Precautions Time for New Mom and How to Deal

Many women have just known of their pregnancy at five weeks. The first trimester is critical time as the fetus is undergoing big changes and many developmental are happening. So, you have to be precautious for everything not only the medication but all lifestyle.  I am listing some of precautions for pregnant women in the first trimester and what you should do as below.

Stop Birth Control

Once the pregnancy test is positive, stop all birth control methods that involve the use of hormones including all forms of birth control pills and patches.

No Alcohol, Smoking and Drugs

There is no amount of alcohol consumption in pregnancy that is safe - according to the American Pregnancy Association.  Alcohol use can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome in infants. Smoking in pregnancy has been linked to a variety of problems, including an increased incidence of leukemia, SIDS, preterm birth and placental abruption. While drugs, including over-the-counter drugs and some prescription may cause birth defects and other developmental issues for the fetus. 

Change Your Diet

Take healthy food and avoid some certain foods during the pregnancy as they can have harmful effects on the fetus. This includes fish with high mercury content (such as swordfish and shark), raw foods (such as sushi and eggs), unpasteurized milk and cheeses, and deli meats, as they all may contain the harmful listeria. A healthy diet is essential to a healthy pregnancy.

Take Prenatal Vitamins

Pregnant women need at least 400mg of folic acid daily for a single birth. But maybe more, if she is pregnant with twins or more. It is recommended all women of child bearing age take a multivitamin that contains at least 400mg of folic acid daily in the event that they become pregnant.  However, the prenatal vitamins should be prescribed by a doctor.

Keep Hydrated

In early pregnancy, most women experience morning sickness on some level that can easily lead to dehydration. Dehydration in pregnancy can lead to preterm labor or miscarriage. Replace any fluids lost through vomiting or excessive sweating to avoid dehydration and have adequate fluid intake throughout the pregnancy.

Last and very important, be careful your step and slide floor.  If you frequently fall, it for bleeding or lead to birth defects for a fetus.