Pregnancy and pregnant women are very important. First, pregnancy is the primary source of procreation even though through medical technology, other means of giving birth like artificial insemination has sufficed and this novel means is getting global attention.
But pregnancy remains the most popular means of procreation for many reasons, one being that it is natural. The other reason is that people have argued that when a woman carries her baby and gives birth, there’s this natural bond it creates between mother and child.
Also, some argue that it gives some sense of fulfillment. In Africa and Nigeria, particularly, women take special interest in getting pregnant and giving birth to their own children. It gives them what late novelist, Buchi Emecheta, called the joy of motherhood.
On the other hand, the African woman would want to prove to the society, her family, her husband’s family and her husband in particular that she is not barren by being pregnant and getting her own baby. No wonder the African woman can go to any length to get pregnant or retain her pregnancy, in the case of those who lose their pregnancies, and eventually deliver safely.
But sadly majority of those who have lost or who still lose their pregnancies eat the wrong food, hence putting themselves and their unborn babies in harm’s way.
Medical experts advise that they desist from eating certain foods and taking some drinks. But some still go against such directives.
Here’s an opportunity to learn of those drinks and food a pregnant woman should not eat at all or eat sparingly.
Caffeine:
Caffeine is one of the most popular components used in making soft drinks. To be clear, some of the soft drinks are: Coke, Fanta, Pepsi, Mirrinda, Bigi Cola and the rest. According to reports, caffeine is more dominant in cola related soft drinks like Coke, Pepsi and Bigi Cola.
Caffeine is also used in teas and coffee.
Medical experts advice that pregnant women should take less than 200Mg of caffeine related drinks daily.
This is because caffeine desolves fast and does not waste time to go into the foetus and placenta. Studies also have confirmed that high caffeine intake impacts negatively on the growth of foetus.
Raw Milk:
This is particularly for women in northern Nigeria and any other part where milking from cows is commonplace.
Raw milk is also called unpasteurized milk. It’s the milk that came from the cows and has not been pasteurized.
Unpasteurized milk could contain a bacteria like listeria. What the pasteurization process does is to help kill the bacteria that might have entered into the milk during the milking process or from materials used. In rare cases though, people go ahead to milk unhealthy cows and sale the milk.
Listeria has been found to impact the growth of foetus as well as cause the mother serious illness.
Alcohol:
This is a huge one. The advice here is not small consumption. Pregnant women should abstain entirely from taking alcohol.
A lot of studies have been carried out to ascertain the effects of alcohol consumption on pregnant women and their unborn babies. Some experts have even gone ahead to study if excessive alcohol intake compromises women’s chances of getting pregnant.
The truth is, alcohol consumption has adverse effects on the health of unborn babies. A lot.
Results of studies show that it could lead to a woman losing her unborn baby before labour or even in labour. I’m sure no woman wants to have such bad experience.
Also, when a pregnant woman takes alcohol, the brain development of the unborn baby could be affected negatively. It could lead to slow or stalled development.
Aside pregnant women, alcohol consumption has never been recommended to have any steady positive health impact. Medical experts have always advised abstinence.
Poorly cooked meat
There’s this thing people call half done, that is, not allowing food to cook properly. Medical advice has it that women who are pregnant should avoid meats that are not properly cooked.
Undercooked beef may contain a bacteria called salmonella which experts say impacts the health of pregnant women adversely and impedes the development of their unborn babies.
Undercooked eggs, fish and other foods not properly cooked are not good for pregnant women and their unborn babies.
Bonus
Any activity that may make a pregnant woman fall is a total NO, please.
I’ve seen some pregnant women get engaged in routine exercises. In as much as I love exercising and keeping fit, please a pregnant woman should avoid any exercise that would make her slip or fall. The impacts may not be funny.