Pregnant with fear

Modern man may be more than 50,000 years old, but few things intrigue the human race as much as pregnancy.

You can tell by the numerous old wive’s tales and countless myths that relate to the process of procreation and all that goes into bringing a brand-new human being into the world.

Little wonder, then, that a pregnant woman is the most paranoid person out there, panicking over every little thing that she imagines could harm her baby. That also explains why a newly-pregnant woman seeking advice from more experienced mothers is bombarded with what seems like a long list of commandments, most of them starting with “thou shall not”.

Yet, while pregnancy is unlike anything else a woman will ever experience, those nine months do not have to be some sort of self-imposed prison where anything remotely resembling fun is prohibited.

But paranoia is not all bad, and pregnancy certainly does call for due diligence. Today we explore some legitimate pregnancy threats that science has managed to find in the most bizarre places, and try to demystify miscarriages:

1. Bottled water in the sun: Have you ever received that text that warns about the danger of drinking bottled water that has been left in the sun? In the typically alarmist nature of mass-forwarded messages, the text goes on to say how this water could potentially cause breast cancer because of toxins released when the chemicals in the bottle react with heat. Do not be so quick to write it off, though, because the warning is half-right and should be taken seriously, especially if you are pregnant or are trying to conceive.

While drinking sun-warmed bottled water may not cause cancer, it could cause a miscarriage. A study released in October 2013 by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine shows that most plastic bottles and containers contain a harmful chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to miscarriages and infertility. High levels of BPA were found to increase the risk of a miscarriage by up to 80 per cent.

So where does the sun factor come in in BPA exposure? Heating containers that contain BPA stimulates the release of the chemical into the food or drink, from where it is easily absorbed into the body, disrupting the reproductive system and causing infertility. Entirely avoiding BPA is impossible since this chemical has been incorporated into everyday household utensils such as plates, cups, and other food containers, making it easy to ingest.

BPA is also found in metal cans, where it is used as a coating element. So that means you should also not leave your canned soda out in the sun and drink it either. Oh, and you are not safer leaving the kitchen and going out shopping because the toxin has also been detected in cash register receipts. The most you can do is try to minimise consumption of canned foods, avoid heating food in plastic containers, or pouring very hot food into plastic cups or bottles, at least until after you get pregnant and the baby arrives safely.

2. Chemicals in plastics, detergents, and deodorants: Another common anti-fertility villain is phthalates, a group of chemicals found in detergents, body lotion, deodorants, industrial chemicals, as well as children’s toys. Phthalates are also present in plastics, where they are used to make them flexible and harder to break. While they have no effect on a woman’s reproductive function, the same ASRM study found that they caused decreased fertility in men by up to 20 per cent.

Speaking at the launch of the report, ASRM president Linda Giudice observed: “Many studies on environmental contaminants’ impact on reproductive capacity show that high levels of exposure affect them negatively. These studies extend our observations to the general population and show that these chemicals are a cause for concern to all of us.”

3. Faulty microwaves: A lot has been said about the danger of using microwaves while pregnant. While there has been no concrete proof that microwave ovens affect an unborn child in any way, like most rumours, this one too is based on some truth. It has been found that faulty microwaves, especially those that do not close properly, leak radiation into the environment, which if absorbed by the body, can lead to health problems.

Dr Francis Githae, a gynaecologist at Aga Khan University Hospital, says the correlation between microwaves and miscarriages is unproven, and so he would go “with the general advice of caution and avoidance of faulty devices”.

He, however, advises that pregnant women who work with radiation machines have a bigger cause for worry. “It is best that these women avoid areas where ionising radiation is present, for example X-ray and CT scans,” warns the doctor. Indeed, tests that require ionising radiation are avoided in the first trimester and, if absolutely necessary, the foetus is shielded by placing a lead sheet on the mother’s body.

Rather than worry about imagined risks presented by the microwave, a pregnant woman could make better use of her time by faithfully attending her prenatal visits and getting the best possible advice from her health practitioner.

In fact, a couple looking to get pregnant should start visiting the doctor for pre-conceptual counselling, which is important in case they need to make any lifestyle changes that may hinder conception or pose a threat to getting a healthy child.

“Going to hospital if you are planning to have a baby helps the doctor to identify and optimise control of medical problems such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes that may stand in the way of a healthy pregnancy,” says Dr Githae. “However,” he adds, “we know that most pregnancies are unplanned, so medical advice should be sought as soon as one finds out she is pregnant.”