Pregnancy is an important phase in every women’s life. It is true that women can lead a normal life during pregnancy. But there are certain lifestyle changes to be made during pregnancy. It is important that women must take special care of their health during pregnancy so that they can deliver a healthy baby. There are certain things that must be avoided during pregnancy for the safety of women and the baby. The following article lists the most common to be strictly avoided for a smooth pregnancy.

Avoid Certain Food Stuff

It is common that pregnant women must include a balanced and highly nutritious food in their diet. But there are certain foodstuffs that they must avoid so that they can continue their pregnancy without any health problems. Make sure not to include the following food item in your diet during pregnancy.

Raw meat: Do not eat uncooked seafood like oysters, mussels etc. Uncooked and half-cooked poultry, beef etc contain certain contaminants namely salmonella and toxoplasmosis.

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Fish with High Mercury content: Certain sea fish contain high mercury content which is dangerous to the health of people. Thus eating fishes like shark, tilefish, swordfish etc is not good for the health of pregnant women.

Raw Eggs: There are several dishes prepared with raw eggs. Raw eggs contain certain contaminants which are harmful to the growth of the baby.

Unpasteurized Milk: always go for pasteurized milk as unpasteurized milk contain listeria a bacteria that can affect the baby inside the womb.

Reduce Intake of Caffeine

Caffeine can offer certain health benefits as they act as stimulants for your body. But excessive intake of caffeine-related products like tea and coffee during pregnancy can lead to certain health problems. Caffeine intake at moderate levels about 150-300 mg would not create any harm to the health of a pregnant woman. Thus a pregnant woman must limit the intake of coffee and tea.

Avoid Over the Counter Medicines

This is a very important thing to be avoided by all pregnant woman. Self-medication is dangerous. Certain medicines can be dangerous to the growth of your baby. It can also lead to birth defects. It is always good to consult a doctor before taking any medicines.

Avoid Exposure To Paints

Paints are highly toxic so a pregnant woman must see that they are not in close contact to areas where painting work is carried out. Avoid exposure to paint fumes.

Avoid hot tub bath: You may experience body pain during the first trimester of your pregnancy. You may also feel good after a hot tub bath. But it is very important that you avoid hot baths as it can result in birth defects for the baby. A warm bath can be done in case of body aches and cramps.

Stay Away From Second Hand Smoke

It is well known that smoking must be avoided during pregnancy. It must also be noted that you must stay away from smokers as second-hand smoke is also dangerous. It can result in birth defects like behavioural issues, miscarriage, premature delivery and other issues.

Avoid Alcohol

The intake of alcohol like wine, brandy, whisky etc must be stopped at any cause when you are pregnant. Alcohol can directly affect your baby as it enters the umbilical cord through the bloodstream. This can hinder the growth and development of baby’s brain and other organs. There are chances for premature delivery, birth defects, brain damage and miscarriage when pregnant women drink alcohol.

Avoid Pets

When you raise pets in your home make sure that you stay away from them. Staying close to pets can lead to various infections. Wear proper gloves when changing the litter tray of your pet. You can also ask the help of others at home to clean the litter of your pet regularly. The cat faeces contain toxoplasmosis which is harmful to a pregnant woman.

Do Not Stay In The Same Position

This is most important as most of the pregnant woman assume they are sick and stay in the same position for a long time. They either sit or sleep for longer hours. This can lead to various problems. Thus they must move around at regular intervals. They must also avoid standing for a long time as it can lead to swelling in the ankles and vein related issues.

Do Not Beleive All The Online Sources

Pregnant women rely on the Internet to clear all their doubts. They must not believe or follow everything that is mentioned on the Internet. Make sure to get your doubts cleared with your doctor. Trust your instincts and at times online sources may help but do not rely on them completely.