Test Your Prenatal Nutrition Knowledge

Test Your Prenatal Nutrition Knowledge

July 4th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Do you know how to eat right for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby? Answer these nutrition questions to find out if your prenatal nutrition is on track.

Do I need more calories when I am pregnant?

While a pregnant woman does need to take in more calories than prior to pregnancy to provide adequately for the baby, the old adage about “eating for two” isn’t accurate. In fact, you don’t really need any extra calories until after the first trimester, and then only an extra 300 calories a day. That really isn’t much, so use caution. Overeating during pregnancy will lead to excess weight gain, and many women find those extra pounds especially hard to lose after pregnancy. Maintaining a healthy weight throughout your pregnancy will reduce the strain on your body and keep you in good shape to care for your baby!

Can I just take a supplement and not worry about my diet?

Prenatal supplements are an important source of the extra nutrients your body needs during pregnancy, but they should support a healthy diet, not replace it. The purpose of taking a supplement is to help provide a backup to fill any gaps in your diet. You should take a supplement every day, but it should not be your main source of vitamins and minerals. The nutrients found in food are better absorbed by the body than those in a supplement form, so they are still vital to good health.

Do I have to eat foods I don’t like?

You need to eat from all four food groups and choose a variety of options from each in order to get everything your body requires. If there are certain foods you really can’t bear, it’s ok to skip them as long as you ensure they are replaced with other foods offering similar benefits. If you aren’t a meat eater, you will need to find alternate sources of protein and iron. If broccoli doesn’t make your list, be sure to eat plenty of other leafy greens like spinach and kale. If you can’t eat an entire food group, such as dairy, due to an allergy or lactose intolerance, you should talk to your doctor about supplementation to make sure you get the right amounts of the nutrients missing from your diet.

Do I have to eat three meals a day?

It’s not necessary to eat three meals a day if you are having trouble with feeling too full or struggling with nausea that makes it hard to eat at certain times of the day. Breaking up your consumption into smaller meals throughout the day will prevent feelings of over-fullness, especially later in pregnancy. As long as you are getting the recommended servings of each of the food groups every day, it doesn’t matter how you split them up.

Are some nutrients more important than others?

All of the vitamins and minerals your body needs to be healthy are also vital to your baby’s health. There are some nutrients that have been especially newsworthy recently, however, as having special importance during pregnancy. Folic acid or folate has been shown to help prevent a number of birth defects, and pregnant women are strongly encouraged to eat plenty of foods containing folate. Calcium is also vital to a baby’s developing bones, so good sources in your diet are important. Pay special attention to these, and also to iron in your diet especially if your routine iron test shows low levels.

The Role of Protein

The Role of Protein

July 3rd, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

The body needs many things to survive and to function at peak performance. One of the most important of these is protein. Protein is a macronutrient; this means that our bodies need quite a bit of it, as opposed to micronutrients like vitamins, which are not needed in large quantities.

Protein is a part of every cell in the body, and is used to perform many vital tasks, such as the creation of enzymes and hormones, and the building of tissue. Our bones, muscles, skin, and blood are all created using protein. Proteins are made up of amino acids, some of which our bodies are incapable of producing; we must provide these to our bodies through our diet. Unlike fat or carbohydrates, the body does not retain stores of protein, so we much continually replace it.

How Much Protein Do We Need?

The amount of protein recommended daily ranges from 10-35%, depending on age and gender. While high protein, low carbohydrate diets have been popular in recent years, the truth is that our bodies do not need to be overloaded with protein. A child between 1-3 years old requires on 13 grams of protein a day, while even an adult male needs only 56 grams. This isn’t really a lot, when you consider that one cup of milk contains 8 grams of protein. A child who has several glass of milk a day will easily meet and even exceed protein requirements.

What Foods Provide Protein?

The average person gets more than enough protein through their diet. Foods high in protein include eggs, meat, poultry and fish, dairy products, beans and nuts. As long as your diet contains some of these foods on a regular basis, you are likely getting enough protein.

A vegetarian or vegan diet can present some difficulties in getting enough protein, but it is certainly possible to do so. It simply requires a good understanding of nutrition and what non-animal sources of protein are available. In addition to the options above, tofu, some fruits and vegetables, and many grains contain protein as well.

Are All Proteins Equal?

There are two types of protein sources. They are incomplete, and complete proteins. A complete protein contains all of the amino acids our bodies require to survive. Complete protein sources are generally animal proteins such as meats, eggs, and dairy products.

