Taking Drugs While Pregnant

The information source on drug usage while pregnant and to become pregnant

Archive for August, 2009

sunnydaylSunshine, not food, is where most of your vitamin D comes from. So even a healthy and well balanced diet, that provides all the other vitamins and nutrients, is unlikely to provide enough vitamin D. To get enough vitamin D you need to spend some time outside with some bare skin on most days during the summer months.

How is vitamin D different to other nutrients?

You make vitamin D under your skin when you are outside in daylight, which is the reason vitamin D is sometimes called the sunshine vitamin. By definition, a vitamin is a nutrient that we cannot make in our body. Vitamin D is actually a hormone rather than a vitamin. Very few foods contain vitamin D naturally.

What does vitamin D do in your body?

Vitamin D makes sure you absorb enough calcium for your bones and teeth. Even if you have a calcium-rich diet, without enough vitamin D you cannot absorb calcium into the body. Its importance as a hormone is also being recognised. It helps maintain a healthy immune system and reduces the risk of some forms of cancer. Population studies suggest that lack of vitamin D may increase the risk of chronic health conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

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pregnant at workWorking with Chemicals

Inhalation is the most common route of exposure to chemicals in the typical University working environment. The use of safe work procedures and facilities such as local exhaust ventilation will provide protection. Skin absorption and ingestion are generally less significant routes of exposure, provided safe work procedures are observed. Everyone is required to use appropriate safe work procedures in accordance with the applicable Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) when handling chemicals.

Exposure to chemicals at levels below recognized exposure limits should not present a risk to you or your foetus during pregnancy or while breast feeding, however once you know you are pregnant, you are encouraged to advise your supervisor, or the UWA Medical Centre or your own medical practitioner as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about a chemical you are using, or the procedures for its safe use during pregnancy or while you are breast- feeding, you should seek advice straight away.

Working with Animals

If you work with animals you have an increased risk of acquiring infections from these animals. While maintaining safe work procedures can reduce the risk of infection, special care must be taken to prevent infections that could have serious effects on foetal development. For example, cats may harbour Toxoplasma gondii while pregnant sheep may carry Chlamydia psittaci. If you work with cats or sheep, or with any animal that you may feel may adversely affect your pregnancy, you should seek advice straight away. Read the rest of this entry »


zygoteWhen you are trying to get pregnant you would assume that predicting ovulation and getting pregnant are one in the same, but you need to know the biological foundation of what actually maximizes your probability of conceiving. Here are some facts you should know when trying to conceive (with medical references).

1. Finding your 4 most fertile days before ovulation makes all the difference.

According to an article published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine, “Proper identification of the fertility window may shorten the time to conception from 6 months to one month for the majority of women.” (3 out of 4 women).

If you have been trying to get pregnant, ask yourself one question: are you sure that you are utilizing your entire fertile window or are you like many couples-“saving up for that one day that you plan to have intercourse”? Reproductive Endocrinologists agree that conception is possible from intercourse beginning 5
days before ovulation extending through the day of ovulation, and that the highest probability of conception occurs with intercourse on the days prior to ovulation, rather than the day of ovulation itself. Since sperm may survive for up to 6 days in the female reproductive tract. You should be having intercourse those days when trying to get pregnant.

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