If you smoke cigarettes, and are pregnant or plan to be pregnant you should definitely consider stopping the habit. When you inhale tobacco smoke you are inhaling substances that are harmful to you and your growing baby. These substances include nicotine, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, tars, resins and other cancer causing agents. These harmful chemicals are passed through the placenta to the baby when inhaled by the mother to be.

Smoking has a number of harmful effects on babies such as, a low birth weight, lower IQ scores, reading disorders, and hyperactivity. Smoking has also been known to interfere with the baby’s absorption of vitamins B and C and folic acid, which are all important to the growth and development of the baby. There is a risk of developing placental abruption during pregnancy that increases to 25% in women who are moderate smokers, and 65% in women who smoke heavily. Smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of miscarriage, death of the baby while still in the mother, or shortly after birth. The risk of placenta previa is 25% more likely to happen in women who smoke moderately, and 90% more likely in women who smoke heavily.

Drinking alcohol while pregnant is also not a good idea. There are very serious risks involved with drinking alcohol and being pregnant. Even a little amount of alcohol can increase the risk of having a miscarriage. Large amounts of alcohol can result in abnormalities of the baby. Chronic alcohol use can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome, FAS, which is when the fetus develops abnormally.

Fetal alcohol syndrome refers to growth retardation before and after the child’s birth. This can mean heart and limb defects and unusual facial characteristics. Children born with FAS can also have behavioral problems, impaired speech, and impaired muscle and joint use.

Abnormalities in babies have been associated with as little as two drinks a day. It is best to avoid alcohol altogether, so that you do not put your baby at risk of having fetal alcohol syndrome. Some over the counter cold medicines contain alcohol, so make sure to read labels before use of all medications.

Not only does the mother need to avoid alcohol, but it is also a good idea for the father to not drink also. Research suggests that large amounts of alcohol consumed by the father may cause the baby to be born with FAS. Alcohol consumption by the father has also been known to cause intrauterine growth retardation.

Not only can illegal drugs have harmful effects on babies, but legal drugs and medications can have harmful effects on babies also. You should stop all use of medications until you discuss the medicines with your doctor to find out if they are safe to use while pregnant. The best way to prevent any of these harmful effects on your baby is to stop all drug use before and during pregnancy. The next time you consider getting “high”, having a drink, or lighting up, think of how it would feel if your baby is born with abnormalities, and you single handedly could have prevented these hardships for your baby.

As your spouse near her due date, her cervix becomes thinner and softer (called effacing). This is a normal, natural process that helps the birth canal (vagina) to open during the birthing process. Your doctor can check your spouse’s progress with a vaginal exam.Weight Gain According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, everyone gains weight at different rates. On average, it is normal to gain about one pound per week, or three to four pounds per month, during the third trimester. By the end of the pregnancy your spouse should have gained, on average, about 25 to 30 pounds. About 7 1/2 pounds of that weight should be the baby.

Good nutrition plays crucial roles in promoting normal organ development and functioning, growth, and maintenance. It builds a strong immune system to resist infection and minimize the risks for developing certain illnesses and helps the body cope with injuries. While pregnancy is a normal occurrence for a female body, it demands an increase to the daily nutritional allowances. Hence, the importance of maintaining ideal pregnancy nutrition is emphasized.

Every day pregnant women need to have a high-quality diet which is usually translated to 80 to 100 grams of protein, a little bit of salt, lots of water or fluids, and calories from foods obtained from a variety of whole food sources. In this regard, the food pyramid serves to be a useful pregnancy nutrition advice guide.

A womans body increases in size by 40 to 60 percent during pregnancy. With such increase comes the concern for the maintenance of proper pregnancy nutrition. By taking adequate levels of protein, salt, water, essential vitamins and minerals, this helps to reduce the risk of suffering preeclampsia. Sufficient intake of folic acid or B vitamins prevents neural tube birth defects on the baby, such as spina-bifida. Hence, both mother and baby benefit from proper nutrition as it ensures normal foetal growth and development, and healthy placenta and amniotic fluid.

The main consequences of poor pregnancy nutrition are an increased risk of disorders, and mortality. It makes the foetus more susceptible to degenerative diseases and cognitive or neural disorders. Certain precursory studies have proved that there is a link between pregnancy nutrition and foetal development, as well as the mothers health. Babies that are cared for by mothers that practise good pregnancy nutrition are known to have less restriction in the womb.

Living up to your doctor's pregnancy nutrition advice is also important in ensuring well-being as you make it to your full term. Since proper nutrition helps maintain balance to the hormonal and other bodily changes in a woman's body, it helps dampen the instances of mood swings, depression and other behavioural concerns related to pregnancy.

Eating the right balance of foods enhances and optimizes the benefits of relaxation. It also gives provides an expectant mum with more energy to move around and still do most of her normal activities while carrying the added weight of the baby. Given these benefits there is an increased possibility of a straightforward birth.

Actually, the benefits of a well-balanced diet must be established even before the pregnancy begins. To women who plan on getting pregnant, following the pregnancy nutrition advice not only ensures excellent health for conception, it also increases your chances of conceiving. The good news is that valuable pregnancy nutrition tips are available from a number of sources. Aside from shopping for baby clothes, these materials make wise investments for they will guide you on the things you need to know to take care of your baby.

No doubt pregnant women will be the target of an experimental vaccine campaign, as well as the CDC-recommended aggressive use of antiviral drugs.  Many women are reluctant to take such risks for their unborn child.  The CDC is arguing that the risks to them outweigh any risks to the child.  This will be a tough decision for many pregnant women.

The reason pregnancy is a risk is because a mother’s immune system is down-regulated during that time so as not to reject the fetus.  This needed lessening of immune function also reduces anti-viral activity.

This is complicated by metabolic problems during pregnancy, such as higher blood sugar, higher blood pressure, or toxemia – all problems driven by improper leptin function.  These problems create energy inefficiency which further handicaps immunity.  Stress or simply doing too much also contribute to energy inefficiency.

Any pregnant woman should practice good hygiene, stay away from situations where she is likely to come into contact with sick people, and as a priority maintain a good energy level.

Your immune system needs energy to function properly and is certainly capable of doing this during pregnancy.  The combination of pregnancy and fatigue is what sets a person up for problems.