It is possible to obtain all of the amino acids through a variety of other protein sources by mixing and matching these foods into your diet to ensure you are getting everything you need. Those who do not consume animal products will need to make sure various sources of proteins are incorporated into their diet to ensure the amino acids are all represented.

Some sources, while listed as complete proteins, may not be the best choice because they can be high in fat. A steak is a complete protein, but is also high in saturated fat. Dairy products too can be sources of excess fat. In moderation, these are excellent sources of protein and can be incorporated into a healthy diet. Leaner sources of protein, such as chicken, are a better choice for daily consumption, however.

Although the diet industry has pushed protein supplements in the form of bars and shakes for years, for most people the better choice is a healthy diet incorporating high quality, low fat protein sources. Synthetic sources may contain other ingredients that are neither necessary nor healthy.

Food Additives During Pregnancy

Food Additives During Pregnancy

July 2nd, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Most of the processed foods that we eat are filled with additives and preservatives. These are intended to improve the look, flavor, and longevity (shelf life) of these foods. While most of them are not dangerous during pregnancy, there are some additives that should be avoided.

The most important tool you have for protecting yourself and your baby from potentially harmful food additives is carefully reading product labels, and knowing what to look for.

MSG

Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is a common additive in many processed foods including canned vegetables and frozen foods. Research shows a potential link between MSG and neurological disorders, and it can also affect your blood pressure, especially if it is already high.

Artificial Colors

Some are safe, but some are decidedly not. To make it easier on yourself, avoid artificial colors altogether; but just in case, it’s good to know which ones have been linked to serious conditions such as cancer. Completely avoid: Blue #1, Blue #2, Citrus Red #1. Citrus Red #2, Green #3, Red #3, Red #40 and Yellow #6. These are all potentially harmful to both you and your growing baby.

Nitrates and Nitrites

Found in processed meats such as hot dogs, bacon and sausages, these can cause a dangerous blood disease in your unborn child.

Artificial Sweeteners

There are a number of artificial sweeteners on the market today designed to lower the calorie content of foods. They are normally found in diet foods, however, watch for them in foods labeled “No Sugar Added”, as often artificial sweeteners have been added instead. The most common types of artificial sweeteners are aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin.

Of these three, saccharin is the one you most need to avoid. The FDA requires that foods contain it carry a warning on the label – not a good sign for consuming it during pregnancy.

Aspartame is a controversial sweetener; some say it is ok in moderation, but there have been studies linking it to various diseases, so it’s best to avoid it altogether. Sucralose is generally considered to be safe; however it has not been around long enough or tested well enough in pregnant women to be certain.

Other Additives to Avoid

Watch out for any food that contains BHA or BHT, Heptylparaben, Mannitol and Disodium Guanylate, Propyl Gallate, and Sodium Aluminum Silicate. All of these additives have been linked with fetal harm and should be avoided completely during pregnancy.

Safe Additives

There are some food additives that might sound dangerous but actually aren’t. Many of these are vitamins being added to fortify food. Folic acid, an important B vitamin during pregnancy, is a healthy additive in your food. Ascorbic acid is also ok, although it sounds a bit scary! It’s actually vitamin C. Natural additives such as pectin or citric acid are also safe during pregnancy.

The best way to avoid getting any of the dangerous additives is to eat fresh, home made foods and avoid processed foods as much as possible. When you do pick up a can or jar off the shelf, read the label carefully. If you aren’t sure what something is, look it up before consuming it. Look for foods labeled “all-natural” “no preservatives” and “no additives”. These foods may be more expensive and less convenient, but when your baby’s health is on the line, it is worth the extra time and expense.

Is All Cheese Safe During Pregnancy?

Is All Cheese Safe During Pregnancy?

July 1st, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Cheese is a great source of calcium and a healthy snack for pregnant women. However, there are some cheeses that should be approached with caution to avoid potentially harmful bacteria. You may have heard that you should avoid “soft” cheese such as Brie, as well as Feta cheese. Not all of these cheeses are dangerous, you just have to check for one important word: pasteurized.

What Is Pasteurization?

Created by (and named for) chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur in the mid 1800s, the process of pasteurization is intended to kill dangerous bacteria, or pathogens in foods. It is most often used on milk, and involves heating the milk to a temperature high enough to kill the bacteria. The term flash pasteurization simply means the product is heated very quickly and then cooled again. This process is often used on eggs and is believed to improve the taste.

