[C4EMD] Chapter Eight

[Note: This is the eighth chapter of my 2017 book, Cybertraps for Expecting Moms & Dads. It is available to paid subscribers of The Cybertraps Newsletter. The Introduction and Chapter One are available to all readers.]

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Once conception occurs and a fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus, a miraculous 9-month process begins. From the outset — and even beforehand, if possible — it is important to take reasonable steps to help protect the health and safety of your future child. Any competent pediatrician will provide you and your partner with a long list of dos and don’ts to promote a healthy and successful pregnancy, but here is a brief preview:

Make healthy food choices;
Take prenatal vitamins (particularly folic acid);
Exercise regularly;
Take sensible safety precautions (wear your seat belt and don’t
text!);
Avoid hot tubs and saunas;
Avoid unnecessary exposure to chemicals (the non-pregnant partner
can clean for a few months);
Get plenty of rest;
Avoid alcohol, drugs, and tobacco;
Monitor your weight gain;
Limit caffeine intake; and
Listen to your pediatrician or midwife.

What often gets overlooked, even by the most meticulous midwives or pediatricians, are the potential risks that the use of technology can pose to a pregnant woman and her unborn child. As with so many of the potential risks discussed in this book, there are varying levels of disagreement about the severity of the risk or whether it is a risk at all. At the very least, however, the following cybertraps are all important topics to discuss with your partner and with your health care provider(s).