Is it possible to hurt your unborn baby




















Working while pregnant is generally OK, but there are some things to keep in mind. Exercise during pregnancy is a good way to keep yourself fit and prepare your body for labor, as well as lower your risk of certain complications…. No one is pregnant forever. A new study finds that epidurals do not affect child development in their later years.

A fetal arrhythmia is an irregular heart rate — too fast, too slow, or otherwise outside the norm. It's often benign. Postpartum diarrhea after a C-section is normal.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, M. Why your baby is relatively safe. Is a certain trimester more dangerous than others? Common sources of impact to the belly. Common abdominal strains.

When to contact your doctor. The bottom line. Parenthood Pregnancy Pregnancy Health. All About Working During Pregnancy. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Medically reviewed by Fernando Mariz, MD. Prescribed opioids include oxycodone, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, and codeine.

It is important to take the medication only as prescribed. Most people who use a prescription opioid have no trouble stopping their use, but some people develop an addiction. Misusing opioids during pregnancy can increase the risk of serious complications , including preterm birth, stillbirth, and problems with the placenta and fetal growth. Some infections can increase the risk of birth defects and other problems during pregnancy for you and your fetus:.

Rubella German measles is a viral infection that usually causes a mild rash and a low fever. Having rubella during pregnancy can cause miscarriage or result in deafness, intellectual disability, heart defects, and blindness in a newborn. There is a vaccine against rubella, but it is not recommended for pregnant women. If you have not already had the disease or been vaccinated, you should be vaccinated against rubella and wait at least 1 month before becoming pregnant.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasite that lives in soil. You can become infected by eating raw or undercooked meat or unwashed vegetables or by coming into contact with animal feces, especially from cats that go outdoors.

If you are infected for the first time while you are pregnant, you can pass the disease on to your baby. Toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects, including hearing loss, vision problems, and intellectual disability. Make sure that you eat well-cooked meat and wear gloves while gardening or handling unwashed vegetables. If you have an outdoor cat that uses a litter box, have someone else empty it.

If you must empty the litter box, use gloves and wash your hands well after doing so. Sexually transmitted infections STIs can cause serious birth defects. Treating an STI—preferably before you get pregnant—may prevent or reduce harm to the fetus. Cytomegalovirus CMV , is a common viral infection. Most CMV infections cause no significant problems. If you are infected for the first time when you are pregnant, CMV can infect the fetus.

In a small number of cases, the infection can cause intellectual disability, hearing loss, and vision problems. Pregnant women who work with young children, such as day care workers or health care workers, should take steps to prevent infection, including wearing gloves when changing diapers. Frequent handwashing also is recommended. Pregnant women with young children at home also are at risk and should take these steps.

These birth defects can lead to lifelong problems, including seizures, feeding problems, hearing loss, vision problems, and learning difficulties. There still are many things that researchers do not know about Zika virus. Zika virus can be transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito or through sex with an infected partner. To avoid Zika virus, take strict steps to avoid mosquito bites. If your male partner lives in or travels to an area where Zika virus is spreading, use a condom each time you have sex.

Do not travel to areas where Zika virus is known to be active. If you or your partner must travel to an area where Zika virus is active, strictly follow these four steps to prevent mosquito bites:.

Used as directed, these sprays are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Stay in air-conditioned or screened-in areas during the day and at night. Follow these steps at all times. Mosquitoes are active during the day and night.

Limit your exposure to mercury by not eating bigeye tuna, king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, or tilefish. Limit eating white albacore tuna to 6 ounces a week. You do not have to avoid all fish during pregnancy.

In fact, fish and shellfish are nutritious foods with vital nutrients for a pregnant woman and her fetus. Be sure to eat at least 8—12 ounces of low-mercury fish and shellfish per week. Avoid exposure to lead. Lead can be found in old paint, construction materials, alternative medicines, and items made in foreign countries, such as jewelry and pottery.

Avoid taking high levels of vitamin A. Very high levels of vitamin A have been linked to severe birth defects. You should consume no more than 10, international units of vitamin A a day. BMI is used to determine whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. Chromosomes: Structures that are located inside each cell in the body.

Cleft Palate: A birth defect that causes an opening or split in the roof of the mouth. Clubfoot: A birth defect in which the foot is misshaped and twisted out of position.

Complications: Diseases or conditions that happen as a result of another disease or condition. An example is pneumonia that occurs as a result of the flu. A complication also can occur as a result of a condition, such as pregnancy. But if you've never had chickenpox or you're unsure if you've had it and you come into contact with a child or adult who does, speak to your GP, obstetrician or midwife immediately.

A blood test will find out if you're immune. CMV cytomegalovirus is a common virus that's part of the herpes group, which can also cause cold sores and chickenpox.

CMV infections are common in young children. Infection can be dangerous during pregnancy as it can cause problems for unborn babies, such as hearing loss, visual impairment or blindness, learning difficulties and epilepsy. CMV is particularly dangerous to the baby if the pregnant mother has not had the infection before.

This is particularly important if you have a job that brings you into close contact with young children. In this case, you can have a blood test to find out whether you have previously been infected with CMV.

It causes no problem in most pregnancies but, in a small number, group B strep infects the baby, usually just before or during labour, leading to serious illness.

If you've already had a baby who had a GBS infection, you should be offered antibiotics during labour to reduce the chances of your new baby getting the infection. You should also be offered them during labour if you've had a group B strep urinary tract infection during the pregnancy. Your midwife or doctor will assess whether you should be offered antibiotics during labour to protect your baby from being infected. It's possible to be tested for GBS late in pregnancy. Talk to your doctor or midwife if you have concerns.

Cat faeces may contain toxoplasma — an organism that causes toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis can harm your baby. Lambs and sheep can carry an organism that is known to cause miscarriage in ewes. They also carry toxoplasma. Avoid lambing or milking ewes, as well all contact with newborn lambs. Tell your doctor if you experience flu-like symptoms after coming into contact with sheep. Research is ongoing to see if pigs can be a source of hepatitis E infection. This infection is dangerous if you're pregnant.

Find more information on hepatitis E on GOV. Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Many people with hepatitis B will show no sign of illness, but they can be carriers and may infect others. The virus is spread by having sex with an infected person without using a condom, and by direct contact with infected blood. If you have hepatitis B or are infected during pregnancy, you can pass the infection on to your baby at birth.

You'll be offered a blood test for hepatitis B as part of your antenatal care. Babies who are at risk should be given the hepatitis B vaccine at birth to prevent infection and serious liver disease later on in life. The hepatitis C virus infects the liver. Many people with hepatitis C have no symptoms and are unaware they are infected. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infected blood.

People who received a blood transfusion in the UK prior to September , or blood products prior to , may also be at risk. Hepatitis C can also be transmitted by receiving medical or dental treatment in countries where hepatitis C is common and infection control may be poor, or by having sex with an infected partner.



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