Milk sold in US grocery stores today has been pasteurized. It not only makes the milk safer for consumption, but also extends shelf life. You can also purchase eggs that have been pasteurized, which allows the consumption of them in recipes where they are not cooked to be safe.

Pasteurization And Cheese

The reason that some cheeses have been on the unsafe list for consumption by pregnant women is that they are made with unpasteurized milk. This means that they can contain listeria, a bacteria known to be very harmful or even deadly to a developing fetus. This is the same reason pregnant women are advised against eating deli meats, which can often contain listeria as well.

Soft cheeses like Brie, Camembert, and blue cheeses as well as Feta cheese are often made with unpasteurized milk. The reason for choosing this less-safe option is generally the flavor. These cheeses depend on bacteria for their unique taste, and pasteurized milk can affect the flavor, so many manufacturers continue to make their cheese with raw milk. However, not all of these cheeses are made with unpasteurized milk. Read the label – if it states that pasteurized milk was used, the cheese is safe for consumption during pregnancy.

With more companies producing pasteurized cheeses, Brie, Feta, and the rest of the once-banned soft cheeses can make reappearance in a healthy pregnancy diet.

What About Other Cheeses?

Hard cheeses, such as cheddar and parmesan, are safe to consume during pregnancy. With all cheeses, however, make sure to follow safe handling instructions. Keep the cheese refrigerated, and don’t eat it past the best by date on the package. If you are purchasing your cheese from a deli, try to choose one that is busy and thus has a high turn-around for the cheese on their shelves. Even cheese made with pasteurized milk can be re-contaminated if not handled properly.

Processed cheeses such as American, ricotta, cream cheese and cottage cheese are also considered safe for consumption during pregnancy, but follow the same warnings listed above to ensure food safety. The rule of thumb is to refrigerate and consume promptly.

If you aren’t sure about a cheese, simply don’t eat it. That tantalizing cheese tray at the party may look delicious, but unless you are sure of what is on it and how long it has been sitting out, skip it. It’s not worth your baby’s health.

By taking some precautions, you can make all kinds of cheeses a healthy part of your pregnancy diet, and enjoy some you might have thought were off limits.

The Role of Vitamins

The Role of Vitamins

June 30th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

When many of us think of vitamins, we picture a bottle of pills or chewable capsules. It has become so common to think of “taking your vitamins” that we often forget where vitamins really come from.

Vitamins are naturally occurring, organic substances found in plants and animals. They are necessary to good health and help our bodies to function properly. Each vitamin has a role to play, and it’s important to get enough of all the necessary vitamins to ensure a strong and healthy body.

What They Do and Where to Find Them

Vitamins are generally known by letters, Vitamin A, B, C and so on, but they also often have another name. Knowing which vitamin is which, what they do for the body, and which foods provide them makes it easy to eat a balanced diet.

  • Vitamin A. This vitamin is available from both plant and animal sources. It plays a major role in protecting the immune system, eye health, reproduction, and helps build barriers in both the skin and linings of internal systems to keep out harmful bacteria. You can find Vitamin A in beef or chicken liver, dairy products, and many fruits and vegetables, especially carrots, spinach, kale, cantaloupe and apricots.
  • Vitamin B6. Necessary to immune and nervous system function, vitamin B6 also creates enzymes that metabolize proteins, and is required to create hemoglobin, which carries oxygen within the bloodstream. Vitamin B6 can be found in foods such as potatoes, bananas, garbanzo beans and chicken.
  • Vitamin B12. This vitamin is required to create red blood cells and support neurological function. Foods that provide Vitamin B12 are beef liver, clams, yogurt, and fish such as trout and salmon.
  • Folate. Another one of the B vitamins, folate has recently been shown to reduce the risk of a number of birth defects including spina bifida. You can get folate from foods such as whole grains and leafy greens like spinach and broccoli.
  • Vitamins B1-6 and B7. Also known as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid and biotin, the remaining B vitamins are also important to good health, helping to metabolize food into energy and create red blood cells. B vitamins can be found in a variety of foods such as meats, poultry, eggs, and green vegetables.
  • Vitamin D. Crucial to healthy bones, this vitamin helps in the absorption of calcium and bone growth. It also plays a role in immune health. This vitamin does not appear naturally in many foods, however it can be found in fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines. Vitamin D is also absorbed into the body through sun exposure, however too much exposure to UV rays carries a risk.
  • Vitamin E. An antioxidant which can help to rid the body of free radicals, Vitamin E also supports a healthy immune system. This vitamin can be found in nuts such as almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts, as well as sunflower seeds, broccoli, and spinach.
  • Vitamin K. This vitamin plays an important role in blood clotting as well as maintaining healthy bones and tissue. It is most commonly found in leafy green vegetables such as kale, collard greens, spinach and broccoli.

