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Eating Prawns During Pregnancy- Is It Safe?
Craving some delicious prawn dishes? Butter garlic prawns, prawn curry, stir-fried prawns dipped in sauce, prawn biryani, pepper prawns. The list goes on. Prawns belong to the crustacean group of sea creatures and are delicious. However, with many people suffering from allergic reactions to prawns, one wonders if eating prawns is safe during pregnancy.
Is it Safe to Eat Prawns When Pregnant?
While some seafood needs to be avoided during pregnancy, prawns are generally safe when procured from a non-polluted source and cooked thoroughly. However, during pregnancy, moderation is the key for every food you add to your list. Consuming prawns in excess or not adhering to certain precautions while consuming prawns can lead to adverse effects during pregnancy. In case of doubt, always consult your doctor before the consumption of any food item.
Health Benefits of Eating Prawns
Apart from being delicious, prawns are packed with minerals and vitamins essential for mommies-to-be.
Packed With Proteins
Prawns are an excellent source of proteins during pregnancy. Protein-rich foods help in stabilising blood sugar levels and keep gestational diabetes in check. Being low in calories and fat content, prawns will help you gain healthy muscle mass.
Rich in Vitamins
Prawns are a rich source of Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, iron, zinc, choline, iodine, copper, and phosphorus. Essential to improving immunity, thyroid function, and brain development, they are also helpful in the development of bones and teeth.
Rich in Other Nutrients
Prawns contain nutrients that are readily absorbed by our body and essential for our body to protect and heal itself. Selenium is an antioxidant that helps fight cell damage and protects against certain cancers. Amino acids help regenerate new cells and repair damaged cells. Astaxanthin has anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties. Prawns are rich in all these nutrients.
Low in Calories
During pregnancy, it is essential to gain healthy weight and get adequate nutrition. Prawns are low in calories and, thus, a healthier choice to add nutrition without consuming unnecessary fat.
Rich in Omega 3
This fatty acid is found abundantly in prawns. Studies have shown that it helps in developing the eyes and nerve connections in the foetus.
Should Prawns Be Avoided in Pregnancy?
As we just discussed, consuming prawns during pregnancy has several health benefits. However, it is still recommended that you check for the risks associated with consumption of prawns or any seafood with your doctor. If you are still unsure, start with small amounts and see how your body reacts to it. Your diet can then be changed accordingly. In any case, practice moderation and do not go overboard with any food. If your body accepts it, prawns can be very nutritious and healthy for both you and your baby.
Some pregnant women may face the risk of prawn allergy during pregnancy. Here are some risks associated with prawns during pregnancy and information on whether you need to be on your guard:
Cholesterol: Prawns are a rich source of cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, prawns may not be good for you or for the health of your unborn baby.
Allergy: If you have shown allergic reactions to a similar group of food, it is advisable to keep away from prawns. They can cause reactions that include abdominal pains, itchiness, rashes, and inflammation.
Mercury poisoning: Water pollutants and increased levels of toxic chemicals can create health problems if you consume prawns sourced from polluted waters. Prawns can absorb the pollutants into their body. Seawater prawns may contain a high level of mercury that can adversely affect the development of the baby’s nervous system. Contaminated river or lake waters contain high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls and pose a health risk to you and your baby.
Infection: It is always recommended that you consume cooked prawns when pregnant. Raw or undercooked prawns are extremely harmful and associated with multiple health risks like blood poisoning, food poisoning, or other harmful infection to your baby.
Tips While Eating Prawns When Pregnant
Always buy prawns from reliable and trusted sources. Ensure that they are thick and glossy; do not buy discoloured prawns or ones with shrunken eyes.
Avoid raw seafood preparations like sushi during pregnancy. Dried prawns during pregnancy are fine if they are thoroughly cleaned and cooked.
If you don’t have an option of fresh prawn, opt for good quality frozen ones and defrost them before cooking.
Ensure that they are cleaned properly before cooking. You may cook them with or without the shell. Cooking with veins or deveining them is a personal preference.
Clean and cook them thoroughly. Signs of well-cooked prawns include a red shell and pearly white or opaque flesh. You can soak them in a bowl of lukewarm salted water for about 10 minutes and wash them well.
Avoid restaurant served seafood.
Steam or sauté them till they are completely cooked. Make sure that the meat is firm and bouncy.
As long as prawns are eaten in moderation during pregnancy and sourced from reliable sources, there are unlikely to be any complications. If you experience any signs of discomfort or an allergy, immediately consult your doctor.
