Pregnancy: what do men need to change in their lifestyle?

In addition to nutrition and exercise, there are many other things that affect the health of a pregnant woman. Smoking or passive smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, including "not prohibited" ones, in particular medicinal plants, can affect the health of a pregnant woman and her child. By eliminating them, a man will protect his wife and child.

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Smoking

A woman who smokes during pregnancy can seriously harm her unborn child. Research has shown that the risk of intrauterine and infant mortality increases by more than 50% if a first-time pregnant woman smokes more than 1 pack of cigarettes per day.

Tobacco smoke contains many harmful substances. Inhaled cigarette smoke reaches the placenta and can reduce the oxygen supply to the fetus by more than half. Toxins in cigarette smoke constrict blood vessels, which can damage the placenta and reduce the rate of growth of the child. This problem is so serious that a warning for pregnant women is on every cigarette pack.

The substances a woman inhales when she smokes also reduce her body's ability to absorb certain vitamins and increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. Smoking can cause some birth defects, including heart defects and neural tube defects, particularly spina bifida.

Serious pregnancy pathologies are most common in women who smoke. The risk of developing placental abruption or placenta previa increases. There is also a risk of premature birth, premature rupture of membranes, and death of the fetus or child shortly after birth.

If a woman smokes, a man should encourage her to quit now. She should be supported in her efforts, but not forced to do so. A man can offer her treatment for nicotine addiction or a support group. See other options in the box below. A man should help his wife understand that her smoking may harm the baby.

EFFECTS OF PASSIVE SMOKING. Even if a woman does not smoke, passive smoking can cause problems. Inhaling smoke from someone else's cigarette increases the risk of having a low birth weight baby, which is not good for the baby.

If a man or someone close to him smokes, significant changes are needed. Smoking outside the home may not be a sufficient solution to the problem. Cigarette smoke contains microscopic particles that are carcinogenic (cancer-causing). These particles can settle on a smoker's hair, skin, and clothing, and they are shed every time he moves. They float in the air and can be inhaled by anyone nearby. Even if a person goes outside to smoke or smokes elsewhere, these particles can be brought into the home.

For the health of the baby, the woman, and the man, he should try to quit smoking now. It is not right to let someone smoke and then come to the couple's home. If a man cannot quit smoking, he should take some unusual measures to protect his wife and later the newborn baby from the harmful effects of cigarette smoke. Measures include taking a shower, washing his hair, and changing his clothes every time after a man smokes a cigarette to protect his wife and the developing baby from the harmful effects of passive smoking.

Use of medicinal plants during pregnancy

There are over 400 medicinal plants available today - many of them as preventatives for various diseases. They are sold in tablets, capsules, tinctures, teas and extracts in health food stores, pharmacies and other shops.

Many people assume that because these substances are “natural,” they are safe to use at all times. This is not entirely true. Some herbs are safe, and some are not. Before your spouse takes any of them, she should consult with her doctor. Although you both may think that herbs will help with morning sickness, prevent preterm labor, or other pregnancy-related problems, they may actually cause problems themselves.

Most herbs have not been fully studied for their effects on pregnancy, and their safety during pregnancy has not been proven. Some may be very dangerous for a pregnant woman or her growing baby, so make sure the herb is safe before your spouse starts taking it.

How a Man Can Help His Wife Quit Smoking

It is not easy for anyone to quit smoking. It is even more difficult for a pregnant woman, as she is worried about many things in her life and smoking can be a way for her to relax. But a smoking mother harms her unborn child. Here are some tips on how a man can help his wife quit smoking.

Keep your fingers busy with something, such as a marble, and keep your mouth busy with something, such as chewing gum or a low-calorie food.

Ask your wife not to buy cigarettes, but to "bum" them from someone (if a woman has to "bum" every cigarette, this may stop her).

You can put the money you save on cigarettes into a piggy bank and use it to have lunch together or buy something for your child.

A man might give his wife a baby's knitted shoe or a copy of an ultrasound image of the baby and ask her to carry it with her as a reminder of why she should not smoke.

A man should encourage his wife to call him or someone close to her whenever she feels she needs a smoke.

Herbal teas

Herbal teas are considered safer than other herbal remedies because their active ingredients are present in lower concentrations. Many herbal teas are sold in grocery stores; others are hard to find and should be purchased from health food stores.

Some herbal teas can help relieve various discomforts associated with pregnancy. This makes herbal teas a good alternative to coffee or regular tea. The following herbal teas are safe to drink during pregnancy:

• chamomile - helps digestion
• dandelion - against swelling and relieves stomach pain
• ginger root - against nausea and stuffy nose
• nettle leaves - rich in calcium, iron and other vitamins and minerals
• Peppermint - prevents gas and soothes stomach pain
• red raspberries - good against nausea

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy

Whenever a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her baby - the more the woman drinks, the more the baby "drinks." Even amounts of alcohol that would only make an adult slightly drunk are harmful to the unborn child. The fetus cannot process alcohol as quickly as an adult, so alcohol stays in its blood longer. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy poses a significant risk to the fetus. Moderate alcohol consumption can lead to miscarriage or premature birth and spina bifida.

The best advice we can give pregnant women is to not drink alcohol of any kind. It sounds harsh, but it is the only way a woman can be sure that she is protecting her growing baby from the effects of alcohol. Drinking as little as 2 glasses a day can cause two conditions: fetal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol syndrome. Both result in abnormal fetal development.

Taking medications with alcohol increases the risk of fetal harm. The most dangerous are analgesics, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants. Other medications that you think are alcohol-free may contain it. Many "folk" cough and cold remedies and some mouthwashes contain alcohol - up to 25%!

A man should convince his wife not to use any alcohol-containing drugs during pregnancy. If necessary, a man can also give them up. And together with a change in diet and exercise, achieving this goal will be beneficial for the marital relationship and for each of the spouses. You should remember that this is for the health of the child.

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Drug use

Drugs can have a significant impact on pregnancy. A woman who actively uses drugs during pregnancy experiences a wide range of problems. These include nutritional deficiencies, anemia, preeclampsia, and fetal growth abnormalities.

If a woman uses any drugs, even occasionally, a man must convince her to stop now. The life of his child is at risk. Below are substances that are dangerous for a growing child.

Using marijuana during pregnancy can cause problems in the unborn baby, including poor alertness, memory problems, and decision-making problems.

Central nervous system stimulants such as amphetamine increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, signs of addiction, malnutrition, seizures and other problems.

Tranquilizers, such as benzodiazepines (Valium and Librium), increase the risk of birth defects.

Drugs, particularly morphine, Demerol, heroin, and codeine, can cause preeclampsia, premature birth, fetal growth abnormalities, and drug dependence in the newborn. The risk of infant mortality syndrome (IMS) in children whose mothers used drugs during pregnancy is 10 times higher than in children whose mothers did not use drugs.

Mind-altering drugs such as LSD, mescaline, hashish, peyote, and ataxiapine (angel dust) are believed to cause abnormal embryonic development.

Cocaine use is harmful to pregnancy because the user may eat and drink too little, which can have serious consequences for the fetus. Cocaine use can be associated with miscarriage, premature birth, bleeding, placental damage, and birth defects. Cocaine can harm the baby even if taken as early as 3 days after conception!

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