Getting Enough Vitamins

It can be difficult to tell if you are getting enough vitamins from your diet, so it’s not a bad idea to take a daily multi-vitamin. Just be careful not to overdo it on supplements. Taking too much of some vitamins can actually be detrimental to your health. A balanced diet and a basic multi-vitamin should be sufficient to provide your body with what it needs to function and stay healthy.

Why you Need a Prenatal Supplement?

Why you Need a Prenatal Supplement?

June 29th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Even if you are striving to eat a balanced diet from all four food groups, your vitamin and mineral intake can still fall short. During pregnancy, it is especially vital that you get the needed amounts of all of the necessary nutrients to support your health as well as your baby’s growth. In order to help you meet all of your nutritional needs, your doctor will recommend that you take a prenatal supplement.

What Is A Prenatal Supplement?

Like other multivitamins, prenatal supplements offer a combination of all of the vitamins and minerals you need on a daily basis. Just as some supplements are specifically targeted to other populations such as men, women, seniors or children, a prenatal supplement contains specific levels of vitamins and minerals to meet the needs of a pregnant woman. Prenatal supplements generally contain more of the nutrients pregnant women require to remain healthy and nourish the baby growing within, such as folic acid, calcium, and iron.

Where Should I Get My Supplements?

There are two options for prenatal supplements; over the counter and prescription versions are both available. Talk to your doctor about which option is best for you. Prescription supplements often contain larger doses of important nutrients, but can also cause reactions such as nausea and constipation. Over the counter options can be purchased at a drugstore, grocery store or any other store that offers vitamin and mineral supplements. If the options are confusing, ask the pharmacist for help. If your doctor has prescribed a supplement, do not switch without asking first. There may be a reason in your medical history why that particular supplement was chosen for you.

If you are having a really bad reaction to your current supplement, you should be able to switch to a different option with your doctor’s help. It may take some trial and error to find one that you tolerate well.

Can’t I Just Eat Right?

You can, and you should eat right during your pregnancy! But some of the nutrients your body needs may be difficult to get in the right amounts from your diet. Prenatal supplements aren’t intended to replace a healthy, balanced diet, but to support it by filling in any potential holes in your nutrition. Pregnancy isn’t a good time to take chances on getting the right nutrients. Your baby’s health depends on your heath – so take good care of it and take every precaution to make sure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals you need.

Tips for Taking Prenatal Supplements

Some pregnant women struggle with taking their prenatal vitamins due to nausea. If you are feeling sick, try to take your vitamin at a time of day when you are feeling the least nauseous. You may find that taking them with food helps to ward off the nausea as well. To help your body get used to them, try to take them at the same time every day. Remember that if you aren’t eating well due to nausea, it’s even more important to get nutrition into your body in any way you can. If you do miss a day, there is no need to double up on your supplements. In fact, this might not be a good idea as too much of certain vitamins and minerals can be detrimental to your health.

If you are not yet pregnant but planning to conceive, start taking prenatal vitamins as soon as you start trying. You won’t know you are pregnant until your baby has already been growing for several weeks, so make sure you are already providing a healthy body in which your baby can thrive.

Your Diet During Pregnancy

Your Diet During Pregnancy

June 28th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

When you are pregnant, it is important to remember that everything you put into your body, you are also putting into your baby’s body. A diet filled with healthy foods and free of potentially harmful ones is therefore absolutely vital to a healthy pregnancy.

When you find out you are pregnant, it’s a good time to review your current diet and make the necessary changes. You will need to provide your baby with all the nutrients required for growth, so make sure they are all represented in your diet.

Eat From All the Food Groups

A balanced diet includes foods chosen from all of the food groups. During your pregnancy, you should aim to eat the following amounts from each food group:

  • Grains, such as breads, pasta and rice: eat 6-9 servings a day. Choose whole grain options such as brown rice and whole-wheat bread.
  • Fruits and vegetables: eat a minimum of 5 servings a day. Be sure to include both fruits and vegetables, and choose a wide variety of different types to get all the varied nutrients they offer.
  • Dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese: eat 4 servings a day. Choose low-fat options and look for choices fortified with vitamin D.
  • Meats, poultry, fish, and beans, as well as other protein sources: eat 2 servings a day. Look for lean meats and include fish as well for the important Omega-3 fatty acids.

