pregnancy safety

National Institutes of Health recommends that pregnant women
limit sauna use for the duration of their pregnancy. Increasing
body temperature above 100 degrees can increase the risk of fetal
complications or birth defects.

Plastic surgery is an elective medical procedure, in most cases. As
an elective procedure, few plastic surgeons will perform surgery during
pregnancy, though not all women reveal they are pregnant or think they
may be pregnant before the surgery is scheduled.

Prenatal massage is one of the many ways of reducing stress while
catering to those tense muscles carrying around baby every day. Prenatal
massage often takes place on a massage table built with a supportive
belly net so the pregnant woman can lie on her stomach.

Massage therapy is a form of alternative medicine, which means
significant medical studies have not necessarily been performed on
treatment effectiveness or safety in the pregnant population.

According to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy,
clinical trials are not available to determine safety in pregnancy so
aromatherapy is not considered safe for pregnant women.

Surface piercings may have a higher rate of rejection and/or infection
than ear piercing or other body piercings. A pregnant woman’s immune
system is suppressed during pregnancy, which leaves surface piercing on
the borderline of unsafe.

Pregnant women are often surprised to find out that ear piercing guns
are not as safe as they think. Ideally, having your ears pierced during
pregnancy would involve a licensed professional body piercer and an
autoclave.

Cellulite forms when fat cells collect under the skin causing a dimpling
effect. The dimpling effect can leave the surface of the skin looking
bumpy or lumpy, not an effect many women are comfortable with.

Hitting the salon for a wash, cut and style during pregnancy is the
perfect way to feel more beautiful, but not all beauty treatments are
safe for pregnant women.

Exercise is a crucial part of a healthy pregnancy. Being in shape
improves overall health and helps ease fatigue during labor and
delivery. Sports may have been an important part of your life prior to
pregnancy, but not all sports are safe for pregnant women.

There is nothing more refreshing than biting into a forkful of fresh
salad made from folic acid-rich dark, leafy spinach. Salads are part of
a healthy pregnancy diet, but they can also be a warzone for unhealthy
bacteria like listeria and other food borne bacteria.

The best beverage for a pregnant woman and fetus is clean water, but
drinking water constantly can get boring leaving many expecting women
wondering just what is safe to drink during pregnancy and what should be
left until after baby is born.

Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t drive. Pregnant
women simply need to follow a few altered rules to accommodate the
ever-growing belly and protect baby from danger in the case of an
accident.

While music is generally considered safe for the fetus, there are some
rules about playing music through your belly aimed at protecting baby
and preventing possible risk during development.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a condition that affects the growing
fetus when a pregnant woman consumes alcohol during pregnancy.

What would the holidays be without rich foods and family celebrations?
During pregnancy, you have to be extremely careful when eating from
holiday buffets.

Some cultures place a bigger burden on women for not becoming pregnant.

Researchers have found a link between the consumption of PBB polybrominated biphenyls and PCB polychlorinated biphenyls and the sex and gender of fetal offspring.

The lack of proper Vitamin C levels in the diet during pregnancy could be linked to impaired brain development of the fetus, according to a new study.

Organic solvents are chemicals that dissolve other substances.

Pregnant women should read labels carefully and avoid
products (such as some oven cleaners) whose labels indicate they’re
toxic.

There is some proof that exposure to pest-control products at levels commonly used at home poses some risk to the fetus, and pregnant women should avoid them.

Newborns may be more stressed if mother chooses to smoke during the pregnancy, researchers are reporting this month.

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is a significant public health problem and may result in a wide range of adverse outcomes for the child.

A recent study found the presence of ergothione in the blood of women with preeclampsia to be higher than healthy pregnant women. Ergothione is an antioxidant found in fungi which can be ingested with unpasteurized dairy products.

Eating omega-3-rich seafood may be a mood-lifter for women who are feeling depressed during pregnancy, suggests a study of British women.

Physicians should recommend low to moderate levels of exercise to their pregnant patients, even if they have not exercised prior to pregnancy.

Dr.Ruth Westheimer and Dr.Amos Grunebaum are in the process of writing a new book. We would appreciate you completing a brief survey.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued a practice bulletin to summarize the risks for obesity in pregnancy and outcomes of pregnancy after bariatric surgery as well as to provide recommendations for management during pregnancy and delivery after bariatric surgery.