How To Protect Yourself And The Precious Life Inside You

Protect yourself and the precious life inside you from potential harm, which can lurk in some surprising places.

- Midwife Tina Otte

Natural lethargy, nausea and vomiting are some of the first(protective) signs that your body gives you, indicating your pregnancy and stopping you from eating, drinking and doing anything potentially harmful to your developing baby.

Most of us are familiar with what food we need to eat or avoid, supplements to take or avoid, and to steer clear of X-rays during pregnancy. Smoking and alcohol are well-known teratogens and should be avoided at all costs. But there are other hazards out there to be on the lookout for, which may surprise you.

KITTY-CAT CARE

The simple act of cleaning out your cat’s litter box can pose an unseen threat to your baby. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a single cell parasite called toxoplasma. This parasite is commonly found in the faeces of cats. It can be prevented, tested for and treated if caught during pregnancy. With proper precautions, a healthy cat is not a particular risk if you’re pregnant.

The care of a sick cat should be left to someone else, as should the care of a litter box.

If you become infected during pregnancy, your baby can become infected, suffering widespread damage, especially to the brain and eyes.

STAY BALANCED

Yes – you’re looking to proof your house against potential hazards to your baby, but those very same things can cause you a problem while you’re pregnant. Things like loose, slippery rugs with no underfelt need to be moved or removed or make sure they are flat enough not to cause you to trip over or slip on them.