Pregnancy Wellness Advice

Diet and Nutrition
While you are pregnant, make sure to eat a well-balanced diet of lean meats, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy products, and try not to skip meals. Avoid excess intake of sweets and snacks. Most fish are safe to eat in moderation, according to the FDA. The four fish the FDA recommends avoiding during pregnancy are shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. Read more

Take a prenatal vitamin daily. Caffeine should be consumed in moderation (no more than one to two cups of coffee, tea or caffeinated soda per day). If you do not eat dairy products, you should take a 500 mg calcium tablet daily. An extra iron pill, such as Ferrous Sulfate, should be taken during the last half of your pregnancy if prescribed by your doctor. Avoid smoking and alcohol during your pregnancy.

Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects during pregnancy. Because of this threat, it is especially dangerous to eat raw or undercooked meat while you are pregnant, so be very careful to eat only fully-cooked meat. After preparing raw meat, thoroughly wash the cutting board and all surfaces and utensils with soap and water. Don’t prepare other foods such as vegetables on the same cutting board you use to prepare meat. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling raw meat, and dry your hands with a disposable paper towel.

If you have a cat, ask someone else in your household to clean the litter box during your pregnancy because you can become infected with toxoplasmosis from the feces in the litter box. If there is no one to do this for you, wear disposable gloves while cleaning the litter box and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Also wash your hands after handling your cat – especially if it is an outdoor cat.

If you garden, wear gloves when working in the soil. The toxoplasmosis parasite lives in the dirt, so wash your hands well after removing your gardening gloves. Avoid contact with outdoor sandboxes because cats often use them as a litter box.

Environment
Avoid exposure to cleaning chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides, paint and varnish fumes and other chemicals during pregnancy. DEET-based insect repellents are considered safe when used as recommended. You should also avoid hot baths, hot tubs, saunas and tanning beds.

Exercise
You may continue your normal activities during pregnancy. Walking, swimming and bicycling are excellent exercises for expectant mothers. Activity that makes you uncomfortable or causes cramping should be avoided. If you normally do strenuous exercises such as jogging or weight lifting, discuss these activities with your doctor before continuing to do them.
 

If you have additional concerns or questions, call Dr. Morrison’s office.