line here is keep up a healthy way of living to ensure the best outcome for your child.

Author Bio: 

Ella James is an aspiring author who is pursuing Health Services Administration degree from St. Petersburg College. She is an active contributor to Consumer Health Digest, which is a leading Health News. In recent years, she had the opportunity to review Joint soother. Get connected with her on Facebook and Twitter.