Pregnant teen dies after shovelling snow outside

A mother’s pregnancy is a delicate part of her life, not only because she is rendered vulnerable physically and mentally, but also because she becomes responsible for the life of another human being.

There are certain food they should not eat, certain activities they should not undertake. Everything matters, even the little things. Being cautious is a requisite to carrying—as much as mothers hate being treated like invalids.

The story of eighteen-year-old Briahna Gerloff reminds us of that.

She was just shovelling snow outside her Pottstown, Pennsilvania one frigid weekend when, upon returning back inside her warm house, she collapsed. A family member found her lying unresponsive on the floor.

They tried to perform a CPR, but at that point it was already too late.

“I told her it probably wasn't a good idea for her to be outside shovelling,” a family member told the reporters. “She wanted to do it anyway.”

Official reports claim that Briahna died from several heart defects. She was eight months pregnant.

Doctors recommend that during winter time, pregnant women during should:

• Rest regularly. Although it is important to exercise, you should also make sure to put a lot of rest in. "Make sure you rest regularly and put your feet up whenever possible. Take warm baths and use a hot water bottle to relieve muscle tension."
• Wear sensible shoes. "With the frosty weather comes slippery roads and pavements, so investing in proper footwear is key." Boots will keep your feet warm, but choose a pair that is flat and provides plenty of support round the ankles. Also make it a point to but a pair that has rubber soles to make sure there are lots of grip, reducing the risk of slipping on the ice.
• Be on the lookout for illness. "The cold weather can take its toll on your immune system and if you fall ill while pregnant, it could last longer than if you weren't expecting." On the first sign of an illness, go immediately to your health provider.
• Moisturise. "Avoid too long hot baths and showers that can rid skin of its moisture and apply unscented creams, balms and oils regularly."

Pregnant women should be careful of overexerting their bodies. The amount and type of exercise that is best for pregnancy depends on the mother’s general health, the course of pregnancy and usual activity level. Physical changes during pregnancy directly affect the tolerance of the exercise.

Here are some tips on how pregnant women can exercise.

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