| Having a baby is no small task. There are many | | | | increased chance of mental retardation and learning |
| different things that one must think about when bringing | | | | disabilities. Smoking has even more palpable effects, |
| children into the world, especially in the complex society | | | | as it tends to lower birth weight, increase chances of |
| that we live in today. You almost immediately have to | | | | premature birth, and limb reductions/malformations. |
| start saving for the child's college tuition, insurance, | | | | Unless you want to risk having a baby that will suffer |
| doctor's bills, clothes, diapers, food; the list goes on and | | | | from these negative effects, I would refrain from |
| on. One of the most important things before all of this | | | | drinking alcohol and smoking while pregnant. |
| is making sure that the delivery process goes well. In | | | | 2. Over-the-Counter Drug |
| preparation, you must make sure that you have the | | | | Drugs that you can buy at the convenience store |
| correct facilities in place and that the mother carrying | | | | seem to be relatively harmless, but can actually be |
| the child in is good health. The amount of involvement | | | | detrimental to the baby's health. Properly prescribed |
| required can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have | | | | drugs are the 4th leading cause of death in the United |
| to be. | | | | States. The effects of over-the-counter drugs depend |
| There are a few basic things that must be understood | | | | on dosage and the amount of time they are ingested |
| in order to ensure that you and your family will | | | | during the gestation period. If abused, these drug can |
| experience a pleasant birthing experience. Staying | | | | force an unwanted abortion. |
| away from the dangers and gravitating toward healthy | | | | Things to Attempt: |
| habits is usually the best thing you can do. We will | | | | 1. Physical Fitness |
| examine some of the things on both sides of the coin | | | | It is important that the birthing mother have strong |
| so that you can be well-informed on how to deep you | | | | muscles to support the birth. This will decrease the |
| and your family safe. | | | | likelihood that trauma and birthing difficulty will occur. |
| Things to Avoid: | | | | Exercise frequently with the help and guidance of a |
| 1. Alcohol and Smoking | | | | doctor. |
| This may seem obvious, but the dangers of alcohol | | | | 2. Employ a Midwife |
| and smoking cannot be stressed enough. The negative | | | | Employing a midwife is important because the |
| effects of both will extend to the infant with | | | | experience will be less stressful on the mother and the |
| monumental implications. It has been shown that alcohol | | | | neonate. |
| hinders brain growth and development with an | | | | |