During the period of 9 months, when your baby is growing, it is vital to understand that apart from providing it with proper nutrition you've to also avoid certain foods, activities and medicines in order to ensure that your baby is 100% safe. Here's a list of 11 things to avoid while pregnant.
FOODS
The biggest list of don'ts surrounding pregnancy involves food. This is mainly because you're not only catering to yourself but also to your baby. Thankfully there's more you can eat than what you can't. The only thing you'll have to learn is how to navigate waters. Here's a list of food products you must avoid:
1) HIGH MERCURY FISH
Mercury, being a highly toxic element has no known safe levels of exposure and is mostly found in polluted water. Mercury is known to be harmful to the nervous system, kidneys and immune system. Since it is found in polluted seas, large fishes accumulate high amount of mercury and can be lethal to your health in long term. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid the same during pregnancy. Some fishes you can avoid include, swordfish, tuna, marlin and shark. You can try switching to low mercury fishes like cod, flounder, salmon, trout etc.
2) RAW EGGS
There's a chance of raw eggs containing Salmonella bacteria. Symptoms to look out for include, nausea, vomiting, fever , stomach cramps. In rare cases uterus cramps occur leading to premature birth or stillbirth. Foods to avoid include, poached eggs, homemade mayonnaise, lightly scrambled eggs, homemade ice cream etc.
3) CAFFEINE
As much as we all love our daily cups of coffee, tea, soft drinks, Caffeine is not healthy for pregnant women. According to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists(ACOG), "pregnant women should limit their daily caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams." High Caffeine intake during pregnancy has been directly linked to restricted fetal growth and increased risk of low birth weight at delivery. Make sure your baby is not exposed to too much caffeine as it can also pose an increased risk of chronic diseases in adulthood.
4) UNPASTEURIZED MILK AND CHEESE
Unpasteurized cheese, raw milk and soft cheese can contain harmful bacteria, including, listeria, E coli and salmonella. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid these. You can easily have your pasteurized milk to minimize the risk of infections, both for yourself and the baby.
5)ALCOHOL
Alcohol already has pretty bad name in the health community, but when it comes to pregnant women, liquor has to be avoided completely as it increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Even a small amount is known to impact the baby’s brain development. Drinking alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome which involves heart defects, intellectual disability and facial deformities.
STILETTOS
Heels are quite uncomfortable in day to day life and while some women are able to walk freely in heels, in case of pregnant women, 3-inch heels or less are recommended. This is mainly because as the baby bump grows,
the body's center of gravity changes and you may find yourself a little unsteady on your feet. Moreover, as you reach the third trimester, swollen ankles will be your daily visitor. Eventually you'll find solace in your flip flops.
SMOKING
There are roughly 4,000 chemicals in secondhand smoke and some of them have been linked to cancer. Moreover, your baby's proper growth is hindered and it may lead to miscarriage, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, etc. The nicotine, carbon monoxide and numerous other poisons are carried through your bloodstream and go directly to your baby. There's no 'safe' level of smoking during pregnancy. Smoking while pregnant will:
- Lower the amount of oxygen available to your baby
- Raise your chance of placenta problems like placental abruption or placenta previa.
- Increase the risk of your baby developing respiratory issues
SITTING OR STANDING FOR TOO LONG
A balanced amount of movement is vital for your body , especially during pregnancy. Staying in one position can cause all types of problems including, swollen ankles and vein problems. You can avoid this to a large extent by taking regular morning walks, meditating and exercising after consulting your doctor on the same.
CERTAIN MEDICATIONS
Medications can cause side effects if not taken after proper consultation from an experienced doctor during pregnancy. It is therefore advisable to talk to your doctor before taking any over-the-counter or prescription medicines. Even if you're facing mental health issues, it is vital that your gynecologist knows what all medications you're on.
THE TAKEAWAY
It is important to remember that all these precautions are only for a period of 9 months and that they'll improve your baby's health and growth. Regarding the food and activities, it'll all be available soon enough.