When you’re newly pregnant, there’s a whole host of Dos and Don’ts and lists of things to avoid that you’re bombarded with. Some are more of an issue than others. We break it down so you know why some of your favourites are taboo. You might feel better knowing it’s healthier for you and your baby to avoid these things for the next few months until your little one arrives.
#1 Alcohol
Alcohol is a strict no-no when you have a baby on board. It can impair the baby’s growth even in the first couple of months of pregnancy, causing abnormal facial features and issues with normal growth and development (including of the crucial central nervous system). It may also result in miscarriage or stillbirth. Babies of mothers that drink during their pregnancy also have intellectual and behavioural disabilities known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs).
#2 Smoking
It might be difficult if you’re used to smoking every day, but it is highly advisable to quit at least while you are pregnant. Smoking elevates the risk of low birth weight, preterm birth, birth defects of the lip/mouth, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
#3 Raw Eggs, Raw/Undercooked Poultry, Meat and Seafood
Skip the sushi. Raw seafood/meat, undercooked poultry, and raw eggs are a source of dangerous microbes like salmonella which can leave you seriously ill and impact your pregnancy. Some fish(like king mackerel, shark, swordfish) could be high in mercury which can damage the developing brain of the foetus.
#4 Caffeine
A cup of steaming hot tea or coffee can be a much-needed pick-me-up, but be mindful of how much you have. Avoid having more than 200 mg of caffeine a day in total. It can cause both calcium loss and water loss. Excessive caffeine intake during pregnancy has even been linked to miscarriage, low birth weight babies, premature birth, and caffeine withdrawal symptoms in newborns. A mug of filter coffee contains 140mg of caffeine, instant coffee has 100 mg, and tea has about 75 mg per mug.
#5 Supplements(Not Prescribed By Your Doc) And High-Dose Multivitamins
Do not take any vitamin supplements without consulting your doctor first, too much of some can be problematic. For instance, excessive vitamin A could result in birth defects! Your gynaecologist will prescribe the vitamins and mineral supplements you need in the appropriate dosage.
#6 Medication and Drugs
Always check with your doctor on whether it is safe to use medications you may otherwise have used to treat an infection – they may be potentially harmful. This applies to herbal remedies and Ayurvedic medication too. Typically, things like aspirin, ibuprofen, certain antidepressants, some chemotherapy drugs, and certain asthma and yeast infection medications are advised against.
Recreational drugs including marijuana are completely avoidable if you’re pregnant. Opioid usage by pregnant women is linked to preterm birth, stillbirth, withdrawal symptoms in the infant, and higher maternal mortality.
#7 Soft Cheeses
Mould-ripened soft cheeses like camembert, brie, chevre, and soft blue cheeses contain more moisture than hard cheeses and are the perfect environment for listeria to thrive. This bacteria can cause severe illness in new-borns and may even lead to stillbirth or miscarriage.
#8 Sugar
You don’t need to avoid sugar altogether, but try and limit your intake. Sweet sugary foods are carriers of empty calories and may cause the weight to pile on quicker than if you ate a healthier alternative. Excess weight gain when pregnant raises your risk of gestational diabetes. Expectant mums with gestational diabetes are more likely to have overweight babies who go on to become overweight toddlers and adults.
Find Out If You’re Pregnant
It can be hard to tell if you’re even pregnant in the early days of pregnancy. If you want to ensure you do your best to support a healthy pregnancy, it might entail cutting back or entirely cutting out on a lot of the things you’ve just read about. Before you do, and to be sure you really are pregnant, it is best to use an accurate method to confirm your pregnancy like the MamaXpert Rapid Pregnancy Detection kit. This kit is simple to use, gives instant results, and can be taken in the privacy of your own home or office. That way you’ll be empowered to make the right choices to keep yourself and your baby safe in the months ahead.
Order your convenient and accurate at-home Rapid Pregnancy Detection Kit now!