What Is A Serving?

When reading the recommendations above, you might think that’s a lot of food to fit into a day. This is because most of us have a skewed view of what a serving should look like. In our society of oversized portions, we have come to think more is better. But learning to eat the appropriate portion sizes will help us to keep a healthy, balanced diet, and eat the right amounts of the foods we need. This is especially vital during pregnancy when it might be hard to eat the right amount due to the pressure of the uterus on the stomach.

Sample servings of all of the food groups include:

  • For a serving of grains: one slice of whole wheat bread, half a cup of cooked pasta or rice, half a cup of hot cereal or one cup of cold cereal
  • A serving of fruits or vegetables is one medium sized fruit like an apple or a pear, half a cup of cooked vegetables, or three quarter of a cup of fruit juice.
  • A proper serving size for a protein on your plate is about a two to three ounce piece of meat or chicken, one egg, or one third of a cup of nuts.
  • To get a serving of dairy, try one cup of milk, one cup of yogurt, or one and a half ounces of cheese.

What About Sweets And Fats?

As with any healthy diet, during pregnancy sweets and fats should be kept to a minimum. Although fat is a necessary component of a healthy diet, if you are eating the proper amounts from the food groups, you are likely getting all the fat you need. Extra fats are not healthy, and neither are added sugars. It’s ok to have a treat once in a while, but don’t make it a regular habit. It will take the place of a serving of much-needed nutrients in your diet, and your baby needs all the nutrition you can get.

If you are getting all your recommended servings from the four food groups, you are well on your way to a healthy pregnancy. It is still a good idea to take a prenatal vitamin, however, to fill in any nutritional gaps.

Getting Pregnant After Going Off of Birth Control

Getting Pregnant After Going Off of Birth Control

June 27th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

If you think about it, we do so much to prevent getting pregnant when we’re young or simply not ready. Many women go to great lengths to ensure that they don’t get pregnant before they are ready to welcome a baby into their lives. They pick their partner carefully and often turn to various forms of birth control to ensure that pregnancy is not an option.

Many women end up taking the birth control pill at some point in their lives. This is a very popular method by which you can prevent pregnancy, and therefore many women turn to it. Some women take it for a number of years as it’s easy, so long as you remember to take it each and every day. If you want to avoid pregnancy or at least hold off for now, then the pill is the way that many women choose to go.

When it does come time for a woman to want to start thinking about pregnancy however, there can be concern about the number of years that she’s taken the pill. Will this hamper her chances of getting pregnant? Do you have to wait a certain amount of time before trying?

The Opinions Have Changed

Essentially what the pill helps in doing is preventing a woman from ovulating. This is an essential part of a monthly cycle, particularly when a woman is trying to get pregnant. Once a woman gets off of the pill, her ability to start ovulating comes back again. The amount of time that it takes a woman to start having a regular menstrual cycle may vary quite significantly. However once the cycle is back and a woman is ovulating and then getting a monthly cycle, she is certainly able to conceive.

You can see that according to most sources that it generally takes an average of two to three months for a woman’s cycle get back to normal and become a bit regulated. Because of that fact, many experts used to say that a woman had to wait a period of two to three months before even trying to get pregnant. This isn’t necessarily the case as it’s not a steadfast rule that a woman must wait to start trying. She may very well not be successful until things even out and her regular cycle is present. However, there is no real time limit that a woman must wait before she starts trying to conceive. It just won’t work until ovulation and a full monthly cycle is in effect, but no time limit is required anymore.

Listen To Your Body

Though the average amount of time that it takes for a monthly cycle to return is two to three months, it’s important to remember that this is just an average. It can take up to a year for a woman to get her body back into its normal state, and therefore you want to keep this in mind. If you have aspirations of getting pregnant down the road a couple of months, it can always be wise to get off the pill and see what your body does. Talk to your doctor as you decide to come off of the pill so that you know what you may be up against, depending on the type of pill you’ve been on and the amount of time you’ve been on it.

Every woman is different; therefore you want to always listen to your body. You will know when things are working as they should, and therefore conceiving will happen when your body is ready for it.

Managing Your Weight Throughout Your Pregnancy

Managing Your Weight Throughout Your Pregnancy

June 26th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There is no other time in your life when it is perfectly acceptable and even highly recommended to gain weight. Most of the time we as women spend our lives trying to lose weight or keep slender, and then all of a sudden we are faced with the notion that we can and should gain weight. It can be a lot to get used to for some women. Others really embrace the concept of “eating for two” and enjoy eating foods that they normally wouldn’t.

