When Merideth Hadersbeck moved from Anaheim, Calif., to Las Vegas, she did so in the middle of the summer heat. Anyone who has spent time in the scorching summer desert knows just how hot and uncomfortable it can be. Yet she wanted to immediately get working in her garden and to add some greenery to her backyard. Being 5 months pregnant and with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit didn't keep her from rolling up her shirt sleeves and digging in.

"I needed to add some color to our yard," says Hadersbeck. "I worked off and on until my baby was born at the end of October. In the really hard, dry desert dirt I did a lot of digging."

Hadersbeck made sure to take some precautions to keep herself safe, including drinking a lot of water, wearing a hat and making sure to get the work done in the early morning or evening when the heat wasn't as intense. Simple safety precautions like these are vital to having a healthy day working in the yard or garden while you are pregnant.

"Women who are pregnant and gardening need to be careful of two things: toxoplasma cysts in the soil and using chemical pesticides," says Dr. Susan Boyd of Las Vegas OB/GYN Associates.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that can be transmitted to humans through reptiles, birds and animals, especially by cats. People can also come into contact with it through eating undercooked meat or unwashed fruits and vegetables from the garden. Because some animals may have the parasite in their feces, it's extremely important that pregnant women not come in contact with it, whether in the garden or while changing the cat litter box. Working outside in the garden can put you in a position to come in contact with such contamination.

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