Lead poisoning is caused by breathing or swallowing lead. Lead can pass from a mother to her unborn baby.

Toxoplasmosis  is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasmosis can be spread in several ways:

If you do not want to get pregnant, there are many birth control options to choose from. No one product is best for everyone. The only sure way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs or STDs) is not to have any sexual contact (abstinence).

Many pregnant women take prescription medicines for health problems like diabetes, asthma, seizures, heartburn, and morning sickness. Other women take medicines before they realize they are pregnant.

A mother traveling with her breastfeeding infant or child may find that nursing makes travel easier than it would have been with a bottle-fed infant or child.

Health professionals agree that human milk provides the most complete form of nutrition for infants, including premature and sick newborns. However, there are rare exceptions when human milk is not recommended.

While breastfeeding is the recommended method of infant feeding and provides infants with necessary nutrients and immune factors, breast milk alone does not provide infants with an adequate intake of vitamin D.

Pregnancy is an altered state of health that requires special considerations. With careful preparation, however, most pregnant women are able to travel safely.

Folic acid (also known as vitamin B9) is very important for the development of a healthy foetus, as it can significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs), such as spina bifida.

There has been a world-wide increase in the prevalence of women working during pregnancy. In 1995 in the UK, 66% of women of working age were in employment. This figure had risen to 69% by 200026 and continued to rise. In 2004, seasonally adjusted figures for the spring quarter showed that 45% of the employed population were women.

Working in an area where you regularly breathe secondhand smoke during pregnancy can increase your chances of having a baby with low birthweight. Here, you can learn more about secondhand smoke and what you can do to reduce your exposure for a healthier pregnancy.
What is secondhand smoke?

Working with anesthetic gases could increase your chances of having a miscarriage if the gases are not properly controlled. Here, you can learn more about anesthetic gases and what you can do to reduce your exposure for a healthier pregnancy.

Working in a noisy job when you’re pregnant can affect your hearing and increase your stress levels. When the noise level is very high, like a jackhammer or at a rock concert, it may increase your chances of having a baby with hearing problems. Here, you can learn more about noise at work and what you can do to reduce your exposure for a healthier pregnancy.

Exposure to excess heat at work could increase your chances of having a baby with a birth defect or other reproductive problems. Here, you can learn more about heat at work and what you can do to reduce your exposure for a healthier pregnancy.

Working at night and working long hours have been related to menstrual disorders, miscarriages, and preterm birth.

Nutritional fats are a vital component of our diet. In the past, the word "fat" was associated with negative health implications.

Apples are sandwiched between two cinnamon crumb layers for a delicious treat.

Folic acid is a B vitamin. Our bodies use it to make new cells. Getting enough folic acid is especially important during growth spurts and during pregnancy.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program

WIC is a nutrition program that provides nutrition and health education, healthy food, breastfeeding free of charge to women, infants and children up to age five who qualify. It is a Federal grant program.

Advice for pregnant women.

Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. Fish and shellfish contain high-quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children's proper growth and development. So, women and young children in particular should include fish or shellfish in their diets due to the many nutritional benefits.

List of Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

Because pregnancy affects your immune system, you and your unborn baby are more susceptible to the bacteria, viruses, and parasites that cause foodborne illness. Even if you don’t feel sick, some “bugs” like Listeria and Toxoplasma can infect your baby and cause serious health problems. Your baby is also sensitive to toxins from the food that you eat, such as mercury in certain kinds of fish.

Listeria is a type of bacteria found in soil, water, and sometimes on plants. Though Listeria is all around our environment, most Listeria infections in people are from eating contaminated foods.

Food safety is important for everyone – but it’s especially important for pregnant women. The information below is provided by FDA, It is designed to provide practical guidance on how to reduce your risk of foodborne illness.

People who sleep five hours or less a night may be at higher risk of developing high blood pressure or worsening already high blood pressure.

Getting good sleep isn’t just important for your energy levels—it is critical for your heart health, too. Learn how sleep is connected to heart health.

Your behaviors during the day, and especially before bedtime, can have a major impact on your sleep. They can promote healthy sleep or contribute to sleeplessness. 

We know that sleep is important.  The need for sleep is biologically similar to the need to eat and drink, and it is critical for maintaining life and health and for working safely. 

Extended hours of work

Extended work hours can affect the amount of time available for adequate sleep opportunity. It is important to monitor the amount of hours workers are doing each day.

To work safely, workers should be physically and mentally alert. This means that fatigue is a potential risk. Persons conducting a business and workers have a responsibility to manage fatigue at work.

What Causes Worker Fatigue?

Several factors including too little, poor quality or interrupted sleep over a period of time can cause fatigue. Fatigue is the body's signal that a rest period is needed. 

Risk factors for occupational fatigue include long work hours, a heavy workload, lack of sleep, environmental factors and medical conditions.

Fatigue is the state of feeling very tired, weary or sleepy resulting from insufficient sleep, prolonged mental or physical work, or extended periods of stress or anxiety. Boring or repetitive tasks can intensify feelings of fatigue.

Emotional intelligence is the capacity to understand and manage your emotions. The skills involved in emotional intelligence are self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.

Occupational stress has been a long-standing concern of the health care industry. Studies indicate that health care workers have higher rates of substance abuse and suicide than other professions and elevated rates of depression and anxiety linked to job stress.

The longer he waited, the more David worried. For weeks he had been plagued

by aching muscles, loss of appetite, restless sleep, and a complete sense of

Psycho-social risks and work-related stress are among the most challenging issues in occupational safety and health.