Pregnancy - health risks

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Ultrasound in pregnancy

You should try to follow healthy habits from the time you are trying to get pregnant all the way through pregnancy. Do not smoke or use illegal drugs, and reduce or preferably eliminate alcoholic drinks. Talk to your physician about any medications you may be taking to see if they can affect your unborn baby. Eat a well-balanced diet.

If you have any chronic medical problems (such as high blood pressure, kidney problems, or diabetes), discuss pregnancy with your physician before trying to get pregnant.

Men need to be careful, too. Smoking and alcohol may cause problems with the unborn baby. Smoking and alcohol or marijuana use has also been shown to lower sperm count.

Review Date: 08/08/2005
Reviewed By: Sharon Roseanne Thompson, M.D., M.P.H., Clinical Fellow, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.