Also Read: Eating Fish in Pregnancy Read more
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Working In Night Shifts During Pregnancy- Is It Harmful
In today's competitive world where everyone is running a rat race, of course, women are also not behind. Thus, balancing work life while being pregnant is undoubtedly a challenge for every woman. As work life is equally important as family life, one of the most pertinent questions that arise in this context is: Is working night shifts during pregnancy harmful? Well, the answer to this question is that as long as you are conscious and careful, nothing is detrimental!
Can Pregnant Women Work in Nightshifts?
Managing work life while being pregnant can indeed be a challenge and working in night shifts can, unfortunately, be unavoidable sometimes. It is difficult for pregnant women to work in night shifts, the main reason being lack of sleep. A woman needs a lot of rest when pregnant and therefore working in night shifts can be harmful during this time.
Possible Health Risks of Working in the Night Shift While Pregnant
Is there a link between night shift and pregnancy risk? Below are some health problems that can be developed as a result of working the night shift.
1. Lack of Sufficient Sleep
Working the night shift can throw your sleep cycle out of sync, and you may end up getting lesser sleep than expected. This can affect your immune system which is already lowered due to the pregnancy. Also, studies have shown that poor quality of sleep can lead to issues like babies with low birth weight.
2. Change in Cardiac Rhythms
The heartbeat tends to slow down when one is asleep, following the usual discipline of the body. Lack of proper sleep hinders this body clock which is essential to maintain especially during pregnancy. Therefore, working in night shifts lead to change in cardiac rhythms in the body.
3. Stress and Anxiety Attacks
Working for long hours especially during the night shifts can trigger anxiety attacks and stress in pregnant women. This affects the health of the foetus and can increase the chances of its preterm delivery.
4. Miscarriages and Premature Birth
Studies have often shown that women who work for long periods, especially in night shifts, are at higher risks to suffer premature delivery of the baby and in worse cases, even miscarriages.
Precautions to Take While Working Night Shifts
Make sure that you don't stress yourself at work in any way as that is harmful to your baby. Prioritising or organising things might help you deal with things better.
Avoid standing for an extended period as an uncomfortable position might exert pressure on the foetus.
Keep your gynaecologist's phone number handy, lest an emergency may crop up.
Pregnancy itself can lead to vision problems, therefore avoid too much of work on laptops, computers, etc. as they stress your eyes even more.
Avoid exposure to excessive light or too dim light as it is known to cause stress in the eyes.
Make sure your sitting posture is comfortable. Sitting in an uncomfortable position while being pregnant can exert pressure on the foetus.
Keep your work light so that you don't exhaust yourself as that adds to your weakness during pregnancy.
Never starve yourself. Keep some healthy food such as fresh fruits to munch on when hungry.
Do not bend down, if you are in an advanced stage. If your work demands so, ask your colleagues for help. Stooping down or bending down is not good for the baby as it exerts a lot of pressure on your belly.
Do not indulge in a heated discussion. Try to keep your calm as much as possible as excessive stress is not suitable for your health during this time.
Try not to lift too much of weight as it can lead to premature birth or low birth weight of the foetus.
Drinking coffee during the night shift may be a great way to drive away sleep. However, studies have shown that consumption of excess caffeine can lead to miscarriages or low birth weight in babies.
Tips to Remember for Healthy Pregnancy
A good 8-9 hours’ sleep is essential during pregnancy. So, even if you are working for night shifts, make sure you catch up with the rest your body needs at other times of the day.
Try to carry some healthy food to work so that you don't have to depend on outside food when you are hungry. This would preferably be fresh fruits, cereals, etc. that is fit for eating during pregnancy.
If you feel sick or uncomfortable for some reason, do not hesitate to share it with your colleagues immediately. You might also call your family for that matter. Whatever is the problem, do not neglect it.
So, even if you can't avoid night shifts entirely during pregnancy, make sure you take good care of yourself and your baby. Try to keep people informed about your problem and don't hesitate to seek their help if required. Be a little alert and stay safe.
Also Read: Household Work During Pregnancy Read more
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My Personal Experience of Becoming a Mom
Yes, I know! I should have been prepared for this moment as I had precisely nine months /40 weeks oddly to prepare myself for D-Day.
Or maybe more than 9 months (counting the pre-natal stage too). Being a type-A personality and control freak, I had planned everything!
I read all possible pre-pregnancy & pregnancy books, so I knew what I was getting into. I had shortlisted my doctor post detailed analysis and reviews, visited her multiple times to check if she freaks out on me or gives me less attention or shortens my meeting time or worse avoid giving me an appointment. Luckily she passed all her critical analysis tests with flying colours. So step one was done on the checklist.
