Clinics or classes can help with questions about the best foods to eat, ideal weight gain, good exercise, etc. Alcohol, smoking, caffeine and drugs can all affect the health of a pregnant woman and the fetus. Drinking can cause birth defects, mental retardation, and low birth weight. This includes beer and wine as well as hard liquor such as rum or gin Smoking can lead to a higher risk of miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight, as well as more problems at and after birth. Children who grow up around smokers are sick more often than children of non-smokers.
Most people know that street drugs like cocaine can seriously harm a fetus.
But many people don't know that prescription drugs and many non-prescription medications can also affect the fetus. All rights reserved.