10 Pregnancy Risk Factors that Every Pregnant Woman Should be Aware of

Many factors affect the development of a fetus intoacid. Lack of folic acid can cause birth defects. At
a healthy child, some which are beyond your controlleast 400-1000 micrograms of this B vitamin is
and others that are within your control. Here are tensuggested (about ten times more if you've already
of the most common pregnancy risk factors that canhad a child with neural tube birth defects) starting
be controlled or influenced:Smoking - Smoking is notone month before pregnant and throughout the
only bad for you, but bad for your baby as well.entire pregnancy. Leafy vegetables, orange juice, and
Smoking during pregnancy reduces the amount ofbeans are some natural sources of folic acid. Many
oxygen that the baby receives and increases the riskstores sell vitamins with folic acid. Exercise -
of miscarriage, bleeding, and morning sickness.Moderate exercise is helpful as it improves the
Chemicals inhaled while smoking may lead to othermother's mental state and can increase oxygen flow
health problems with the baby. Reduced birth weight,to the fetus. However, over-exertion can be
premature birth, increased risk of SIDS, and stillbirthdangerous. Most experts recommend reducing your
are other possible consequences. Pregnant womenexercise intensity during pregnancy. Activities like
should also avoid second hand smoke. Alcohol -walking, swimming, and yoga are popular for
Drinking can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, includingpregnant women. Prenatal Care - Regular doctor
symptoms like low birth weight, medical problems,visits are important to your baby's development. The
and behavior abnormalities. As soon as you know youbody undergoes many changes during pregnancy.
are pregnant, stop drinking. For more detailedSome side effects may be completely normal,
information on problems that can be caused bywhereas other may not. Regular monitoring by a
alcohol, visit Caffeine - There are many conflictingprofessional will help ensure that your baby will be
studies about caffeine and pregnancy and someborn healthy. Multiple sex partners - Multiple sex
believe that caffeine is not as harmful as it was oncepartners can increase risk of STD's, which in turn
thought to be. Nevertheless, the FDA warns againstmay lead to birth and pregnancy complications, like
caffeine consumption during pregnancy and suggestslow birth weight or premature birth. Exposure to
quitting or reducing consumption at the very least.chemicals - During pregnancy, reduce exposure to
Caffeine has been shown to affect fetal heart ratesunnatural chemicals, particularly pesticides in food.
and awake time (fetuses grow when sleeping).Many people now eat organic produce, which is
Decaffeinated coffee can also be harmful sincegrown without chemicals. The simplest precaution to
producers often add additional chemicals to removetake before consuming vegetables or fruits is to
the caffeine. Caffeine can also increase risk ofwash them thoroughly. Also, removing the outer
stretch marks. Suddenly quitting coffee intake cansurface of vegetables can be helpful since most
cause headaches; so most experts recommendpesticides will rest on the outside of the vegetable or
gradually reducing the amount consumed. Drugs andfruit. Other factors - Many other factors can affect
Herbal Remedies - Always be careful about drugs orfetal development, including heart disease, the
herbal remedies that are not prescribed by a doctor.mother's age (before 15 years and after 35 years is
These substances may affect the development ofriskier), asthma, excessive stress or depression,
your unborn child. Nutrition - Good nutrition is crucialdiseases, and bleeding. Consult your physician if you
to a developing child, particularly getting enough folicare affected by any of these conditions.