Pregnancy Don'ts

I went to Sprout to buy some nuts, vegetable, and fruit. I like this store more and more: the vegetable and fruit are more tasty, fresher, and cheaper than WalMart and other grocery stores. I'm so thankful that it's very close to the house.

David called after work that he would be a little bit late. He had a meeting over the lunch time and then met Nathan afterwards. We are praying that Nathan will have a good report from the doctor tomorrow and next week. He was afraid that the cancer is coming back. David was on his way home. Mike arrived at the same time as I did. We walked into the house together. I gave him a glass of juice and chatted for a while. David came home. They read in the dining room while I cooked for dinner. After dinner, we cleaned the kitchen, sat in the backyard for a while. Suddenly I noticed the grass looked a little bit white on the top. "Maybe the lawn guy sprayed the weed killer since I asked them to do so." "I guess so." David answered. I jumped up from the chair in the lawn and ran into the house to take a shower. After all, here is what the website says about do's and don'ts for pregnancy:

• Women have highly increased susceptibility to foodborne illness during a pregnancy, and fetuses share the risk. Foodborne illness in pregnant women can cause serious harm or even death to an unborn baby, and complications include premature birth, meningitis, mental retardation, sepsis, stillbirth, and spontaneous miscarriage (abortion). Serious foodborne germ threats to pregnant women and their babies include Listeria, Toxoplasma gondii, E. coli 0157:H7, and Salmonella. Fortunately, although there is no "zero-risk" approach you can take to avoid foodborne illnesses, your medical risks can be greatly lessened by following certain guidelines when preparing and consuming food during your pregnancy. There are tons of "do's" and "don't" when it comes to being pregnant. Here are some things to avoid.

Drugs and medications Potential problems include birth defects, miscarriage, premature birth, retardation, low birth weight, cerebral palsy
Smoking and second-hand smoke
Nicotine in any form
Alcohol
Illegal drugs
Over the counter or prescription drugs not approved by your doctor for pregnancy
Herbs not specifically approved by your doctor for pregnancy
Caffeine (simply cutting back is fine)

Household and industrial chemicals Potential problems include birth defects, miscarriage, premature birth
Pesticides (bug killer)
Herbicides (weed killer)
Fertilizer
Household cleaners
Paint and solvents
Lead
Contaminated water
PCBs

Possible foods contaminated with Listeria Potential problems include miscarriage, stillbirth, breathing problems, feeding problems, temperature regulation problems
Raw seafood
Shellfish
Raw eggs
Deli meat
Hot dogs
Sausages
Undercooked meat
Soft cheeses (hard cheese, processed cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt are okay)
Unpasturized cheese

Possible sources of toxoplasmosis Potential problems include mental retardation, jaundice, seizures, vision problems, low birth weight
Cat litter
Raw or undercooked meat

Jolting movements and falls Potential problems include placental abruption, fetal injury
4x4ing / off-roading
Amusement park thrill rides
Horseback riding
Surfing
Skiing
Biking
Waterslides
Diving
High heel shoes

Increasing your body temperature Potential problems include birth defects
Extremely hot baths or hot tubs
Exercising too much
Saunas
Electric blankets set at too high of a temperature

Fish that contain methylmercury Potential problems include nervous system defects
Shark
Swordfish
Tilefish
King Mackerel
Limit tuna and other cooked fish to less than 12 oz. per week

Radiation Potential problems include birth defects
Using your hands-free devices for cell phone if it requires that you place the phone next to your pregnant belly
Ionizing radiation not approved by your doctor for medical procedures

The following items do not have studies to conclusively show that they are dangerous, but you might want to avoid them to be on the safe side.
Coloring your hair
Manicures
Tanning beds
Perm
MSG

Here are more from the hospital's website/ Aetna's Health Navigator:

DON'T EAT: 1) Raw or undercooked meat, chicken, or fish (sushi, raw oysters, clams and other raw shellfish); Cook ready-to-eat meats, such as hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats (ham, bologna, salami, corned beef) until they are steaming hot;

2) Refrigerated pates, meat spreads, or smoked seafood; Canned or shelf-stable pates, meat spreads, or smoked seafood;

3) Raw eggs or foods that contain raw or lightly cooked eggs (soft-scramble eggs, Caesar dressing, mayonnaise, or Hollandaise sauce);

4) Soft cheeses and unpasteurized dairy foods (brie, feta, blue cheese, and soft Mexican cheeses); Hard cheeses, processed cheeses, cream cheese, and cottage cheeses are safe.;

5) Large fish (shark, swordfish, tilefish, & king mackeral) or fresh water fish caught in untested waters; Up to 12oz a week of canned light tuna, shellfish, wild salmon, pollack, catfish, smaller ocean fish, and farm-raised fish are okay;

6) Cat feces (so have someone else change the litter box or use disposable glove) and outdoor soil that cats commonly use.

7) Raw sprouts, especially alfalfa;

8) Unripe papaya, and

9) Too much liver.

Avoid Certain Foods and Handle Others with Extra CareThe foods on this list have caused outbreaks of diseases known to be dangerous to your pregnancy.

Avoid:
Raw or unpasteurized milk or cheeses, or lightlycooked foods made from them. Soft cheeses, such as feta, Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, blue-veined, ricotta and Mexican-style cheese, are commonly unpasteurized and thus are best avoided unless thoroughly cooked.

Raw fish or shellfish, including oysters, sushi, clams, mussels, and scallops. Ready-to-eat, refrigerated seafood products (smoked salmon/ lox, jerky, etc.)

Foods containing raw or lightly cooked eggs, including certain salad dressings, cookie and cake batters, sauces, unpasteurized eggnog and meringues.

Pates
Raw meat or undercooked ground, chopped or shaped meats; Raw or undercooked poultry
Ready-made or prepackaged salads
Raw sprouts of any kind
Unpasteurized fruit or vegetable juices, including ciders
Presliced cantaloupe
Food from salad bars and smorgasbords.

Reheat Until Steaming, or Do Not Eat at All: Leftovers, hot dogs, cold ready to eat meats, including: ham, bologna, and other lunchmeats (cold cuts), fermented and dry sausage, and other deli style meat and poultry products.

Take Special Care When Cooking and Eating. Wash hands often, for at least 15 seconds. Use hot, soapy water before and after handling food and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and handling pets.

Limit use of antacids. Ingestion of antacids increases the risk of foodborne illness because it reduces the stomach acids which normally control bacteria. Be particularly cautious about the food safety track records of dining establishments you frequent. Avoid places that appear unsanitary. Follow regular safe food handling tips especially carefully.

Be On The Alert for Symptoms of Foodborne Illness During Pregnancy.Symptoms of foodborne illness may be less severe and more difficult to detect in pregnant women because they may be confused with normal symptoms of pregnancy, such as morning sickness, or even a mild flu. Symptoms of foodborne illness can appear right away or up to several weeks after eating a contaminated food. Because the consequences can be dire, if you have even fleeting symptoms resembling those listed, contact your doctor immediately and ask whether testing for Listeriosis, Salmonellosis or Toxoplasmosis would be advised.Symptoms to Watch For:
Fever
Muscle aches
Neck ache
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Abdominal cramps
Lymph node enlargement