Baby Health

When it comes to the babies health there's several things which might be going around in your head. "What should I be doing to set them up for success?""Am I doing anything now which could hurt them later?""How can I be the best parent I can be?" Rest assured while there are several things to avoid when having a baby, most of these are things which can be easily avoided by doing some homework and speaking with a health care provider. We'll cover some of the more basic ones below.

Alcohol and Narcotics

Today we're fortunate enough to have laws in place requiring many vendors and medical providers to detail if and how a product could impact you or your baby while still in development. Once you discover you're pregnant and to be safe, even while you're trying for a baby, you should avoid drinking any alcohol and any narcotics or medicines unless otherwise approved by your medical provider. The risk of birth defects are higher, complications with the preganacy are more likely to occur, and you're putting your baby or babies at unnecessary risk. The following list isn't comprehensive but a few potential birth defects are as follows:

By the numbers

A study was conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which revealed the following statistics:

There is no safe amount of alcohol which any medical professional can provide, and that's because any amount of alcohol can have a damaging impact on the development of your little. The American Pregnancy Association reports most women learn they're pregant between weeks four through seven of their pregnancy, meaning if you are continuing to drink, smoke, or use other illicit substances there is a strong likelihood your baby will get at least a month worth of those substances while they are in their most beginning formative phases. Our advice is unless there is a medical reason for your consumption of certain items, it's best not to. Please always consult a medical professional before taking or stopping any medication. This page is for information only and shouldn't be used as medical advice.

Heavy lifting

There's several benefits to being pregnant. Elevated blood flow, elevated senses (typically hearing and smell), and even a makeshift table built into your waist wherever you go. One of the things which pregnancy doesn't allow you to do is heavy lifting. There are specific guidelines for what constutes heavy lifting which your medical provider can shed more light on, but the general consensus is anything which causes you to physically strain to lift it. If your job involves manual labor or lifting heavy objects, you'll likely need to speak with your supervisor about accomodations. These strains can put both yourself and the baby at risk, especially as you move further along with the pregnancy.

Diet

I'll be the first to admit my diet isn't great. I've got a sweet tooth which holds me hostage and attempts to dictate terms more than I'd like, however we're better than that and we'll make better choices for our littles. Fortunately a healthy diet for baby looks pretty similar to a standard healthy diet for you. Fruits and veggies are going to be your best friends, as are complex carbs and meats (specifically red meats).

Red Meats - All meats contain protein which is great for development and muscle strength, but red meats stand above because of the iron content they tend to provide. You're making a baby and this puts a lot of strain on most of your body, the best way to allieviate that is to get oxygen around your body as quickly as possible. You do this by getting a higher iron content in your bloodstream to allow the oxygen to reach where it needs to go faster and easier.

Veggies - There's a number of veggies you can eat which are healthy and taste great too. Dark leafy greens are going to be good contenders here (Think Kale or Cabbage) because they have high amounts of vitamin K which allow for faster blood clotting. Medical professionals are great and hemmoraghes aren't nearly as dangerous as they were twenty years ago but why not do your part to help as well?

Fruits - I like to think of fruits as sweet fiberous water. Depending on what time of year you're pregnant there might be plenty of fresh fruit available to you, but if you do have to look a little harder, try checking farmers markets in your area for things like watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, pears, and more. If you've got a sweet tooth like mine it's easier to trick your brain into eating a big bowl of watermelon for dessert and feel a lot better than the big bowl of ice cream you would've had instead. If you want a happy medium, it doesn't hurt to make the watermelon into ice cream.

Stress

"Just don't be anxious", if I haven't heard that a million times. There's no set way to stop being anxious, but there are a few ways to set yourself up for success here as well. My dad always says, "Give the day your all and the night is yours", which was something he carried from his grandfather, and it holds true. There's no sense in allowing anxiety to consume you after you've done everything you can from sun up to sun down. You're an incredible individual capable of incredible things (like making or raising a baby) but you have to acknowledge you're human, and you aren't going to get everything done in a single day. Some guidance I've found in my personal life which has allowed me to be a little less anxious over time:

Always remember any additional questions can be answered by your pediatrician. If you don't have one, we would recommend calling your local clinic or hospital and having them advise you how to get started with one.