Though eating during pregnancy can most certainly be fun, it is important to remember that it’s not a free for all. Eating too much or the wrong foods can be bad for our health, bad for the pregnancy, and ultimately bad for the baby. You want to ensure that you go about your weight gain in the proper manner so that you can maintain a healthy range throughout.

Managing How You Gain the Weight

Though you may be inclined to just eat as much as you want whenever you want, do your best to ignore that urge. As you can see from this chart that there is a lot that makes up the typical weight gain. You can usually expect to gain anywhere from 25-35 pounds in a typical pregnancy, though this can vary a bit. The growing uterus, the placenta, all of the fluids, and the baby itself make up much of this weight gain. The rest however is up to you and therefore it’s quite important to manage how exactly we gain the weight throughout our pregnancy.

Though you can give into your cravings here and there, do your best to ensure that you don’t do it each and every day. Try your best to eat a well balanced diet that is rich in nutrients that your baby needs and your body craves. Try to get in exercise throughout your pregnancy so long as you are cleared for this and feel up to it. The combination of exercise with healthy eating will help to ensure that you put on the pregnancy weight in the right way. It will also make the task of taking off the weight much easier at the end of it all.

Keep It In Check Throughout Your Pregnancy

Many women are astounded by just how they gain the weight, and this can vary quite significantly. If you were on the thin side before pregnancy, then you may find that you gain the weight quickly and keep it coming as your body prepares for the baby. If you were on the heavier side before pregnancy, then it may take you a little while to gain the weight and then it may hit all of a sudden towards the middle of your pregnancy.

Many women may make it through their first trimester gaining virtually no weight as they are sick all the time. Then when that magical second trimester hits, they find that the weight comes on rapidly. There’s no one set pattern for how the weight is gained, and therefore you need to manage your eating habits and healthy lifestyle throughout. This will always help you to ensure that the baby gets everything that it needs. It will also ensure that you stay in good shape, and that you ultimately deliver a healthy and happy baby.

Painting During Pregnancy

Painting During Pregnancy

June 25th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There are so many things that we do in our lives that we may not even think about. We go about our days, performing any number of tasks, never really giving though to them all the while. That’s the way life works, we do what we need to get done and that’s it, right? Well that’s true until we get pregnant! Once we find out that we’re pregnant, it feels as though everything in life comes to a screeching halt. We’re worried about what we can safely eat, drink, and even breathe in. We think about every single task that we perform because it’s no longer about us, but rather the good of our baby.

If you find that you are thinking through even the most seemingly easy task at times, you’re not alone. One such task that does warrant much attention and thought is painting and other common and related household chores. You want to know what you’re getting into and do your best to avoid any potential risks.

Much Different Than It Used to Be

There’s always the argument that women in the past did everything without having to stop and think about it. While this may be true, the reality is that there wasn’t as much education or awareness about the potential risks of such activities. Though you don’t have to live in a bubble, you do need to do your part to avoid potential risks. When it comes to painting, the fumes can be dangerous for you and your baby. The rule of thumb is to avoid heavy inhalation, that is to keep the room as ventilated as possible. Keep the windows open whenever possible, or at the very least keep a fan running to ensure that the fumes move about and are dispersed rather than right there in front of you.

We all know that lead paint is dangerous in many ways. Though it’s hard to even find anymore, it’s important that pregnant women stay away from it at all costs. The fumes of this can be dangerous, but the good news is that it hasn’t really been used in homes since the 1970’s. That being said, when it comes to removing paint that was put on years earlier in your home and you’re not sure of the type, you may want to leave this activity for somebody else to do. Though the chances may be slim, you do want to do your part to stay away from any potentially harmful fumes.

Protect Yourself at All Costs

Fortunately most of the paints used today are considered to be perfectly safe. It is however still important to avoid contact with the paint so as to avoid actual consumption. Don’t put food or drink near paint, and do your part to cover up any exposed body parts while painting. These measures can ensure that you don’t have unnecessary exposure to paint, as that can be a possible problem.

Use common sense and avoid painting or breathing in fumes for an extended period of time. Also do your part to avoid any cleaners or preparation methods that can provide fumes that you aren’t sure of. Though they may not pose a risk to the baby, they may be hard for you to breathe in and may even make you sick to the smell. So use common sense, do your painting in small bouts, and keep the air circulating to avoid excessive fumes.

Page 4 of 10« First...2345610...Last »