Patient's question:
I am pregnant now, but I had a natural miscarriage in May of this year. I am pregnant again now, and it is the one I want. Should I take measures to prevent miscarriage? Will I have another natural miscarriage if I don't take any measures?Doctor's answer:
Pregnant women should pay attention to the following six points in their daily lives:1. Avoid excessive tea consumption
Pregnant women should not drink too much or too strong tea because the caffeine (theophylline) in tea has a stimulating effect, which can increase fetal movement and even harm fetal growth and development.
2. Avoid excessive beverage consumption
Some beverages contain 2.4%–2.6% caffeine and other alkaloids like theobromine. If pregnant women consume them, they may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, and rapid heartbeat, which can affect the normal development of the fetus’s brain, heart, and liver, leading to congenital diseases in newborns.
3. Avoid excessive consumption of vinegar
Too much vinegar and acidic foods are one of the main causes of teratogenesis. In the first half month of pregnancy, a large amount of acidic foods can lower the body’s alkaline level, causing fatigue and weakness. Prolonged acidic can not only make the mother susceptible to certain diseases but also hinder the normal growth and development of the fetus, even leading to fetal malformations.
4. Avoid alcohol consumption
Alcohol contains ethanol, which has certain toxic effects on the brain, liver, and heart. It can pass through the placenta into the fetus, resulting in low intelligence, distinctive facial features, and stunted growth in newborns. Severe cases can lead to intellectual disabilities.
5. Avoid excessive consumption of hawthorn
Modern medical research has confirmed that hawthorn has a contracting effect on the uterus. If pregnant women consume large amounts of hawthorn or its products, it can stimulate uterine contractions, potentially leading to miscarriage in severe cases.
6. Avoid spicy seasonings
Consuming hot spices such as fennel, star anise, pepper, cinnamon, chili, and five-spice powder, as well as fried or stir-fried hot foods during pregnancy, can easily dehydrate the intestines and reduce the secretion of gastrointestinal glands, causing constipation. If constipation occurs, the mother’s straining during bowel movements can increase abdominal pressure, compress the fetus, and lead to discomfort, fetal malformations, premature rupture of membranes, miscarriage, or premature birth.
7. Pregnant women should eat spinach sparingly
Over 90 years ago, a printing error shifted the decimal point of spinach’s iron content one place to the right, leading people to believe that spinach is rich in iron and has blood-boosting properties, making it a popular supplement for pregnant women, children, and patients. In reality, spinach contains very little iron, with its main component being oxalic acid, which has a significant negative impact on zinc and calcium. Zinc and calcium are essential trace elements for the human body. A lack of zinc can lead to poor appetite and reduced taste sensitivity, while calcium deficiency in children may result in rickets, chest deformities, bowed legs, and delayed tooth growth. Excessive consumption of spinach during pregnancy is undoubtedly harmful to fetal development.