The first trimester, or the first three months of your pregnancy is a time when you should pay close attention to your health because even a small amount of negligence could result in a miscarriage or other pregnancy-related complications. While leading a healthy lifestyle is always beneficial in everyday life, achieving optimal results during your pregnancy journey can be achieved by proceeding at the same pace. Here you will learn about 25 things to avoid during the pregnancy.
Try not to eat for two
Due to hormone imbalance, it’s natural to feel hungry more often than usual and to have strong cravings for particular foods; however, you don’t need to eat excessively. Consume a portion that is just for you. Since your body won’t need as many calories as a result of this.
Say No To Certain Food Items
The first trimester is a very crucial time for your baby’s growth and development and you need to be very careful regarding your diet. In between frequent food cravings and morning sickness, you need to maintain a balance of healthy diet.
Few things you need to avoid during your first trimester like-
- Raw sprouts like Alfalfa, Moong Beans, Radish, And Clover may contain bacteria inside it.
- Vitamin A supplements in high quantity may prove toxic for your baby and cause birth defects. This is because your baby’s liver has not developed yet and cannot process a lot of vitamin A.
- Raw and undercooked eggs as this may contain Salmonella
- Unpasteurized soft cheeses like Moldy Blue Cheese, Brie, Feta etc.
- Unwashed vegetables and fruits.
Avoid Drinking Alcohol
No amount of alcohol is safe to consume while pregnant. Taking alcohol in your first trimester can result in central nervous system problems and abnormal facial features and growth. Later it can cause miscarriage, premature delivery, stillbirth, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FADs). The most severe of these is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).
Avoid Caffine
200 milligrams a day or 2 cups of coffee is ok to take during this time but having more than it can cause serious problems as it does pass through the placenta and affects your baby’s heart rate.
If you smoke try to quit
Smoking can affect your baby’s development throughout your pregnancy journey as it can restrict the oxygen supply to your baby which ultimately causes restricted growth and development. Nicotine can damage a developing baby’s brain and lungs.
Smoking in pregnancy is associated with higher rates of fetal organ damage, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDs), premature delivery, and childhood asthma, among other adverse effects. Quitting on time will give your health a boost and better development of your baby.
Don’t Eat Raw Meat
Consuming undercooked meat can make you more prone to Toxoplasmosis which is caused by a single-celled protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma gondii which affects warm-blooded animals including humans. This can lead to life-threatening illnesses, severe birth defects etc.
Avoid High Mercury Fish
Excess mercury can cause damage to a baby’s vision and hearing, so limiting your exposure is a good option. Avoid eating shark, king mackerel, tilefish, and swordfish. You can eat salmon, trout, herring, sardines etc.
Stop Cleaning The Litter Box
If you have a cat as a pet then this point is specially for you to keep in mind that there are millions of parasites in feline faecal matter and one Toxoplasma gondii is dangerous for you throughout your pregnancy.
So stay away from litter cause babies born with these parasites could develop serious health problems including seizures and mental disability or sometimes vision problems. It’s recommended to delegate the task to others in a family or use disposable litter boxes.
Stop Having Recreational Drugs
Recreational drugs include a wide variety of substances like cocaine, heroin, marijuana, cannabis, and other psychoactive substances. The use of these substances can affect both the mother as well as developing foetus. On one hand, it can cause hypertension, anaemia, and infections, on the other hand, it can cause premature birth, low birth weight, developmental issues or even birth defects.
Pregnant women can make their parenting journey safer and healthier by being aware of the risks, getting support, and creating a healthy atmosphere.
Limit Your Sexual Activity
Sexual activity is frequently seen as safe for the majority of the term in pregnancies that are not difficult. However, some situations or issues might make it necessary to refrain from sexual activity. Pregnant people who may have a history of preterm labour, or placental issues may advised to abstain from sex.
Crucial components of managing this portion of the pregnancy experience include emphasising open communication, comprehending medical advice, and guaranteeing emotional support between spouses.
Teeth Whitener And Teeth Bleaching
These processes are safe normally but pregnancy can cause a number of changes in the mouth which may complex these processes. Both of these procedures involve chemicals that cause risk to the developing foetus. Even teeth whitening strips often include hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide that we need to avoid in pregnancy.
Apart from that, teeth-whitening toothpaste contains chemicals which cause gum inflammation. It is often recommended by healthcare professionals to postpone such procedures till pregnancy.
Lead Exposure
As pregnant individuals are more susceptible to environmental issues so lead exposure is one of them which can have a significant effect on the health of a mother and a developing fetus. Some of the sources of lead exposure are contaminated water, certain cosmetics, household dust, lead-based paints, certain occupations such as construction and mining etc.
Pregnant women can reduce their exposure to lead by identifying the sources, taking preventative action, and getting timely medical advice.
