Caring for Yourself Dental Care Gums may become more spongy as blood flow increases during pregnancy. This causes them to bleed easily. A pregnant woman should continue to take care of her teeth and gums and go to the dentist for regular checkups. This symptom usually disappears after pregnancy. Most dental procedures are safe during pregnancy. In fact, if you have a toothache or loose filling it is recommended that you see your dentist before the problem becomes worse. If possible, have dental work completed after the first trimester of pregnancy. For routine fillings, crowns and root canals, a local anesthetic injection such as lidocaine, is safe. Cosmetic or elective dental procedures should be postponed until after delivery, if possible.
Saunas and Hot Tubs Prolonged exposure to very hot water and steam can harm your baby by raising your temperature. Therefore, you should avoid hot tubs and saunas while you are pregnant.
Alcohol Avoid alcohol while you are pregnant. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects and has been shown to cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems and mental retardation. The effects of even small amounts of alcohol on the unborn baby are not clear, so it is safest to avoid any alcohol during your pregnancy.
34
P r e n ata l C a r e
