Pregnancy Archives - East Bay Acupuncture & Natural Medicine

By Jenny Silverstone

Living in a modern environment, we are surrounded by things which slightly increase our risk of having a baby with birth defects. This means that we need to be much more careful about what we do or don’t do, so that we can reduce our risk.

No matter whether you are at high risk of birth defects because of a genetic condition, or at low risk in general, it is always worth the effort to make sure we are doing everything in our power to help our babies.

In celebration of National Birth Defect Awareness month, here are a few of the most vital ways in which we can help prevent birth defects – as many of them are completely within our control.

1. Watch Your Meds!

Many medications that are perfectly safe before pregnancy are very, very dangerous to your baby as soon as you become pregnant. If you are trying to conceive or have discovered that you are pregnant, you need to talk to your doctor ASAP about revising your medicines. If you have to stop taking a medication, consider using natural remedies that are safe when pregnant, such as herbal supplements, acupuncture, or moxibustion.

2. Quit Alcohol, Smoking, And Drugs

It has been proven that all drugs, including alcohol and cigarettes, increase your risk of having a child with birth defects. However, we understand that breaking an addiction can be very difficult. If you are trying to conceive, you want to break your addiction before getting pregnant. If you are already pregnant, you want to break your addiction quickly. Meditation, acupuncture, or herbal remedies could help you focus and stay calm when breaking the addiction.

3. Eat A Natural Diet

A natural diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole energy sources like grains and legumes, and Vitamin-B containing foods is one of the best ways of making sure you are getting all the nourishment you need to feed your growing baby. If you have a hard time eating the whole range of fruits and vegetables you need, consider using pregnancy-safe supplements or prenatal vitamins, which can boost your nutrients and give you enough folic acid to help prevent specific birth defects.

4. Exercise And Relax

Stress can elevate your blood pressure which can increase the risk of birth defects. Stress also makes you more likely to stress eat, take drugs, or go to hot places like saunas, all of which increase the risk of birth defects. Exercising, sleeping well, and meditation for relaxation can all reduce stress. If you find that exercise leaves you tense, or that pain stops you from relaxing, consider acupuncture for some relief.

5. Control Diabetes And Weight

If you are already diabetic or develop gestational diabetes, your baby’s risk of birth defects go up. Likewise, whether you are already overweight or you gain too much weight during pregnancy. Just like with quitting drugs, if you find it difficult to control your diet and weight, consider using supplements, meditation, and acupuncture to help you regain calm and focus.

To read more, please check out the extensive article I wrote on the subject here.

Birth Defect Prevention During Pregnancy

By Nadia Moredo, L.Ac.

Vitamin B3 during pregnancy Many of you have probably seen the recent news that vitamin B3, also known as niacin, can help prevent birth defects and pregnancy loss.

More research is needed before practitioners start recommending an increased dose of B3, and as with any vitamin or mineral, consuming it in its whole food state often results in better absorption. B3 is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that excess niacin leaves the body through urination and needs to be replenished regularly.

Here are the top foods that you can include in your diet to make sure you are getting enough B3.

Fish is an excellent source of niacin. A portion of tuna per week, fresh or canned, can significantly increase your niacin intake. Tuna can be high in mercury, so limiting your serving to once weekly, and including other foods on this list can be a good way to increase niacin. Salmon is also a great source of niacin, and including bothe tuna and salmon in your diet can increase your omega-3 levels as well.
Poultry. Both chicken and turkey contain moderate to high levels of niacin. Adding poultry to your diet, along with other plant-based niacin-rich foods can give you a boost.
Meat. A serving of beef, pork and lamb all have moderate amounts of niacin. Liver has the highest amount. Including small portions of good quality, grass-fed meat in your diet can help prevent anemia in pregnancy, give a good sustained energy boost and increase niacin.
Mushrooms. Although the most niacin-rich foods tend to be animal based, mushrooms have a good amount of B3. The best varieties to add for niacin are shiitake, oyster and portabello.
Avocado. A great source of an array of vitamins and nutrients, fiber, and plant-based fats, avocados contain a modest amount of niacin. Adding half to a whole avocado to your diet daily can increase your overall niacin intake.
Sea veggies. An excellent source of trace minerals and iron, seaweed and other sea veggies contain small amounts of niacin. In addition to munching on nori, try wakame salads, sprinkling dulse on soups and salads, and cooking rice and other grains with kombu to up your daily niacin.
Whole grains. Brown rice and oats both contain moderate amounts of naturally-occurring niacin. Many pastas and cereals have been fortified with niacin, and these are fine to eat sparingly, while focusing more of your diet on whole grains.
Green peas. Including a cup of fresh or frozen peas in your salad or main meal can increase the amount of niacin you are getting.
Peanuts and Sunflower seeds. A great plant-based source of niacin. Eat as a snack, add to meals and include these nut butters to snacks to raise your niacin input.

If you are in your first trimester and nausea or food aversions make this list look impossible, don’t be concerned. Most good quality prenatal vitamins already contain a daily amount of niacin. Look on your label for vitamin B3, niacin, nicotinic acid or niacinamide. They are all forms of vitamin B3 and are easily absorbed.

If you are interested in supplementing your niacin intake, eat from the list above, and talk to your primary care practitioner to see if you should take a higher dose in vitamin form. In higher doses, niacin can cause flushing: redness, warmth, itching or tingling. Your practitioner can recommend a non-flush vitamin B3, a time-release vitamin B3 or increasing slowly to avoid this irritating side-effect. As always, the best way to get optimal nutrients is to eat a well-rounded, whole foods diet.

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Birth Defects: 5 Natural Ways To Reduce Your Risk.