Yesterday I talked about the risks of not knowing you are pregnant, as is in the case of the women on the show I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant. I talked about the risks associated with continuing birth control or not taking prenatal vitamins during pregnancy. Turns out the risks associated with not taking prenatal vitamins are low if you are eating a well balanced diet. Taking birth control during pregnancy does pose a risk, but not in terms of birth defects.

Today I’m going to talk about the risks associated with drinking alcohol, smoking, and risky activity, such as vigorous exercise.

Continuing to Smoke and Drink
The risks of smoking and drinking during pregnancy are more well known than other factors. Smoking during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage, placental abruption, placenta previa, preterm birth, and stillbirth. Drinking during pregnancy is even more dangerous than smoking and can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Babies born to mothers who drank alcohol can suffer from mental retardation; learning problems, emotional and behavioral problems, heart defects, facial defects, and other birth defects involving various organs. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one of the most common causes of mental retardation.

Risky Activity or Vigorous Exercise
When it comes to exercise during pregnancy, one of your biggest risks is overheating. When you are not pregnant, pushing yourself to the limit is what it takes to get in shape. But when you are pregnant, it’s the last thing you should be doing. Overheating during the first three months of pregnancy can increase your risks for neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Overheating in the second half of pregnancy has been associated with low birth weight in animals. Other activities may pose a risk of trauma to the baby in later pregnancy due to the possibility of an accident. Activities that should be avoided during pregnancy include horseback riding, skiing, roller blading, and riding on roller coasters or bumper cars. These activities should especially be avoided during the second and third trimesters.

The list of everyday activities that pose a risk to pregnant women goes on and on. From hot tubs to litter boxes, there are dozens of activities that pregnant women avoid. Not knowing you are pregnant is risky because you could expose yourself to things that might cause complications. It’s no wonder so much extensive testing is done to the mothers and babies after delivery when the mother did not know she was pregnant!