How Is Detox Handled If You Are Pregnant?

For almost every woman, the pregnancy phase is an exciting time. The moment you realize that you are pregnant, a new journey begins. Your way of thinking alters. This is a time when everyday routines and habits must change completely.

Your bad habits may need to be changed or eliminated because they are not as healthy as you believe. Many women suffer from drug, alcohol, and smoking addictions. Do you think these habits are healthy for you and your unborn child? You have a great duty to care for the life inside of you and support its development.

To begin with, you need to understand the need for a change that benefits your health and your baby’s development.

What Is Detox?

Eliminating toxins from the body includes getting rid of any addictive substances that have built up due to bad eating habits or drug and alcohol use. Detoxification comes in two varieties such as medical and dietary detox.

Pregnancy And Drugs

A pregnant lady only harms her unborn child when she disregards prescription instructions and engages in risky practices like drinking and smoking. Food and medications taken by a pregnant woman will pass via the placenta and reach the fetus during this time. Drugs, marijuana, alcohol, and painkillers can all lead to significant problems like stillbirths and disabilities.

Dangers Caused By Drug Usage During Pregnancy

Over 5.5 percent of pregnant women aged 15 to 44 who participated in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health were deemed current illicit drug users between 2012 and 2013 (NSDUH). In addition to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), congenital disabilities, miscarriages, early births, low birth weights, and neurological problems, drug or alcohol misuse during pregnancy can also lead to an opioid habit of the newborn (neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS).

More than 50% of pregnant women use prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, social drugs (including alcohol and tobacco), or illicit substances at some point throughout their pregnancies, according to a report from Merck Manual, and this number is rising.

In such instances, some women grasp the situation, and because they are concerned for the baby, they strive to break the habit. However, for many, it is not as simple as we believe. If they become addicted, it will be tough for them to break the habit, even if they want to. Detoxification becomes more crucial in these situations.

Medical Detox

Generally, medical detox assists the patient in getting back medical stability. The length of the detoxification process will depend on how the patient’s body reacts to the treatment.

This task will be carried out by qualified professionals. As the body adjusts to change from the conditions it was used to complete, it may experience some withdrawal symptoms. In a detox treatment, the body stops craving a particular substance. Instead, the body will receive many essential nutrients. According to NIDA, relapse rates are between 40% and 60%, comparable to relapse rates for other chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and asthma.

Things To Look Out For When Opting For Medical Detox

Because withdrawal symptoms may potentially impact the unborn child, detoxing while pregnant can provide a unique set of difficulties. Medical detox can also uncover the underlying problems that often underlie active addiction. For this reason, it is crucial to receive medical care from specialists who understand the specifics of this rehabilitation process for both mom and baby.

If you or someone you know is pregnant and wants to stop using drugs or alcohol, getting help from a recognized center specializing in treating substance use issues is best. The aim is to cause as little harm as possible when a pregnant substance user. Even though the outcome might not be certain, getting treatment as soon as possible is vital. Thus, lives can be saved.

What Procedures Are Carried Out In A Detox Center?

In a well-established treatment center, there will be

• Good staff who are equipped to monitor the patients
• They will assist the patient in case of an emergency.
• If the patient shows any kind of withdrawal symptoms or any kind of illness, that will be tracked.
• Appropriate treatments will be provided.
• After gaining medical stability, the patient will be directed to follow specific steps in order to maintain stability.

Detox treatments can be done from your home or in a rehabilitation center.

Risk Factors Related To Detox Treatment

Without the guidance of a medical professional, detoxification therapy is not safe for expectant mothers. It will have numerous negative impacts if she quickly ceases using drugs or other substances. A long-term drug’s abrupt withdrawal from your body can result in issues like

• Seizures
• Stillbirth
• Miscarriage

The majority of people are not equipped to handle or prepared for issues that may arise from improper detoxification while pregnant. Reducing or quitting long-term alcohol or drug usage can result in unpleasant withdrawal symptoms whether a person is pregnant. These signs may result in a relapse and an overdose. Such overdoses may result in death or severe harm.

What Factors Impact The Withdrawal Process?

There are a few things that affect your withdrawal symptoms. They are

• Type of drugs used
• How frequently are they used
• What method you followed while using the drugs like smoking, injecting, drinking etc
• The dose and duration of usage
• The mental and physical history of the person
• Depending on factors like age, weight, and lifestyle. Health, genetics, habits

Other External Factors That Contaminate Your Body

Pregnancy wellness and a healthy environment are mutually beneficial. The body generally becomes polluted as a result of numerous external influences. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) discovered 200 artificial contaminants in babies’ cord blood in a 2004 research. Many of the compounds discovered are used in skincare items, cookware, and cleaning supplies. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to some hazardous compounds found in our food, water, and everyday products may be linked to developing health difficulties and learning disabilities in children.

You can opt for a few lifestyle changes and get rid of the use of such unhealthy products. For example, you can avoid the use of,

• Synthetic perfumes as they contain harmful chemicals
• Handwashes, washing soap, liquid, etc
• Polyfluroalkyl, aka PFA substances
• Various skincare and beauty products contain chemicals
• Plastic utensils, Non-stick items used for cooking
• Synthetic clothes and mattresses that cause allergic reactions

Dietary Detox For A Pregnant Woman 

To remove toxins from the organs and tissues, a detox diet employs a variety of dietary recommendations and herbal remedies. Toxin removal from the body may appear to be a good notion, but it is not. During pregnancy, a woman should focus on generating a new life rather than splitting her efforts between detoxing and establishing a new life.

Though you are eating a healthy diet, there needs to have some adjustments in your diet plan. A few changes you can adapt are,

• Choose brown rice over white rice. Brownrice is rich in good immunity boosters and fiber, which is suitable for pregnant women. It also reduces constipation during pregnancy.
• Consume more organic fruits and vegetables.
• Food items that have a high amount of salt must be avoided.
• Artificial sweeteners and food additives are not suitable for pregnant women.
• If you are anon vegetarian, always choose meat and fish wisely. Opt for hormone-free meat and chemical-free fish items.
• Water is the primary substance for eliminating toxins from your body through urine and sweat. A pregnant woman must drink adequate water, including juices and soups from fresh fruits and vegetables.

Detox based on supplements includes taking laxatives to improve or regulate bowel functions.

There are other detox treatments like spa skin wraps and colon irrigation to eliminate toxins from the body.

Risk Factors To Watch Out For

Changing the diet pattern sounds healthier, but there are certain risk factors a pregnant woman should be aware of.

Uses Of Herbs

Pregnant women should avoid the usage of certain herbs in their food. Herbs like cilantro and parsley increase the chance of miscarriage if you include these items in the diet during the early trimesters.

Colon Irrigation

Though it is a method to detox your body, it has some risk factors, as it induces excessive fluid loss from the body through sweat, urine, bowel movements, etc. It can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

An Increased Amount Of Vit C

Some detoxes necessitate consuming large amounts of vitamin C, which might prevent the body from producing progesterone, a critical hormone for pregnant women. Such practices need to be avoided during the pregnancy period.

Although a complete detox diet is not recommended while pregnant, you can improve your eating habits without endangering your baby. Toxins can be safely and effectively eliminated with a few lifestyle adjustments, a balanced diet, and plenty of exercises.

The critical step is to seek help from a well-experienced healthcare professional with a good track record. Before attempting anything, a doctor can guide you and show you a suitable method for you and your baby.