Maternal Health and Safety

Maternal health refers to the health of women throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.  

pregnant woman meditation in half lotus position

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Each step of the child-bearing journey should be a positive experience, ensuring that you and your newborn reach your full health and well-being potential. Maternal health and safety protect the mother and the baby’s health and the future. 

Having children is natural and should be a healthy positive experience for all mothers. Maternal health and safety help mothers have a healthier pregnancy. They also have safe childbirth, fewer complications, and improved future health and life expectancy. A healthy pregnancy supports the baby’s well-being and fosters lifelong health.

In this article, we discuss maternal and infant health during and after pregnancy.

Maternal health at work

Being pregnant is not a disease. Many women work during pregnancy and then resume their jobs after giving birth. Working while pregnant is generally not dangerous in and of itself, except for the period right before and following childbirth.

That said, it’s important to note that some aspects of pregnancy can affect a woman at work. There can be complications during or after the pregnancy, and there may be things at work that put the woman or the child at risk.

Physical workplace hazards during pregnancy include heavy lifting, prolonged standing or sitting, vibration exposure, and toxic chemicals like mercury and pesticides

Substance abuse

Using alcohol and illegal drugs during pregnancy threatens the health of your unborn baby. So does inappropriately using legal drugs. Chemicals you consume or breathe into your lungs when using alcohol or drugs pass the placenta and enter your unborn child. This puts your baby at risk for such problems as stillbirth, low birth weight, birth defects, behavioral problems, and developmental delays.

Illegal drugs

Many women who use illegal drugs also smoke and drink alcohol. As a result, distinguishing the effects of one substance from those of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs is not always easy. 

According to the World Health Organization, Consuming illegal substances while pregnant is extremely risky. Babies born to mothers who use drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine are more likely to be physically, mentally, and emotionally affected.
Mothers who use drugs are at a higher risk of contracting HIV, which they can then transmit to their unborn child.

According to studies by WHO guidelines for the identification and management of substance use and substance use disorders in pregnancy, the consequences of drug usage during pregnancy may not be observed until later in childhood. 

Alcohol abuse

Your infant drinks alcohol just like you do. To reduce the likelihood of giving birth to a child with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), pregnant mothers should abstain from alcohol consumption. FASD is associated with numerous negative consequences that can arise from alcohol exposure during pregnancy. 

There are possible mild to severe consequences of alcohol abuse during pregnancy. In severe cases of FASD, a child may exhibit abnormal facial features, severe learning difficulties, behavioral issues, and other birth-related issues.

Cigarette smoking

Cigarette smoking is severely detrimental to your health and may have an impact on the health of your unborn child. In addition to increasing the risk of cancer and heart disease in smokers, smoking during pregnancy raises the possibility of low birth weight.

Babies with low birth weights are more likely to experience health problems soon after delivery. Additionally, some research has connected cigarette smoking during pregnancy with low birth weight and increased risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure later in life. 

Pregnant women who smoke are more likely than non-smokers to miscarry and give birth to a child with a birth abnormality such as cleft lip or palate. Also, smoking increases the chance that their unborn children may experience sudden infant death syndrome(SIDS).

Mothers who smoke have numerous reasons to quit. Take care of your health and the health of your unborn child. Consult your doctor about options for quitting while pregnant. Intensive counseling has been demonstrated to improve a pregnant woman’s chances of successfully stopping smoking. 

Environmental risk 

The environment is everything that surrounds us, whether at home, at work, or outside. 

pregnant woman sitting on a couch and working on a laptop

(Image source)

Although you don’t need to be concerned about everything you breathe or consume, it’s good to avoid substances that may harm your pregnancy or the well-being of your unborn baby.    

During pregnancy, avoid exposure to:

  • Lead -Lead which is common in certain water and paints.
  • Mercury -Large, predatory fish primarily contain the dangerous type of mercury.
  • Arsenic-Certain well water has reported high quantities of arsenic.
  • Pesticides- including both home and agricultural pesticides
  • Solvents- including degreasers, paint strippers, and thinners.
  • Tobacco smoke

However, it is not known how much exposure to these chemicals can lead to health problems for the mother and unborn baby. It’s best to avoid your exposure as much as possible.

If you encounter chemical exposure at work, discuss with your healthcare provider and employer ways to reduce it.

Healthy weight gain

The weight you gain throughout pregnancy is essential for the health of your pregnancy and your baby’s long-term health.

When some women become pregnant, they are already overweight. Other women gain too much weight during pregnancy. In any case, a pregnant woman should not go on a diet or attempt to lose weight while pregnant.


Having less than the recommended weight gain during pregnancy is linked to birthing a small baby. Underweight babies may face breastfeeding challenges, increased susceptibility to illness, and developmental delays.

Exceeding recommended weight gain during pregnancy is linked to birthing excessively large babies, potentially causing birth complications, necessitating cesarean delivery, and increasing the risk of childhood obesity. Additionally, surpassing recommended weight gain can elevate post-pregnancy weight retention, further amplifying the risk of obesity.

 Recommended weight gain during each trimester

During pregnancy, most women should gain between 25 and 35 pounds (11.5 to 16 kg). During the first trimester, most women gain 2 to 4 pounds (1 to 2 kilograms), then 1 pound (0.5 kilograms) per week for the rest of the pregnancy. Your situation determines the quantity of weight gain.

  • Women who are overweight should gain less weight (10 to 25 pounds or 7 to 11 kilos), depending on their weight before pregnancy.
  • Underweight women need to gain more weight (28 to 40 pounds or 13 to 18 kilos).
  • Women expecting more than one child should gain more weight. Those expecting twins should gain 37 to 54 pounds (16.5 to 24.5 kg).

A healthy pregnancy begins with a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet and regular exercise.

Maternal health safety is crucial for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal periods. It ensures a healthy pregnancy, safe childbirth, fewer complications, and improved future health and life expectancy.

Pregnant women should be aware of hazards and substances that can negatively affect them and their unborn babies. Exposure to toxic chemicals and substance abuse during pregnancy can lead to stillbirth, low birth weight, birth defects, behavioral problems, and developmental delays in the baby.

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