If you are having addiction or dependency problems with recreational drugs such as cocaine or marijuana, it is advisable to seek addiction counseling and treatment before you become pregnant. Drug abuse may affect your baby directly by entering the babys body or indirectly by affecting your health and/or your ability to care for your baby when born. Remember too that drug dependence is not limited to the use of street drugs but can also involve common medications such as pain relievers.
STEP 7: AVOID WORKPLACE EXPOSURES TO DANGEROUS CHEMICALS
If you are employed in a workplace where you may be exposed to chemicals, it is important to seek counseling about what is safe and what is not. Exposure to chemical solvents and heavy metals can pose a risk to your baby. The ones you have probably heard the most about are carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, lead, mercury, and organic solvents.
STEP 8: SEEK PROPER TREATMENT OF MATERNAL MEDICAL CONDITIONS
If you suffer from a medical condition, this is the time to ensure that you are treated well with medications that are safe for the fetus. You should discuss whether pregnancy will affect your medical condition and vice versa.
Excerpted from The Complete Guide to Everyday Risks in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Answers to your Questions About Morning Sickness, Medications, Herbs, Diseases, Chemical Exposures and More, by Dr. Gideon Koren, MD. (Robert Rose Publishers, $17.95, Trade Paperback, ISDN: 0-7788-0084-9
Dr. Gideon Koren is the founding director of the Motherisk program at The Hospital for Sick Children. He is Professor of Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Medicine, and Medical Genetics at the University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario. He is the author of 800 peer-reviewed scientific papers and editor of over a dozen medical books, the Editor in Chief of the journal Therapeutic Drug Monitoring-Clinical Toxicology, and the new Journal of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome International and Senior Scientist of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. A resident of Toronto, Dr. Koren is a much sought-after speaker and lecturer around the world. He has received numerous national and international awards for his work on drug safety. He serves as the Chair of the NIH review panel for Obstetric Pharmacology Research Units, and The Hospital for Sick Children's Foundation Scientific panel on Pediatric Complementary and Alternative Medicine. In 2000 Dr. Koren created the Canadian Research Network for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome ("FACE"-Fetal Alcohol Canadian Expertise).
About the Motherisk Program
Recognized throughout the world, the Motherisk program at The Hospital for Sick Children provides counseling based on the most up-to-date information on substances or environmental factors that can cause birth defects. Its the largest program of its kind worldwide, and to date has counseled over a half million women, their families, and health professionals.
To learn more about the Motherisk program and Dr. Koren, go to www.Motherisk.org .
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