Protecting Your Baby from The Start: 5 Things To Avoid During Pregnancy
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A child with a birth defect can cause a lot of stress on the child and the family who must care for them. While some defects can’t be prevented, there are a number of defects that you can avoid with the proper care while the child is still in the womb. Here are five things to avoid during pregnancy.
Alcohol
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a serious condition that can cause life-altering damage to a child, such as behavior and intellectual problems. It can even cause death. It’s extremely important to avoid alcohol completely when you find out that you are pregnant. Even mild drinking can cause a problem.
Cigarettes
Cigarettes are damaging to your heart and lungs. They also damage your skin and cause you to smell bad. If cigarettes are that damaging to you, you have to know that they can be just as damaging to the fetus living inside of you. Cigarettes can cause cleft lip and premature birth.
Mercury
Mercury is a metal that can be damaging to your unborn child. You can come into contact with mercury by eating it, breathing it in, and touching it. Some common items you need to avoid include high-mercury fish. You should also do your best to avoid broken incandescent lights and thermometers. If you notice mercury in your home that shouldn’t have been there and your child ends up with a birth defect, you might want to call a birth injury lawyer today.
Cleaning Products With Chemicals
You need to continue to keep a clean home while pregnant. You don’t want to bring your child to a dirty environment. However, you also need to be careful about the products you use. Be sure to stock up on natural cleaning supplies that don’t include any chemicals that you might breathe in when cleaning.
Paint
You probably need to paint a baby’s room before they come. This will mean you need to be around paint. As you paint the room, you may recognize that you start to notice fumes. You should buy toxic-free paint meant for home interiors. You should also have someone else paint the baby room if possible.
There are a number of things out there that can increase the likelihood of a defect in an unborn baby. Do your best to avoid these items as often as possible. If your child is born with a defect without you encountering these items, it might be time to talk to a lawyer.
