If you’re pregnant, California Poison Control System (CPCS) wants you to know that there are things you can do to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and to reduce risks to both you and your unborn baby. The following information can help you give your unborn baby a healthy, safe head start.

“By avoiding a few specific things that have been linked to causing pregnancy complications, you can lessen the risk of potential problems, including miscarriage and congenital disorders,” said Dr. Rais Vohra, Medical Director for the Fresno/Madera Division of CPCS.

Avoid alcohol, smoking, and illicit drugs

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can affect your baby’s development, including its brain, and cause growth and central nervous system problems for the baby. It can also increase your risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Smoking can damage your baby’s developing lungs and brain, as well as raise the risk for birth defects and contribute to a lower birth rate and poor fetal growth. Secondhand smoke is also harmful during pregnancy, as it can cause lower birth weight and even lead to premature birth.

All illicit drugs are bad for both you and your unborn baby. Although legal in California, cannabis—including smoking, vaping, eating, drinking, using as a cream or lotion—can be harmful to your unborn baby, affecting their development and potentially causing pregnancy complications.

Prevent infections

Doing what you can to avoid infections is a good idea for everyone, but if you’re pregnant it is particularly important. Some infections, such as chickenpox and group B streptococcus (a common bacteria), can cause birth defects or other serious health issues for newborns. You can significantly reduce the risk of contracting infections by following these simple preventive measures:

Wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol if you can’t wash your hands.

Cover your mouth or nose with a tissue or your elbow when you cough or sneeze.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces in your home and workplace.

Avoid food poisoning

To help prevent food poisoning and protect yourself and your unborn baby, follow these simple food handling, cooking, and storage suggestions:

Use soap and hot water to wash your hands, utensils, work, and cooking surfaces often before, during, and after preparing food. Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly under cool running water and use a produce brush to remove surface dirt. Additionally, avoid cross-contamination by not washing or rinsing meat and poultry in the sink.

Keep all uncooked foods—raw meat, chicken and other poultry, seafood, and eggs—away from ready-to-eat foods.

Thaw foods in the refrigerator or microwave, not on the counter. Cook food to the proper temperature to kill harmful bacteria and use a food thermometer.

Refrigerate or freeze all leftovers promptly.

Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (number is the same in all states) for questions about poison encounters. Trained pharmacists, nurses and other providers are available to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is free, confidential and interpreters are available. Follow CPCS on Facebook, on YouTube @californiapoisoncontrol, and on X @poisoninfo. CPCS is part of the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy and is responsible to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority.