• Planning for Pregnancy
  • Pre-pregnancy checklist
  • Conception
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• Your Pregnancy
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  • Confirming pregnancy
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• Week by Week Guide
  • Week 1 - 4
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  • Week 17 - 20
  • Week 21 - 24
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  • Week 33 - 36
  • Week 37 - 40
  • Week 41 and 42
• Baby Names
• Fit & Healthy You
  • Exercise and fitness
  • Your pelvic floor
  • Your body care
  • What's happening to me?
  • Avoiding hazards
  • A sensual pregnancy
  • Travel during pregnancy
  • Sleeping while pregnant
• Your nutrition
  • Healthy eating
  • Gaining weight
  • Foods to avoid
  • What should I eat?
  • Essential vitamins
  • Nutrition at work
• Pregnancy and Work
  • What are My Rights?
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  • Returning to Work
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• Your Antenatal Care
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  • Pregnancy Jargon
  • Routine checks
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  • Assisted Labour
  • Preparing for Labour
  • Your baby's position
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• Preparing for Baby
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  • Buying for Baby
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  • Important decisions
  • Packing Your Bags
  • Coming Home
• Labour and Birth
  • Pre-labour and labour
  • The first stage
  • Partners role
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  • The second stage: Delivery
  • The third stage
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• Your Newborn
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  • Getting Acquainted
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  • Feeding Your Newborn
  • Baby Care Basics
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  • Premature Babies
• Premature Babies
  • Signs and treatment of pre-term labour
  • Frequently used terminology
  • Taking a premature baby home
  • The Impact on Parents
  • The National Premmie Foundation
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus
  • Birth Stories
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• After the Birth
  • Your Stay In Hospital
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  • Your Pelvic Floor
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  • Top 15 Questions
• Your Planning Aids
• Help Panel
• Links and Resources
• Feature Articles

A fit and healthy pregnancy - Avoiding hazards

Now you are pregnant you will need to be mindful of how your actions can affect your developing baby. Even taking some simple precautions can prevent some things posing an unnecessary risk to your baby.

Medications

Seek medical assurance from your doctor, midwife or pharmacist, before taking any medications. This includes any natural therapy as these can have a negative effect on your pregnancy. Even simple pain relievers can have an affect on your baby, especially if they are not used correctly.

For information on your medications and how they can affect your baby you can contact the Mothersafe unit at the Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick. This Medication in Lactation and Pregnancy service operates between 9am-4pm Monday to Friday (EST).

• Sydney residents 9382 6539 or
• Outside of Sydney on 1800 647 848 (freecall).

Alcohol

It's recommended that you remove alcohol from your diet. Nine months is a very short time to go without alcohol compared to a lifetime for your baby who has suffered birth defects as a result of excessive alcohol consumption.

Tobacco

Give up smoking! It raises the carbon monoxide levels in your blood, and prevents oxygen reaching your baby. It also reduces the effectiveness of the way oxygen is transferred through the placenta. This means your baby won’t grow as well, and he’s at a higher risk of pre-term birth, being small and vulnerable to infection, and stillbirth. Your partner should stop smoking as well, and you should avoid smoky atmospheres as much as possible. Smoking has also been linked to an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). For help on how to give up smoking contact the Quitline on 131 848 or seek help from your Doctor.

For more information about smoking and pregnancy read “Quit’s campaign for pregnant smokers” on the Quit website

Overheating

Hot Baths/Spas/Saunas should be avoided as they cause your core body temperature to rise. Overheating of the body has been linked to some birth defects. By all means take a relaxing bath but it should be at a comfortable and moderate temperature. This also applies to becoming overheated as a result of exercise, take it easy and always have plenty of fluids available.

Travel

Avoid travel to countries where infectious diseases are prevalent. Visit the Australian Foreign Affairs Department website for more advice and information on overseas travel. Air travel while pregnant places you into a higher risk group for suffering from Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). See our Travel During Pregnancy page for more details.

Aromatherapy

Caffeine

Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea and many soft drinks. Be aware of this and limit your intake to around 2-3 cups per day. It is reported that the tannins found in tea can affect your body’s ability to absorb iron, which is important during pregnancy.

Infectious Diseases

Naturally you should avoid contact where possible with anyone who is unwell to eliminate the risk of infection. Of course this is not always possible, so be vigilant in washing your hands regularly after contact. If possible avoid contact with people carrying the German Measles (Rubella) virus and the Chicken pox virus. Both of these diseases have been linked to malformations in the developing foetus. Advise your doctor if you believe you have had contact with these diseases.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis infection can have serious repercussions for your pregnancy but can be avoided by taking some simple precautions. The Toxoplasmosis infection gives symptoms similar to a mild flu, but it involves a risk of blindness and foetal brain damage to your child. It can be contracted by contact with a parasite often found in garden soil, dog and cat’s faeces, unpasteurised goat’s and sheep’s milk or cheese, and raw meat. Always wear gloves when dealing with your cat’s litter tray and when you are gardening, and thoroughly wash your hands. Always ensure any meat you eat is cooked thoroughly and all vegetables are properly washed.

Listeria

Listeria is a rare bacterial infection that has been related to miscarriage in pregnancy. Foods to avoid include soft cheeses such as Camembert and Brie, blue cheese, pates and undercooked chicken or meat. Contact your doctor immediately if you display these symptoms; moderate to high fever, aches and pains, severe headache and vomiting.

Vitamin A

Avoid eating liver. Liver contains high levels of vitamin A and consuming high levels of this vitamin has been linked to birth defects. Vitamin A (Retinol) is also found in some skin care products and you should stop using these while you are pregnant.