The Do’s and Don’ts of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an especially dicey time for a mother whether a first timer or otherwise. There are many things that can go wrong with a pregnancy but the greatest risks are limited to the first three months of pregnancy called the first trimester. This time is sensitive because the hormonal balance of the mother and the integrity of the fetus are crucial. If there is any kind of problem with the fetus in terms of a chromosomal deformity, the woman will spontaneously abort the fetus. On the other hand, even if things at the fetal level are fine, an imbalance to the estrogen and progesterone balance during pregnancy can cause a pregnancy to abort.

During the first three months, the following things need to be avoided. You should ensure that you are not indulging in any kind of risky activities like smoking and drinking. This may seem rather obvious but the fact is that even second hand smoke is a major cause of problems for a pregnant mother. Some types of foods should also be avoided during this time like cloves, papaya, and nuts. This is because of the presence of some chemicals that can cause an abortion. Papaya contains papain that is a protease – the enzyme that breaks down proteins. Nuts can cause a problem with the hormonal balance because they contain plant estrogens and thereby actually inhibit or over-express the effect of normal estrogens. Elevated estrogen levels can trigger ovulation and the destruction of the fetus.

This practice should be carried on throughout pregnancy and you should ensure that you get adequate amounts of folic acid and iron in your diet. Iron is one of the major deficiencies that women have to go through during pregnancy. This happens because the body’s stores of iron are also used by the fetus to create blood in the fetus. Iron deficiency can eventually lead to anemia and this will have a serious effect on the child. It is also important to ensure that you plan out your care giving responsibilities. This is because once the child is born, the overwhelming task of having to take care of a child can cause a major onset of depression called postpartum depression. This can be avoided by a healthy intake of food, breastfeeding, and also ensuring that you have some kind of help in taking care of a child. Single mothers without the help of family support systems are especially prone to postpartum depression.