Food and Medicines to Avoid During Surrogacy: Increase the Chances of a Successful & Healthy Pregnancy
Brave women all across this country and overseas decide to become a surrogate for a couple who can’t have children for one reason or another.
There are some guidelines and requirements that all highly rated surrogacy agencies, like Made In the USA Surrogacy, require before a prospective surrogate is matched up with her ideal intended parents. Prospective surrogates should determine to lead healthier lifestyles in an effort to increase the chances of having a normal, safe and healthy pregnancy.
Some basic lab work and a thorough health exam can help ascertain if a woman is a good candidate for becoming a surrogate at this stage in her life.
Women desiring to become someone else’s surrogate should begin living healthier simply by learning and practicing healthy eating.
Potential surrogates can find a Made in the USA Surrogacy’s surrogate agency by utilizing their computer’s search engines with words like “surrogacy near me” or “surrogacy Sacramento.”
In addition, prospective surrogates should also be aware of and avoid certain medications before and during her pregnancy to assure a healthy delivery of precious cargo.
Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy
While eating healthier is always preferred, some prospective surrogates wonder if there are any specific foods that they would normally eat that could be harmful to the baby.
With some common sense, a surrogate can practice healthy eating habits like the following:
- Eat fresh foods when possible, or organic food if budget permits
- Always wash fruits & vegetables before eating
- Avoid salt, processed foods, high sugar content, and sugar-laden drinks
- Eat in moderation, & always use the recommended portion control food servings
- Drink more water
Some foods and beverages to avoid include:
- Fish species higher in mercury
- Raw or uncooked fish & other seafood
- Raw eggs
- Uncooked or undercooked meats & poultry
- Vegetables & fruits that are unwashed
- Organ meats
- Beverages & foods with higher caffeine levels – coffee, tea or sodas
- Raw sprouts
- Anything unpasteurized – milk, cheeses, dairy products & yogurts
- Alcoholic beverages
- Any type of processed or “junk foods”
Dangers of Eating Above Foods/Beverages When Pregnant
There are some known dangers linked to eating the above-mentioned foods and beverages when pregnant. Raw fish, eggs, meats, and poultry carries the real risk of food poisoning due to these items likely to be carrying various bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.
Toxoplasma infections can occur after eating unwashed produce.
This harmful parasite can do great damage to an unborn child. Usually, the symptoms won’t be noticed right away after birth, but the baby can develop significant eye and possible brain problems down the road during childhood or even in their adult years.
The dangers of Toxoplasma infections to unborn babies can be severe. These bacteria often do not cause any symptoms in people who have good functioning immune systems.
If the mother is exposed to these bacteria while pregnant, there is a high risk that the bacteria will cross the placenta to infect the baby growing inside of the womb.
Some serious consequences an unborn child might face from being exposed to Toxoplasma bacteria in the womb include:
- Eye Problems esp. if exposed in the early trimester
- Brain Issues – intellectual challenges, cerebral palsy, seizures
- Hearing or Vision Loss
- Enlarged Liver & Spleen
- Pneumonia
- Jaundice
Other dangerous bacteria include E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria. Campylobacter is another harmful bacterium associated with drinking unpasteurized milk and juices.
Although salads seem like a perfect meal to eat when pregnant, using raw sprouts on salads poses a high risk of contracting Salmonella which can be life-threatening for the baby and even the mother.
Reasons Why Pregnant Women Should Avoid Caffeine
Most individuals consume caffeine in their day-to-day lives. Caffeine is a stimulant that can increase heart rate and blood pressure. This addictive substance is also a diuretic that stimulates more frequent urination that can lead quickly to dehydration.
Although most people feel fine after their usual morning cup of coffee, tea at lunch and soda later in the day, caffeine can cross the fragile placenta barrier impacting the vulnerable baby.
Since the baby hasn’t developed fully, the baby is generally unable to metabolize caffeine properly the way that adults do.
