Avoiding Exposures from Toxic Substances

Oct 01 2007

From the time you stop using contraception, you should be cautious around potentially toxic substances. These include radiation, smoking, alcohol, and drugs-not only illegal ones, but also some over-the-counter and prescription medications. This might be the time to enroll in Nicotine Anonymous or join Alcoholics Anonymous, the health of your future baby is certainly a powerful motivation to stop harmful habits. The American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, or the local March of Dimes can refer you to a local program to help you stop smokingand other dangerous supplememts. If you regularly use medicines-whether prescription or over-the counter-discuss with your physician or midwife whether or not you should continue, discontinue, or change them. Do not make these decisions on your own. Most often, if you need medication, it is better for your developing baby that you receive treatment than suffer the consequences of not being treated. This is true even if the medication carries some risks to the fetus. For some illnesses, such as epilepsy, certain drugs are preferable to take in pregnancy. You may need some time to adjust to new medications and dosage schedules, so if you are on continuous treatment for any condition, you and your regular physician can use the pre pregnancy months to find the medication regimen that is best for you and your developing baby. Meanwhile, you can use birth control.

If you think you may be exposed to chemicals or other toxic substances at your workplace, you can ask for a copy of the Material Safet Data Sheet (MSDS) that your employer is required to keep on file. While this sheet will be unlikely to identify which workplace materials are reproductive or developmental hazards, you can bring it to your physician or midwife for review. Although you or your care provider may not be familiar with everything listed, a number of resources can provide up-to-date information. These include the local March of Dimes, Reprotox, an on-line database, and The Reproductive Toxicolog Center’s Clinical Inquiry Program. Your state may also have a hotline to call regarding reproductive hazards. Your physician or midwife should know how to contact this resource, if available.

Avoiding Exposures from Toxic Substances If you live or work in an old building with peeling paint, or use imported lead-glazed pottery for food storage or serving, you may be exposed to lead. Exposure can occur among workers in the following industries mining, welding, smelting, printing, painting, shipping, and automobile manufacturing. Working with storage batteries also poses a possible risk. Elevated blood levels of lead-above 10 micrograms per dL may be harmful to the developing fetus. If you are concerned about such exposure. Your practitioner can order a blood lead test before you become pregnant. The National Lead Information Center at 1-800-Leadfyi can provide useful information about lead removal.

It is wise to see your dentist before you start trying to have a baby. If you need X rays or treatments requiring medications, these can be accomplished before there is any possibility of fetal effects, however miniscule they may be. If you are already trying to get pregnant, and there is any possibility that you might be, you must inform the dentist or any other care provider of this. If you aren’t using birth control, then schedule your dental checkup when you have your period, so you can be reasonably certain that you are not yet pregnant. If you need X rays, insist on an abdominal shield. If your dentist recommends medication or surgical treatment, consider using birth control again until the treatment is completed, just to be extra safe.

If you are near or over 40, discuss having a mammogram with your physician or midwife. As mammography is not recommended during pregnancy and mammography may be difficult to read in breast-feeding women, it could be several years before your next opportunity. Be sure you are not yet pregnant when you have this X ray.