High Impact Exercising
Doing a normal workout routine during your pregnancy is fair for you and the baby. But indulging yourself in heavy lifting as well as hardcore physical exercises is not recommended by doctors. During pregnancy, hormonal imbalance relaxes and loosens your ligaments and joints making you more prone to injury and to your developing fetus.
Household Chemicals
If you are someone who does all the household chores as most of us do, then you need to be more aware of things like pesticides, paints, cleaning agents, personal care items etc. as they contain chemicals or volatile inorganic compounds (VODs) which can cause maternal issues like respiratory irritation, headaches, dizziness, allergic reactions in expectant mothers.
Opting for natural and organic cleaning products is advisable at this phase. You should wear gloves or some protective clothing while doing anything related to these items to prevent skin contact.
Air Travel should avoid during pregnancy
Before planning any trip you must consult your healthcare provider for the same as he /she will be the right person to advise. Different women face different challenges in the pregnancy journey some may have complicated conditions others may have a smooth ongoing pregnancy.
One should avoid air travel during the first and third trimesters as during the former there is a risk of morning sickness and miscarriage and in later cases, there is a risk of preterm delivery. The second trimester from 14-28 weeks is considered most suitable for travelling.
In addition, decreasing oxygen levels is challenging for both the mother and the growing fetus. Stay hydrated, wear comfortable clothing, consider using support stockings to prevent swelling and move around periodically is something you can do to reduce your discomfort.
Medicines: ODC (Over-The-Counter) And Prescription
you are carrying a baby inside your body, whatever you are going to have throughout the day is transferred to your baby through the placenta. If you consume any medication it will automatically pass to the baby through the bloodstream and can cause detrimental effects on the growing fetus so its better to avoid during pregnancy.
The effect of NSAIDs Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Drugs which are pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen pose a risk to your baby in the form of birth defects and damage to internal organs.
Unpasteurized Dairy Products
Pasteurization is the process of heating dairy products to a specific temperature to eliminate certain harmful bacteria such as E.coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. Consuming unpasteurized dairy items can cause foodborne illness during pregnancy. To avoid these read labels carefully, avoid unverified sources, and cook thoroughly.
Greasy, Fatty, Sugary Foods should avoid during pregnancy
We all know that during pregnancy we get food cravings but making a wise decision is very much needed. All the processed food is lacking in essential nutrients and causes unnecessary weight gain which ultimately leads to gestational diabetes, hypertension etc. maintaining a healthy and balanced diet in your daily routine is important.
Tanning and Sun Exposure
Pregnant women are more susceptible to prolonged sun exposure as this may result in pigmentation and sunburn. This condition called melasma leads to the appearance of dark patches on the face due to increased melanin production.
Saunas and Jacuzzi
We all love spending time in these relaxing processes but this is just not the time to frequent saunas and hot tubs that can raise your body temperature too high and harm the baby. Sometimes practicing these things in your first trimester causes miscarriage also.
Preterm birth, stillbirth and low birth weight all conditions are associated with hyperthermia in pregnancy. Dehydration which is another related thing with overheating may impact the level of amniotic fluid available to the baby.
Skipping Your Prenatal Vitamins
These vitamins are very essential to take as per the prescription to avoid the risk of spina bifida in a growing foetus. They also have some nutrients in them to overcome any diet deficiencies.
Skipping Prenatal Visits
Visiting your obstetrician from time to time to get regular checkups of your pregnancy is important. Healthcare providers perform routine assessments like blood pressure monitoring, foetal heart rate monitoring, ultrasound scans, blood and urine tests etc. They provide other information also about nutrition, exercise, labour and delivery preparation, breastfeeding, childbirth, and postpartum care. So never miss any scheduled appointment with your Healthcare provider.
Stress should avoid during pregnancy
Every pregnant woman has her own nine months journey filled with hardships and due to many hurdles like back pain, headaches, mood swings, nausea and morning sickness one can feel too low at some point in life and take unnecessary stress but doing so is not right as it will have an impact on both the mother and the unborn child.
Electric Blanket
Electric blankets give off a low-level electromagnetic field that can harm baby so its better to use extra blankets throughout pregnancy.
Losing Weight
As your pregnancy proceeds you feel a little embarrassed about your weight gain and some may start losing weight but stop doing it as it will affect your unborn baby. Gaining weight is a part of this nine-month journey as your baby is undergoing growth and development. It’s important to make informed decisions about your daily nutrition and diet.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is something which gives mixed feeling of excitement, curiosity and fear. Instead of being worried about this journey we need to get aware that what is right and what is wrong for me and my baby and take the appropriate precautions so that there will be no chance of any mishappening. These were the 25 things that you need to avoid at any cost to get the healthy pregnancy and the baby.
