Pregnancy lifestyle advice e Flashcards
Name the general lifestyle advice that from be given to pregnant women.
Take folic acid 400mcg from before pregnancy to 12 weeks (reduces neural tube defects)
Take vitamin D supplement (10 mcg or 400 IU daily)
Avoid vitamin A supplements and eating liver or pate (vitamin A is teratogenic at high doses)
Don’t drink alcohol when pregnant (risk of fetal alcohol syndrome)
Don’t smoke (smoking has a long list of complications, see below)
Avoid unpasteurised dairy or blue cheese (risk of listeriosis)
Avoid undercooked or raw poultry (risk of salmonella)
Continue moderate exercise but avoid contact sports
Sex is safe
Flying increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE)
Place car seatbelts above and below the bump (not across it)
What are some features of fetal alcohol syndrome ?
Microcephaly (small head)
Thin upper lip
Smooth flat philtrum (the groove between the nose and upper lip)
Short palpebral fissure (short horizontal distance from one side of the eye to the other)
Learning disability
Behavioural difficulties
Hearing and vision problems
Cerebral palsy
What does smoking increase the risk of in pregnancy ?
Fetal growth restriction (FGR)
Miscarriage
Stillbirth
Preterm labour and delivery
Placental abruption
Cleft lip or palate
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
When are women safe to fly in pregnancy ?
The RCOG advises flying is generally ok in uncomplicated healthy pregnancies up to:
37 weeks in a single pregnancy
32 weeks in a twin pregnancy
After 28 weeks gestation, most airlines need a note from a midwife, GP or obstetrician to state the pregnancy is going well and there are no additional risks.