Even smaller amounts of caffeine during gestation can cause significant problems for the unborn baby. The unborn baby can experience too much stimulation causing faster heartbeats, disruption of the normal sleep/wake cycle and other unwanted issues.
Caffeine has been linked to lower birth weights, premature deliveries and other signs of fetal distress. Studies on animals using caffeine have shown increased incidents of birth defects as well.
Remember that caffeine is not just in coffee and tea. This ingredient is common in sodas, energy drinks, cocoa and in some over-the-counter headache remedy drugs.
For more tips on healthy eating and switching to a healthier lifestyle, consider using the keywords surrogacy near me and click on the blog tab.
The Risks of Drinking Alcoholic Beverages When Pregnant
Most people drink from time to time if not on a regular occurrence. There are some known risks of drinking any type of alcoholic beverages when pregnant that women should be aware of.
Alcohol use while pregnant can cause developmental type problems for the baby, and the baby could incur fetal alcohol spectrum disorders commonly termed FASD’s. These types of disorders include a wide array of learning, behavioral and physical problems that a baby could face.
Some studies appear to show that a small amount of wine might be alright when pregnant, but anyone thinking of becoming pregnant is cautioned to ask their fertility doctor for advice before indulging.
Medicines to Avoid to Increase the Chances of a Successful & Healthy Pregnancy
When a woman contacts a surrogate agency in California about wanting to become a surrogate, the agency will inquire about any medications that the woman takes.
Before stopping or starting any type of medication, prospective or pregnant surrogates should always get an expert medical opinion and dosing instructions first.
Many types of drugs can pass the placental barrier to the baby.
Some have known links to birth defects, low-weight babies and premature deliveries. Pregnant women should use great caution when taking any drug when pregnant including over the counter medicines.
The FDA oversees how prescription and some OTC drugs are presented to the public. There are strict guidelines on what the government requires on a medication label. When pregnant, it is important to ensure that the woman’s doctor is aware of every drug taken whether prescribed or bought OTC.
Some commonly used medicines that pregnant women should avoid include:
- Acne Medication – containing isotretinoin or Accutane
- Allergy medications of multiple kinds
- Warfarin – Coumadin & other blood thinners
- Prescribed Anti-Anxiety Meds – Xanax, Ativan
- Some Antibiotics – Tetracycline & Doxycycline
- Lithium – used for Bi-Polar Disorder
- Some Seizure Medications
- Ace-Inhibitors to treat high BP – Lisinopril
- Methotrexate – commonly used for Arthritis & Other Autoimmune Disorders Affecting Joints
- Certain anti-depressants such as Paxil unless cleared by a doctor
Other over the counter medications to be cautious of especially in the first trimester. These include:
- Guaifenesin – used in cold and/or cough medicines
- Phenylephrine or Pseudoephedrine – used in common decongestant meds
- Pepto-Bismol – treats stomach upsets
- OTC ibuprofen – Advil, Aleve, Naproxen & Motrin
Weigh the Advantages VS the Disadvantages for Medications Used When Pregnant
A pregnant woman and her doctor should carefully weigh the advantages versus the disadvantages of medication use.
Never begin or stop medication without your fertility doctor’s approval.
Can I Use My Preferred Vitamin Supplement Instead of Prenatal Vitamins?
Anyone considering becoming a surrogate should consult their doctor regarding the need for any specific type of prenatal vitamins before starting the supplements. Not all prenatal vitamins are created equal, and some fat-soluble vitamins and minerals can build up to become toxic and dangerous to health.
Health experts recommend only taking the prenatal vitamins that the woman’s doctor prescribes to avoid the many dangers of less or zero regulated supplements now flooding the market.
Fat soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K can cause serious harm in taking over the recommended dosage. This is because the body is unable to metabolize them completely if the person overdoses on them.
How to Find More Information on Becoming a Surrogate
Get more informative details regarding the process to become a surrogate by contacting our surrogacy agency and filling in this form.
