Читать книгу Sister Lilian’s Pregnancy & Birth Companion - Lilian Paramor - Страница 21

Over the years, many women have contacted me to share their anxiety about the effect these habits will have on their newly conceived babies. By the time you confirm pregnancy, four to eight very important developmental weeks have already passed. These habits can wreak potentially devastating harm during this time.

Alcohol and recreational drugs

The only known safe limit for alcohol and recreational drugs in pregnancy is none. How your body reacts to alcohol depends on your individual make-up. According to all available research, an occasional glass of wine or liqueur will probably not harm Baby. Bingeing, even seldom, can be as detrimental as frequent heavy drinking. Spirits should be avoided. Heavy alcohol intake in pregnancy is associated with a whole syndrome of problems, including poor brain development. While very moderate use is not a reason for much concern, it is better to be safe than sorry. If there is any tendency to alcohol or other dependency in either family, even if you have no such problem, it is better to abstain during pregnancy and breastfeeding as this can trigger dependency in the developing baby.

Many women worry about alcohol used before they knew they were pregnant. It would be better to avoid or greatly reduce this if you are planning a pregnancy, in case conception does occur, but sometimes the unexpected happens. Although I cannot give absolute reassurance on this score, if alcohol has not been a problem for you or the baby’s dad, and you have not really overdone it in the early weeks, it is unlikely that you need be concerned.

Drug use and abuse is serious as it can trigger dependency in babies. If it is a once-off experience, your baby has plenty of time in the womb to experience nature’s healing and cleansing effects. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that no harm will be done. The early scan will usually show whether Baby’s development is on course.

Smoking

Smoking in pregnancy has a wide range of deleterious effects. Fertility is also compromised in smokers. The blood vessels leading to the placenta are more likely to have abnormalities which means that the placenta is usually thinner and more fragile. This is the baby’s life-support system, affecting oxygen and nutrient supply to Baby, and waste disposal. Smokers have twice as many miscarriages and stillbirths, possibly due to the poor state of the placenta or abnormalities of the developing baby that make Mother Nature abort spontaneously.

It is said that less than ten cigarettes a day is not too risky for a developing baby, but the hard truth is that these babies are more prone to respiratory conditions, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and allergies after birth, no matter the number smoked, although the less the better. It is not easy to quit, but if you can, you will be doing your baby a lifelong favour. I would encourage you to try. It is not at all risky to stop cold turkey and is really the best way to ensure Baby has the best environment in which to develop as soon as possible.

Generally, it is not easier to cut down slowly, although some people find taking just three or four puffs from a single cigarette and then putting it out and throwing it away helps them to cut down faster if they find it impossible to stop immediately. Nicotine has a range of effects as you smoke a whole cigarette. After a few puffs, the craving is not as strong as initially.

Expectant dads and close family and friends should know that this information is just as relevant to them, as passive smoking is just as damaging.

Often anxiety underlies smoking in pregnancy. A useful tip is to take the homeopathic remedy Sister Lilian Emotion tablets, as this helps you cope positively and safely. If the anxiety is about the pregnancy and birth, read more about labour and pain relief options. Should habit be the main reason, try to keep busy with creative activities and avoid typical situations in which you automatically light up.