Unsafe foods to avoid during pregnancy

I had listed a few foods to avoid during pregnancy in my previous post, now i'll add more unsafe foods...

Here we go:

Raw or undercooked meat- due to the risk of infested bacteria known as salmonella. By consuming raw meats a pregnant woman may suffer from nausea and diarrhea and most importantly may lead to severe complications putting the baby's life at risk, as the complications could result in miscarriages or pre-term births. Other foods in this category to be avoided are sushi, raw sea-food like shellfish, hot dogs, deli meats, poultry, pork, raw eggs because of the risk of being contaminated with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.

Fish high in mercury- Seafood like shark, Swordfish, king mackerel, Tilefish should be avoided as they contain accumulated high levels of mercury in their tissues which is harmful to the baby, and may cause neurological damages and other developmental problems.

Soft Cheese- Feta, Gorgonzola, Queso Blanco, Queso Fresco, Brie and Camembert, contain listeria, a potential bacteria, which may lead to food poisoning or miscarriages.

Caffeine and Alcohol- Caffeine consumption should be strictly avoided or cautiously consumed as it is known to put a pregnant women to a miscarriage risk, or result in pre-term births. Alcohol consumption can result in miscarriages and premature birth too, along with low birth weight or learning disabilities of the born child, thus should be strictly avoided too.

Extra tips-
Hot dogs can be eaten if they are steamed well.

Eat safely :)

Babies base will help you be a better parent

Being an internet addict i am always on the look out for new articles and sites for information to satisfy my curiosity on how things work, but most important, i search for information that would be useful for me and my kids. How to raise them the best i can, etc..

All other parents should take a look at babiesbase which is a baby site and provides plenty of information on topics like pregnancy, and elder kids as well. I think i should also register on the site so that as a member i can discuss my parenting problems and lend my advice to other mothers on the forums itself.

I know of many curious first time moms who don't know what and how to do a certain something for their babies. They try searching the internet for help. There are some dads too, who are left alone in the house to care for their kids while their wives are away at work. These parents would be pleased to gather so much information from one site alone.

Exercise tips to help cope with fatigue and morning sickness

Its not surprising for pregnant women to experience fatigue and dizziness in the morning.. but this doesn't mean you have to leave yourself exhausted without doing anything. Incorporating light exercise and some fitness rules into your daily routine can help you combat the sickness a bit.

Take a light snack with water or juice just before you begin warming up.
Wear stretchable clothes which makes moving easier for you and don't forget comfortable shoes specially around the heels.
Divide your exercises into sessions and exercise slowly when you do.
You can take brief breaks in-between and never take exhaustion to its peak.
Do not strain and cause your body to move rapidly.
Immediately stop if you notice pains!
You aught to feel better, not drained in the end of exercising, which is when you can slowly increase your exercising or activity levels day by day.

Causes for itching during pregnancy and how to avoid or relieve it

During pregnancy, there are a lot of reasons the skin tends to get itchy and irritable and mostly due to the hormonal changes the body undergoes which is believed as very common. Though the discomfort is temporary, but this shouldn't be taken lightly and one should check for other significations.

You will find the itching around the stomach and breast area in most women but could variate. Some women find their palms and feet itching like mad and this is caused due to an increase in estrogen which will eventually fade away post the delivery.

The itching may also persist and turn intense around the third trimester and this is caused by a condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Besides, the women who have already had eczema are likely to get worse during pregnancy while some women may have eczema for the first time during pregnancy.

How to avoid or give yourself relief from the itching:

Avoid hot showers as this could dry up the skin making the itching worse. Use a mild soap, rinse of the soap thoroughly and while you dry yourself with a soft towel.
Avoid scented powers or moisturizers. Wear light cotton clothes and avoid the strong rays of the harsh sun.

To get relief from the itching the first step is to never scratch at all or that will furthermore irritate the area! An oatmeal bath, cocoa butter or a dabbing of calamine lotion straight out of the fridge should work wonders for you.

Always check with your doctor. You and your doctor know best :-)

pregnancy dos and donts

There are plenty of restrictions for pregnant women. dont do this, dont do that, eat this, not that!! below is a handy list of the do's and dont's to help you have a healthy and safe journey towards motherhood.

Pregnancy Dos
Make sure to eat all the vitamins and minerals prescribed your doctor, everyday. Iron is important during your pregnancy but sometimes you don't get the necessary amount you need from the foods you eat, so consult your doctor if you should be taking a daily multivitamin or a prenatal vitamin. Also find out how to get your your daily dose of folic acid and other medicines from your doctor.

Eating a healthy diet is so much important. Include a diet of fruits and vegetables with your daily meals. calcium-rich foods (such as non-fat or low-fat yogurt, milk, and broccoli) should be also eaten by you because not only you, but your baby needs it for strong bones and teeth. Avoid eating fatty foods. Choose leaner foods instead such as skim milk, chicken and turkey without the skin, and fish

Focus on your weight gain too. Try to gain a healthy weight, not an excessive weight gain. If you are underweight ask your doctor how much should weight you should gain. If you are overweight do not diet by any chance, just avoid consuming fatty foods!

Try to sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours a night. Sleep deprivation is common for a pregnant women due to the aches, nausea feeling and frequent bathroom visits. Avoid long naps in the afternoons and eat large meals at least three hours before getting into bed. Sleep on your side and use pillows between your legs and under your belly to help you get comfortable.

Take time out to d-stress. Do things that please you and avoid those that give you stress. Your family will surely co-operate with you as they know what you are going through during the pregnancy.

Exercising, swimming, walking are some regular activities important for fitness. low-impact exercises are fine for pregnant women but check up with your doctor before you begin any activity.

Wear your seat-belt correctly. Seat belts used correctly protect you and your unborn baby during a crash.The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that pregnant women use seat belts that have a lap belt and a shoulder strap (3-point restraint). Seat belt straps should never go across your belly. The lap strap should go under the belly, across the hips. The shoulder strap should go off to the side of your belly and between your breasts. If you are not driving, the back seat is the safest place to sit.

Pregnancy Don'ts
Don't eat fish with lots of mercury.

Don't use chemical products including herbicides, pesticides, paint, stains etc as these can be harmful to your baby.

Don't clean or change a cat's litter box. This could put you at risk for an infection called toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite that cats can carry in their feces and can harm a fetus.

Don't take very hot baths as high temperatures can be harmful to the fetus, or cause you to faint.

Don't smoke tobacco. If you do, quitting is hard, but you can do it. Smoking during pregnancy passes nicotine and cancer-causing drugs to your baby. Smoke also keeps your baby from getting needed nourishment and raises the risk of stillbirth and premature birth (a small baby born too early).

Don't use drugs and drink alcohol, even if you are addicted to it. you know why? its harmful! You love your tiny baby inside your womb and will do anything to keep your baby's growth healthy and safe. All the best for your delivery!