Most Popular Articles

Pregnancy Precautions: FAQs

Almost as soon as you see that little pink line on the pregnancy test, the worry seems to set in. You start thinking about the two cups of coffee you had at work yesterday, the glass of wine you sipped at dinner last week, the tuna steak you devoured for lunch 2 weeks ago.

No doubt about it, pregnancy is often one of the most thrilling and most worrisome times in a woman's life. Of course, when you're pregnant, what you don't put into your body (or expose it to) can be almost as important as what you do. The official, scary-sounding word for something that may cause birth defects or harm to a fetus is teratogen, and can include drugs, medications, infections, chemicals, etc.

But stressing out about every little thing you come into contact with can make for a long and taxing three trimesters. And beating yourself up about things you did before you knew you were pregnant or before you found out they could be hazardous won't do you or your baby any good.

Questions abound regarding what you can and can't do during pregnancy. But the answers may not always come from the most reliable sources, so you might worry unnecessarily. Some warnings from friends and other well-wishers are worth listening to; others are popular but unproven rumors. Knowing what could truly be harmful to your baby and what's not a real concern is the key to keeping your sanity during these 40 weeks.

What Are the Top Pregnancy Hazards?
You should be particularly mindful of a handful of things during your pregnancy, some of which are more harmful than others. Your doctor (or other health care provider) will likely talk to you about - or give you information on - which should be avoided altogether, dramatically reduced, and/or carefully considered during pregnancy.
Jump to full text of this article here.