Preventing Birth Defects – Pregnancy is eagerly awaited by every couple, especially those who are newly married. The period of pregnancy is the time when a woman fulfills her nature as a mother. For a woman, pregnancy can be a time of thrilling and full of challenges. Apart from thinking about their own health, expectant mothers must also think about the health of the baby they are carrying.
Every parent would want their child to be in good health and physically perfect. It’s just that, there are some unexpected things that can actually cause birth defects in babies. Knowing like that, it is very important for pregnant women to pay attention to the health of the baby in the womb. Apart from consuming nutritious food and regularly checking the womb to the doctor, pregnant women must also pay attention to several other important things. Because, some habits that you may do in everyday life can increase the risk of birth defects. So, to prevent birth defects, you must stay away from these things.
Preventing Baby Born Defects By Staying Away From Some Of These Things
During pregnancy, pregnant women are required to maintain a healthy pregnancy. In order for babies to be born healthy and perfect and in an effort to prevent birth defects, some of the things below must be avoided.
Smoking and Consuming Alcohol
As we know, several things during pregnancy should be avoided, one of which is smoking and consuming alcohol. Smoking or consuming alcohol during pregnancy will have a negative impact on your pregnancy and the fetus you are carrying. This will cause birth defects in the fetus.
Mothers who smoke have a higher risk of giving birth to babies with crossed eyes or strabismus. Meanwhile, mothers who smoke during the first trimester of pregnancy, babies who are born are more likely to experience heart and lung defects. In addition, smoking during pregnancy will also have a permanent impact on brain function.
Meanwhile, if you consume alcohol during pregnancy, the baby born will experience fetal alcohol syndrome, a permanent birth defect. For example, if the baby has a facial deformity, central nervous system damage or heart defects. (Also read: Why Does a Chalky Placenta Occur? )
Stress
Everyone has experienced stress, including pregnant women. Usually pregnant women have a lot of pressure on their pregnancy which will cause stress. When stressed, the body will produce the hormone cortisol and other stress hormones. If the stress lasts for a long time and continues, it will lead to chronic inflammation which will affect the health of pregnancy, as well as problems with the development of the fetus in the womb. Based on research, stress during pregnancy will increase the risk of premature birth, neurological growth disorders and low birth weight.
Diet
The fetus you are carrying needs nutritional intake. If you deliberately reduce the portion of food or limit the food that is really needed for dietary purposes, then as a result nutritional intake for the fetus will decrease, so that its growth and development will be hampered.
But eating too much isn’t good either. For example, excess consumption of vitamin A retinoate type will cause birth defects in babies, including skull defects, facial shape, nervous system disorders and heart defects.
It is very important during pregnancy to consult your gynecologist about a healthy diet during pregnancy. (Also read: Why Diet Bad for Pregnant Women )
Too hard activity
Doing physical activity and sports should not be avoided by pregnant women so that their body fitness is maintained. Pregnant women who often do sports will give birth to smart children. It’s just that the exercise that is done is of course safe and light exercise for pregnant women. Doing physical activity that is too heavy will put stress on the fetus and fetal growth and development is affected.
You can consult your doctor in advance about the rules of safe exercise for pregnant women so as not to interfere with your pregnancy.
Consuming over-the-counter Drugs
When pregnant you should not take medication carelessly. Because during pregnancy the drugs you take can be drunk by the fetus you are carrying because it will be absorbed in the placental tract, such as aspirin and ibuprofen pain medications. Both types of drugs should not be used by pregnant women, especially during the first and last trimesters. Both of these drugs will increase the risk of bleeding during childbirth and miscarriage. Not only that, these two drugs will also cause the ductus arterious, a heart defect in which the heart blood vessels in the fetus do not close completely.
In addition, you should also avoid using decongestants in the first trimester that are intended to treat nasal congestion due to colds. The reason is, the formation of the fetal abdominal wall will be disrupted. We recommend that you first consult your doctor about the drugs that you have or will consume.
Eat Sparingly
During pregnancy you must not eat carelessly. Uncooked or undercooked food can contain parasites that are harmful to health. It could be that the parasites contained in these foods pass through the placental duct and will eat away at the body of the baby in the developing womb. Therefore, to prevent birth defects you must pay attention to diet.
Exposure to Toxic Substances
Chemicals can increase the risk of birth defects in babies such as insecticides, organic solvents, paints and other chemicals. During pregnancy you must avoid these harmful substances.
Consumption of Seafood
Sea fish contain high levels of mercury. If you eat fish contaminated with mercury, the breast milk content produced during pregnancy or breastfeeding can be affected. In addition, mercury contained in seafood that enters the body can damage the nervous system and brain development of the baby while in the womb.
For consumption of sea fish, you can consult with your gynecologist about the amount and type of fish that can be consumed.
Making Contact with Animals
During pregnancy it is important for pregnant women to avoid or not come into contact with animals. This is because some animals host bacteria, viruses or parasites that can harm the womb. For example, cats are animals that host toxoplasma parasites which can increase the risk of birth defects. (See also: Definition of Torch and Prevention )
Avoid exposure to radiation
Avoiding radiation exposure should also be done by t
he mother. Exposure to nuclear radiation and X rays will result in congenital abnormalities.
Consume Junk food
Junk food or fast food is preferred because it is economical and practical. However, this food is not good for consumption by pregnant women because it will affect both the mother and the baby. In junk food contains additives that will make anyone who consumes it addicted. These additives are not good for the growth and development of babies, especially for the brain because they are at risk for low IQ when they grow up and become hyperactive children.
Those are some things that must be avoided to prevent birth defects. In order for the fetus you are carrying to remain healthy until you give birth later, you must avoid some of the things above. Hope it is useful.
This article is reviewed by Midwife Pevi Revina sTR. Keb
