Substances to Avoid in Pregnancy
There are several good websites about substances to avoid in pregnancy, which I will link to here, but I have found one issue that doesn’t seem to be covered well in most places, so I will touch on it here.
A recent study found that some over-the-counter pain relievers can increase the risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy by 80%. If they are taken around the time of conception, they may increase the risk more than five-fold (560%). More research is needed to validate these findings. However, for now, any women who are planning to become pregnant, or who are in the first trimester should exercise extreme caution with ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil, etc.) and with naproxen (Alleve). Aspirin also carries risks during pregnancy. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) has not been shown to affect miscarriage risk. http://www.drgreene.com/21_1658.html
On other foods, medications, and substances to avoid, check out these articles:
http://www.drjick.com/medsfood.php
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/159.asp