If you are pregnant, you need to be cautious with firecrackers, loud noises and all that rich food synonymous with Diwali. Okay, let us not scare you. If you are worried that the festive season may harm you or your baby one way or the other, worry not. Here Dr Meghana Sarvaiya, Consultant gynecologist and obstetrician, Cloudnine Hospital, Mumbai tells you how you can stay safe during Diwali and make the most of it.
1. Stay away from pollutants: Diwali is that time of the year when your entire house gets a face-lift or a renovation to look sparkling clean. This means getting rid of the dust, soot or even painting the walls. This makes your home a refuge for pollutants, dust mites and allergens that float freely in the air. These can trigger a breathing problem, allergy or even symptoms of asthma, given your low immunity level. So be careful, if at all you need to paint your walls, do one room at a time so you are saved from the smell and allergens of residual dust and paint. Cover your face and nose while you dust and clean your house. A respiratory infection, especially during the first trimester, is dangerous as it can impact the fetus too. Here are few things that you should be aware off during your pregnancy.
2. Limit your household chores: Remember, pregnancy is the time when your body undergoes a lot of changes — your belly bulges out, your center of gravity shifts and your ligaments loosen to help your body prepare for labour. This isn’t an ideal time to do chores that involve a lot of bending, twisting, turning, lifting weights or moving heavy loads. These things can do you a lot of harm – hurt your back, lead to a slip, fall or also harm your baby. With your belly bulging out you would find it difficult to look at things scattered on the ground, so take small steps even at your home. Here are 26 tips to save yourself from a fall when you are pregnant.
3. Beware of crackers: Yes, this is one thing that you should be worried about the most. Fumes from crackers are the most noxious and can trigger either allergy, respiratory problems or affect your lungs. The fumes contain carbon dioxide and nitrite oxide that could be fatal for the child too. Still if you want to have fun, watch the fireworks from a distance. Opt for the hand-held ones and limit to lighting either one or two. If possible, use the eco-friendly diyas and electric lighting at home to reduce pollution levels. If you are asthmatic or have respiratory problems, then it is better to stay away from crackers altogether.
4. Say no to noise pollution: Crackers bursting at every nook and corner can give you more than just headaches and shocks. While your baby is protected in your womb and sound waves that reach your baby has to pierce through many layers of skin and fat, it is you whose health is at stake. Too loud sounds like over 85 decibels can affect your hearing capacity and that beyond 110 decibels can also affect your baby. So stay indoors, keeping your doors and windows closed. Protect your ears with cotton balls to limit the impact of loud noises.
5. Eat healthy: This time of the year, you can go overboard with sweets and namkeens too. But it is better to keep a tab on your intake as you really don’t want to add extra calories and fat with less nutrition — it will do no good to either you or your child. So as a thumb rule, keep yourself hydrated. Drink water throughout the day and sip fresh fruit juices. Excess sweets can also develop gestational diabetes, so limit your sweet intake.
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