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Expert Q&A
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| By Karen Ansel Nutritionist | ||
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Before I knew I was pregnant, I was taking a diet pill with ephedrine in it. Could this have harmed my baby?
Ephedrine, found in many over-the-counter diet pills and diet supplements, is a stimulant that can affect the nervous system and the heart. Because many ephedrine-containing preparations also contain other substances that may impact your pregnancy, you may want to consult with your health-care provider to discuss the particular medication or supplement in question and the dosage you took.
From a nutritional standpoint, pregnancy is definitely not the time to be trying to lose weight. While it is unlikely that any attempts at dieting early on may have hurt your baby, now is the time to take extra care of your body and that of your growing baby's. There is no way to do this without gaining weight, ideally 15 to 25 pounds if you were overweight before you became pregnant and 25 to 35 pounds if you were within your ideal weight range.
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More Answers by this Expert
- Can you tell me what foods are indulgent but also good for me?
- Before I knew I was pregnant, I was taking a diet pill with ephedrine in it. Could this have harmed my baby?
- I've been craving canned peas. I eat about one can a day. Could this be a problem?
- What foods are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids?
- Can eating lots of orange vegetables during pregnancy hurt my baby?
