What Stunts a Baby's Growth?

During pregnancy a woman's health is an integral part of the health of the baby inside of her. A baby grows a lot in the 9 months she is in the womb, and many factors contribute to facilitating that growth. There are many factors that can inhibit the fetus's growth as well, and if you are pregnant it is important to know what behaviors you should avoid in order to help your baby grow and develop.

Smoking

Smoking is one of the main causes of stunting a baby's growth in the womb, and in childhood via secondhand smoke. A woman who smokes while pregnant can put her baby at risk of premature birth, low birth weight, developmental difficulties and even death. This is due to the thousands of toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke that enter your bloodstream, thus entering the baby's as well.

Caffeine

While a cup of coffee can be great for waking you up in the morning, it's not so great for your baby and can stunt a developing baby's growth. Caffeine has been found to contribute not only to stunting a baby's growth, but also to miscarrying during pregnancy. It can also inhibit iron intake, which is integral during pregnancy because a pregnant woman needs more than double the normal amount of daily iron. While some scientists and doctors believe a small amount of caffeine during pregnancy may be OK, there still is a risk in consumption. So if you want to eliminate any probable risk, refrain from caffeine use all together.

Air Pollution

Pollutants in the air can negatively affect your baby's growth too. In larger cities, pollutants, especially traffic exhaust, can enter your system more easily and adversely affect your baby. Pollutants such as carbon monoxide, as found in car exhaust and cigarette smoke, work to impede the oxygen that your baby receives, thus slowing growth rate. If you are pregnant, try to avoid roads with congestion and heavy traffic, avoid enclosed rooms with smokers and smoking sections, and make sure to install a carbon monoxide detector in your home to risk exposure should your building have a leak.

Medications

While some medications are safe for pregnant woman to use, many can harm your baby and stunt his growth. Anti-depressants are slowly being found to have negative effects on fetal growth, and as more research mounts to support this idea, doctors are advising pregnant woman to refrain from taking these drugs. Certain pain relievers that contain harmful ingredients, such as alcohol, are also important to avoid during pregnancy. Pregnancies vary from woman to woman, so no matter what medication you are on or plan to take during pregnancy, always talk to your doctor before taking any medication if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant soon.

Poor Nutrition

Nutrition during pregnancy is important to both the mother and the baby. A poor diet during pregnancy can result in a low birth weight, as well as numerous developmental issues with your growing baby. Avoiding artificial sweeteners and food preservatives can greatly increase your nutrition during pregnancy. Also, fresh fruits and vegetables can help ensure that you are getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Vitamin supplements are also good during pregnancy, but should be discussed with your doctor before taking. It is recommended that pregnant woman talk with their doctors about their dietary needs as well, as each woman and her pregnancy will vary.

Recreational Drugs

Recreational drugs are extremely detrimental to your baby's growth. Drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, alcohol and narcotics greatly affect your baby's health and can even cause death of the fetus. In early pregnancy, recreational drugs can seriously affect your baby's bodily development, and later on in pregnancy they can affect brain development, so if you do partake in recreational drug use it is important to refrain while pregnant.