Then came the prenatal test and medicines. Basically preparing the body and making it healthy. So I took all the prenatal medicines on time like an alarm clock, followed a healthy diet, shredded some extra weight to gain weight and again lose weight later (confusing I know). Thinking of good thoughts, watching funny movies, suddenly becoming conscious of everything around, tracking periods, ovulation date, intimacy days and then desperately passing those few days before the next period due date to see those two parallel lines and finally yes I’m pregnant!
Yes been there, done that!
My life changed overnight. I was suddenly like this new protective soul who was extremely cautious. My daily routine changed, my work, my relationships, my priorities, everything changed. Nothing mattered more than the little one inside me. I was walking, talking, reading, eating, and breathing for my baby. I was a brand new person and I thought this is how being a mom feels like.
So the months passed like a roller coaster ride with a few ups and many downs and finally, it was the day when I was going to hold the little tiny monster in my arms who had been kicking me day and night inside out.
And then came the moment I was waiting for!
Meeting my baby for the first time, holding him tight in my arms. Feeling his breath against my bare chest and feeling his little fingers on my face. Listening to him crying out loud as if almost angry at the fact that why did you take me out from my cosy little place as I was happy and content there. Just had little space constraint but I was adjusting by pushing and kicking things away.
This was the most beautiful moment of my life. I wanted to tell him so many things like you the best thing that has happened to me and I will do everything in the world just to make you smile. I will move heaven and earth to keep you safe and I will always be with you no matter what! But at that moment the only thing I did was cry. Holding my baby for the first time in my hands and crying out loud along with him. Maybe it was my way of saying that I understand you already.
I had forgotten all about the pain I was feeling, the medicines made me drowsy, the freezing temperature of that operation room, some strange people around staring at me, all the pregnancy books information, all my checklists and dos n don’ts. Nothing mattered to me more than him. Not even me. It was all about him! My baby, my world. That's when I suddenly realised this is what it actually feels like to be a mother.
Oh my God! I’m a mom now!
Throughout our nine months of pregnancy period, all we think about is how to make ourselves ready for the future. But are we really ready until it happens? Well, this here was my personal experience of becoming a mom. I hope you like it. Please share your views and comments. It will be great to connect with the wonderful moms here.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
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Sarika gupta has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
13 hours ago
Q. Am craving to have a burger at McDonald’s. Am 15 week pregnant.
Is it safe to have
Sarika gupta
Mom of 2 children
2 hours ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much and it is better to avoid this at this time and also if you want to eat burger then it is better to make it a home . Thanks and take care
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
13 hours ago
Q. It's my 12th week of pregnancy but last night I noticed some bleeding. So, my doctor prescribed Duphaston for 2 weeks. Is there anything to worry about? Please guide me.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
12 hours ago
A. at present take rest and use medicines as advised by the doctor. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 3 months
6 hours ago
Q. I am 7 month pregnant with second baby I have severe abscess pain in armpit and buttocks pls tell me remedy for this ...Dr recommend antibiotics and ultracet pain tablet I have taken some doses of it but worried about the foetal development..does it hurt my baby
Read moreDr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
4 hours ago
A. You should have proper consultation with your treating doctor , as some examination or investigations may be needful, so that proper medications can be given And the treatment can be done very properly.
continue antibiotics regularly
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
42 mins ago
Q. Hello dr meri beti 6 days ki hai or use feed karwane ke bad nose or muh se milk bhar aa raha hai to aesa kyu kr rahi hai….me kya Dr ko dikhau kya???
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
39 mins ago
A. Hello dear parent! Keep your baby’s heart in a little elevated position while you’re breastfeeding. Burp your baby after every feed. Keep Babyhug tummy roll on handy. Consult your doctor for further assistance
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
29 mins ago
Q. #asktheexperts how to reduce belly fat after pregnancy and skin was loose .two year passes but problem is persist.How can reduce it
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
28 mins ago
A. For weight loss diet is good in intermittent fasting a good and but if your body is loose or you feel you really do tighten up your body then gymming or yoga both the things are going to be very good both the things are going to be helpful in tightening up your body and muscles at the same time but it is time consuming we just have to have patience
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 mins ago
Q. my baby is one month old and have cold symptoms. can I consume buttermilk?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
New Answer
A. Of course you can have butter milk and any of these things that you have specially now have it on room temperature never create a problem to you don’t have to have it directly from the refrigerator so best you can have whatever you would want like these things but have it on room temperature
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