Sunday, 12 November 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
With the people looking forward to celebrating Deepawali with enthusiasm, doctors point out that pregnant women should take precautions during the festivities. Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Sujata Sanjay has advised pregnant women to be extra alert during the festive time and stay away from fireworks. “They must stay away from the noise and smoke during Deepawali for themselves and the babies in their womb. The firecrackers may affect a would-be mother and her baby in negative ways. They should remember that what they inhale goes into their bloodstream and affects the foetus. From the sixth to twelfth week, the baby’s organs form and so it is of vital importance for the would-be mothers to avoid pollutants that get into their blood with every inhalation. Pollutants inhaled by pregnant women can enter foetuses through the umbilical cord and may result in babies being born with cleft lips and palates and also defective heart valves. Although the second trimester is more comfortable for such women, they should refrain from doing anything that may hinder the growth of the babies,” she said.
Elaborating further, she said that the developing baby gains a good sense of hearing by the third trimester and loud noises might shock its tiny ears. “So, keeping away from noise and air pollution is very crucial for pregnant women,” she said.
“In the first trimester, the would-be mothers are advised to keep away from stressors, particularly pollution. The second trimester is usually a breeze for most pregnant women as the babies growing inside them are not yet big enough to make them too uncomfortable. However, during the third trimester, as their bumps grow they may be feeling uncomfortable. This is when pregnant women must be very careful while bending down or lighting Diyas. They may complain of blurry vision. Also, there is a fear of injury due to firecrackers. So, they should refrain from wearing synthetic clothes,” she said.
“Some of the crackers contain highly toxic heavy metals like cadmium, lead, copper, manganese and zinc while others have arsenic, mercury, chromium and iron oxides which lead to severe air pollution after they are burnt. Moreover, pregnant women are more vulnerable to allergies than others and so they must make it a point to stay away from smoke,” Dr Sanjay said.
