Be safe in your pregnancy

Carrying a life inside you is an honorable thing. It is a special period too. This is a time that calls for lots of tender loving care, especially for your body. It also requires you to be more cautious of your environment, which may have a positive or negative effect on your pregnancy.

Thus, you may have to give up some or most of your lifestyle habits for the sake of your safety and that of your baby as well. Here are some of the things you need to take note of to avoid exposure to risk.

Painting

So an idea to decorate baby’s room has crossed your mind and you would like to brighten it with a coat of paint? Care needs to be taken. According to Dr. Blasio Omuga. a gynaecologist based in Nairobi, paints do not affect a growing foetus in any way but may affect the expectant woman. These effects present themselves as allergic reactions to your body. Since paint contains multiple chemical substances that maybe of unknown side effects, it is safe to ensure good ventilation. Avoid eating or drinking in the room where painting is going on. Ensure you have protective gear too. Discontinue it if you feel any signs of dizziness.

Exposure to Insecticides

There is no substantial evidence that exposure to all Insecticides has a negative effect on a foetus upon inhaling by (he mother. However, these chemicals are poisonous. Some of them might increase the chances of malformations during the development of the foetus. Dr. Omuga advises that, as a general rule expectant women should avoid all forms of insecticides by:

•  Ensuring that while expectant you do not apply any form of insecticide – especially if you can get assistance. If no help is available, apply the chemical directly as opposed to spraying it from afar.
• Ensure that utensils and food items are kept far from any contact with the insecticide as it may cause food poisoning.
•  If the insecticide is applied in a room or the house, stay away for at least two or three hours, when it will have settled. Move to an open area to avoid inhaling it. If the insecticide is used outside the house, ensure that all windows and main doors are closed. This is to avoid drawing fumes that may become dangerous when inhaled.

Second-hand Smoke

The term second hand smoking or passive smoking refers to inhaling smoke exhaled by a smoker near you or that coming from a burning cigarette in proximity. Apart from the harmful effects of cigarette chemicals which cause cancer, passive smoking also contains carbon dioxide exhaled from the lungs of a smoker. When a pregnant mother is exposed to such an environment, her health and that of the unborn baby’s is compromised. Dr. Omuga explains that second-hand smoking is harmful to the unborn child as it could cause the baby to have intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight and slow learning in both development stages and education.

Handling pets. Did you know that your favourite pet could actually be a threat to your unborn baby? Cats may cause toxoplasmosis, a disease of mammals caused by a toxoplasma. It is transmitted to humans via undercooked meat or through contact with infectious animals, especially cats. This is passed on to the foetus through the mother. Medical research indicates that in severe cases, toxoplasmosis causes eye problems and brain abnormalities in the unborn babies. Poultry may also harbour salmonella bacteria, which causes diarrhoea, vomiting and typhoid.

END: PG16/50