Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

Ok mommy, your baby is counting on you to keep him healthy and safe while he’s hunkering down in your womb. While there are certainly things you can’t control, there certainly are other things you have complete control over. It’s those things that can really make a difference in the well-being of your baby.

You know that from the day your little one is born, you’re going to do everything in your power to keep him safe and well. You’ll make regular appointments with the pediatrician, the dentist, and even, the orthodontist. You’ll put safety gates up and latches on your cabinets. You’ll shop for a carseat with the highest safety rating. And you won’t complain about any of it. After all, it’s your job. It’s your responsibility. You’ll protect your child at all costs.

But what about now? Are you doing everything in your power to protect your precious little one as he’s growing in your womb? Let’s look at a list of things that pose a potential threat to your baby.

Smoking
This should be a no-brainer, but here goes: Pregnant women should not smoke! Women who use tobacco while pregnant tend to deliver low birth weight babies. This is due to impaired fetal growth or intrauterine-growth retardation that is a direct result of smoking. Nicotine, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, cyanide, tars, resins and even carcinogens are all present in cigarettes.

Additionally, smoking often blocks the absorption of vital vitamins, such as Vitamins B and C and folic acid. This can result in neural-tube defects. The chance of pregnancy-related complications rises with a lack of folic acid. There is a 25% increased risk of placental abruption in moderate smokers, with a 65% increased risk in heavy smokers. Likewise, a 25% increased risk of placenta previa exists for moderate smokers, with the percentage jumping to 90% for women who are heavy smokers.

School age children are found to have lower IQ scores if their mothers smoked during their pregnancy. They also tend to develop reading disorders. Minimal-brain-dysfunction syndrome (hyperactivity) is also a factor. So if you plan to adorn your bumper with stickers that brag about your child’s achievements (or even if you don’t), don’t light up!

Lighting up is not the only threat however. Nicotine in any form has been proven to be harmful to the fetus, so if you are a smoker you will need to quit without the assistance of nicotine-related aids, such as the patch or gum.

Alcohol
Fact:  alcohol crosses the placenta and directly affects the fetus. This isn’t a supposition; it is a fact. Heavy drinking often results in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or fetal alcohol exposure (FAE). Growth retardation prior to and after birth exists in babies with FAS.

Additionally, FAS babies may have defects in limbs, the heart, and in facial characteristics, such as flat upper jawbones, upturned short noses, and eyes with an odd appearance. Behavioral problems, along with fine and gross motor skills impairment become more obvious as the child ages. The perinatal mortality rate is 15-20%. With as little as two drinks a day (FAE), mild abnormalities can occur.

The most common prenatal cause of mental handicaps in the United States is alcohol. These are facts, not theories. There will be plenty of time to reach for a glass of wine throughout your child’s life; like when he/she gets his/her driver’s license! For now, fill that martini glass with some sparkling water garnished with a lime. Pretending hasn’t been linked to any birth defects…yet.

OTCs
Unless otherwise directed by your obstetrician, avoid all over-the-counter drugs, which can be harmful to your fetus. Cough and cold remedies may contain up to 25% alcohol. When it comes to legal drugs, the most dangerous tend to be analgesics, antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Which leads us to…

Illegal drugs
It’s hard to fathom that the subject of illegal drugs even needs to be addressed here, but just in case, here are the facts:

Marijuana crosses the placenta in the same way alcohol does. It enters the baby’s system which can produce long-lasting effects to the child’s cognitive function, decision-making ability, ability to plan for the future, verbal reasoning and memory.

Cocaine produces a much greater risk of miscarriage if used during the first trimester. Full-term babies often have severe deformities, with the type of defect directly related to the time in the pregnancy when the mother used the drug. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is more common in cases of cocaine abuse, as are long-term mental difficulties. This drug can also cause placenta abruption and elevated heart rate and blood pressure of the mother.

Caffeine
Your baby’s respiratory system may be affected by high levels of caffeine consumption. High levels are considered 400 mg/day or more. In addition, researchers have now linked caffeine consumption to the possibility of SIDS, as well as a heightened risk of miscarriage. New findings about the dangers of caffeine continue to indicate more and more risks to the fetus, so why not play it safe and avoid caffeine altogether.

Today is the day you can choose to protect your baby. The outside world is sure to expose him/her to danger, sickness and broken hearts, despite your best efforts to shield him/her. All you can do is try your best, and your best begins today!