5 Safety Tips to Follow during Pregnancy

Don’t Ask TikTok 

Can you take omeprazole? Is it true that a hot bath isn’t actually dangerous? Didn’t someone say you can’t sleep on your back if you’re pregnant? If you’ve been pregnant, you’ve probably had the same thought—especially that first one about the omeprazole. If you have those questions, you need to speak to a licensed medical professional, not TikTok. Anybody can get on TikTok, Reddit, or Facebook and say anything they want without any thought to whether or not it’s true. If you have questions about which medications you can take, whether or not you can eat deli meat, or whether or not the heating pad is safe, you need to ask your OB, not social media platforms. Your medical advice should come from a licensed professional who is familiar with your specific medical history and who can give you tailored advice. 

Watch Out for Food Poisoning 

During pregnancy, food poisoning can be especially dangerous to a developing fetus or embryo. When it comes to avoiding food poisoning, it’s important to check the expiration dates first. Different expiration dates can mean different things based on how they’re worded. For instance, there’s a difference between “use by” and “sell by.” If something looks funny, tastes funny, or smells funny, don’t eat it regardless of what the expiration date says on it. Not all food poisoning is serious. Sometimes, it’s just an unexpected trip to the bathroom—but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be careful about avoiding food poisoning, especially while you’re pregnant. In serious cases, food poisoning can cause birth defects and/or miscarriages, so it’s important to take reasonable precautions to avoid food poisoning. Some medical professionals recommend that their patients avoid certain foods that are likely to cause food borne illnesses. If you are pregnant, and you’re wondering which foods to avoid, talk to your OB. 

The #1 Cause of Death Is Homicide 

The #1 cause of death amongst pregnant women is homicide. If you are pregnant and in an abusive relationship, it is important to take reasonable precautions to keep yourself safe and your unborn baby safe. No two abusive relationships are alike. Therefore, it is not possible to comment on the best way for any one person to stay safe in an abusive relationship. However, it may be a good time to begin considering your personal safety if you are in a relationship where there is a very real threat to your physical safety. Getting together an exit plan, building your support network, researching resources for leaving may be appropriate. In many cases, the most dangerous time in an abusive relationship is when the victim of abuse leaves the relationship. Therefore, victims of abuse need to think about their exit plan very carefully in order to maximize their safety.  

Be Careful with Your Workout Routine 

The gym offers a lot of benefits, especially when you’re pregnant. However, your workout routine might be a little different now than it was before you got pregnant. This is especially true once you’re in the third trimester and your belly really starts getting in the way. Like all things, you’ll probably see a lot of information online about what you can do, shouldn’t do, etc. While the internet has a lot of information, not all of it is helpful, accurate, or relevant to your situation. It’s important to discuss your workout routine and any concerns with a medical professional who’s familiar with your medical history and can give you accurate information based on your current situation.  

Consider Getting a Blood Pressure Monitor 

Preeclampsia is a blood-pressure condition that develops in pregnant women, typically after around 20 weeks, although it is possible to develop preeclampsia earlier. If you have symptoms, you may not notice them, or the symptoms could be mistaken for regular pregnancy symptoms. For example, swelling is a symptom of preeclampsia, but it can also just be a symptom of pregnancy. One of the most common symptoms of pre-eclampsia is a sharp increase in blood pressure. Some OBs recommend that their patients begin taking their blood pressure regularly after around 20 weeks in order to reduce the patient’s risk of being rushed to the emergency room. You may want to ask your OB if s/he recommends that you get a blood pressure monitor for at home readings.  

When You Need Legal Advice 

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