There are a number of things you can do to stay healthy while
you are pregnant. Your midwife or doctor can tell you more about them.
Work
You should be able to carry on working during your pregnancy,
but your midwife or doctor will ask about your job to see whether the work you
do could be putting you or your baby in danger. The Health and Safety Executive
(www.hse.gov.uk) can give you more information about possible occupational
hazards. Your doctor or midwife should also give you information about your
maternity rights and benefits.
Exercise
You can continue or start moderate exercise before or during
your pregnancy. Some vigorous activities, however, such as contact sports or racquet
games, may carry extra risks such as falling or putting too much strain on your
joints. You should avoid scuba diving while you are pregnant because this can
cause problems in the developing baby.
Alcohol
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should
try to avoid alcohol completely in the first 3 months of pregnancy because there
may be an increased risk of miscarriage. If you choose to drink while you are
pregnant, you should drink no more than 1 or 2 UK units of alcohol once or
twice a week. There is uncertainty about how much alcohol is safe to drink in pregnancy,
but at this low level there is no evidence of any harm to the unborn baby.
You should not get drunk or binge drink (drinking more than 7.5
UK units of alcohol on a single occasion) while you are pregnant because this
can harm your unborn baby.
Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of your baby being underweight or
being born too early – in both instances, your baby’s health may be affected. You
will reduce these risks if you can give up smoking or at least smoke less,
while you are pregnant. You and your baby will benefit if you can give up, no
matter how late in your pregnancy.
If you need it, your midwife or doctor should offer you
information, advice and support to help you ideally give up or at least cut
down on smoking, or to stay off it if you have recently given up.
Cannabis
The effects of cannabis on the unborn baby are uncertain.
However, if you use cannabis, it may be harmful to your baby.
Sexual activity
There is no evidence that sexual activity is harmful while you
are pregnant.
Travel
When you travel by car you should always wear a three-point
seatbelt above and below your bump, not over it. If you are planning to travel
abroad you should talk to your midwife or doctor, who should tell you more
about flying, vaccinations and travel insurance. The risk of deep vein
thrombosis from travelling by air may be higher when you are pregnant. Your
midwife or doctor can tell you more about how you can reduce your risk by
wearing correctly fitted compression stockings.
Prescription and over-the-counter medicines
Only a few prescription and over-the-counter medicines have
been shown to be safe for pregnant women by good-quality studies.
While you are pregnant, your doctor should only prescribe
medicines where the benefits are greater than the risks. You should use as few over-the-counter
medicines as possible.
Complementary therapies
Few complementary therapies have been established as being safe
and effective during pregnancy.
Courtesy: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
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