Pregnancy is one of the most important and beautiful periods in a woman’s life. Therefore, it is very crucial for pregnant women to eat a well healthy diet. Expecting mothers should pay close attention to what they eat and ensure to avoid such things, foods, and beverages that could harm her or her child.
Here are 7 facts about things to avoid during pregnancy that will make you think twice.
1. Over intake of caffeine
Drinking a lot of coffee cups every day will maximize your heart rate and blood pressure. Additionally, caffeine crosses the placenta. Just do remember that caffeine is not just in coffee and tea. You can find it in soda, chocolate and certain over the counter medications.
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2. Do not eat these foods
During your pregnancy you should avoid:
- Raw eggs can pose a risk of salmonella
- Unpasteurized dairy: These products could contain listeria.
- Fish with high levels of mercury
- Deli meat: Deli meats can be contaminated with bacteria, listeria, that could cross the placenta and have a bad effect on your developing baby. An infection in utero could lead to some problems like blood poisoning and could be life-threatening for your baby.
- Smoked seafood: You should avoid lox, kippered fish, jerky, or nova style salmon. There is a risk that smoked, refrigerated seafood could be contaminated with listeria.
- Raw meat and shellfish: Uncooked seafood like mussels, oysters, and clams. Also, avoid undercooked rare beef and poultry. These food can be contaminated with toxoplasmosis or salmonella.
- Soft cheeses: Some soft cheeses can have listeria, so avoid it during pregnancy.
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3. Do not drink
Avoid drinking beer, wine, and liquor during pregnancy as alcohol passes quickly from the bloodstream through the placenta and umbilical cord to your baby. It can cause a problem in developing a baby’s brain and organs.
Other possible risks include:
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Birth defects
- Premature birth
- Brain damage
- Fetal alcohol
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4. Do not take certain medications
Before taking any medications whether it is prescribed medication, over the counter supplements, you should speak to your doctor first as some of the medications have a bad effect on your baby growth.
5. Don’t sit or stand for too long
Staying the same position for too long, seating or standing can be problematic. It can cause some health problems including swollen ankles and vein problems.
Try taking short breaks several times to move around if you have been stand or seated, or to put your legs up if you’ve been on your feet.
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6. Don’t breathe secondhand smoke
Smoking is extremely bad for you and your baby, though secondhand smoke can be nearly as bad. There are around 5,000 chemicals in secondhand smoke, and some of them have been linked to cancer.
Excess secondhand smoke during your pregnancy can lead to:
- Miscarriage
- Sudden infant death syndrome
- Premature delivery
- Low birth weight
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7. Don’t wear stilettos
You should wear heels with a 3-inch heel or less: wedges, flats, and platforms. As your belly grows in size, your center of gravity will change. So you may feel yourself a little unsteady and uncomfortable on your feet.
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