7 Things You Should Avoid While Pregnant

During pregnancy, it's advisable for the future mother to do some physical exercises, adapted to her situation. However, there are some things you should avoid while pregnant to safeguard your and your baby's health. Read on to discover seven of them!

A woman who’s preparing to bring a baby into the world has to make real and major life changes. This includes a series of things she should avoid while pregnant to preserve the baby’s health.

Things you should avoid while pregnant

We’re talking about physical, psychological, dietary, environmental, and social changes. In view of safeguarding the baby and the mother’s health, it’s advisable to plan them in advance to ensure a smooth pregnancy.

Those nine months require a personal plan based on both the mother and the baby’s requirements. The idea is to avoid complications that endanger the baby and the future mother’s health since whatever may harm her will harm the fetus a lot more.

Unborn babies are fragile and depend on their mother’s care. Among the things you should avoid while pregnant, you definitely shouldn’t consume toxic substances (such as alcohol and tobacco).

1. Alcohol: Fetal alcohol syndrome

Every pregnant woman should avoid alcohol. As we mentioned above, the baby will receive what she consumes through the umbilical cord.

Future mothers who drink alcohol endanger the baby’s life and expose them to suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome. Although experts still don’t know how much alcohol can be harmful, it’s best to avoid it entirely. Alcohol can also limit physical and intellectual development, as well as cause other disabilities in the fetus.

2. Excess caffeine

Excess caffeine is very harmful. Although a person can consume 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine a day, in the case of pregnant women, this number should decrease considerably. Coffee, soft drinks, and mate contain caffeine. Ideally, you should avoid these drinks.

3. Say goodbye to cigarettes

You should definitely quit smoking while pregnant. If it’s a toxic habit for anyone, it’s much more so for a fetus. Experts even believe that pregnant women should avoid staying in smoking areas.

Smoking can cause miscarriage, bleeding, preterm labor, or ectopic pregnancy. In addition, the consumption of carbon monoxide and other chemicals is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome.

It can also lead to respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia, as well as stunted growth and low weight and size. Also, the baby may be born with withdrawal syndrome due to the nicotine or tobacco they received while in the womb.

4. Chemicals to avoid while pregnant

Chemical or toxic products such as dyes, cleansers, or aerosols are dangerous for both mother and baby. Since they can cause nausea, intoxication, or dizziness, it’s essential to read labels to avoid accidents. X-rays also affect fetal development.

If necessary, your doctor will inform you of the appropriate indications. Ideally, you should look for other alternatives or wait until your baby is born.

5. Raw meat, poorly washed vegetables, and some fish

Pregnant women should start dietary management from the very beginning. Diets to avoid weight gain can affect the baby’s brain development. It’s essential for you to consume nutritious meals to ensure your baby is born healthy and strong.

For example, consuming raw meat can affect fetal development. It can spread harmful or deadly bacteria and parasites such as salmonella and toxoplasmosis. Big fish such as tuna, swordfish, or shark contain heavy metals. Similarly, poorly washed fruits and vegetables are a potential risk.

6. High-impact exercises to avoid while pregnant

High-impact exercises are contraindicated while pregnant. However, leading a sedentary lifestyle is equally harmful. Thus, mild routines are best, as they’ll help keep you healthy and positively affect your baby’s development.

While pregnant, you should avoid high-impact exercises such as boxing.

7. Sun exposure and stress

You should also avoid prolonged sun exposure while pregnant. The skin is very sensitive to ultraviolet rays, which is why it’s essential to minimize exposure time and use sunscreen. Hot baths or saunas cause vasodilation, which in some women can cause severe fainting and dizziness. They also pose risks that may affect the development of your baby’s nervous system.

In addition, it’s important for you to avoid stress while pregnant because it causes negative moods, fatigue, and other ailments that harm your and your baby’s health. Hormonal changes predispose the mother to emotional problems that the baby perceives and which may affect his or her normal development.