All Pregnant Women Should Know About the 10 Things to Avoid

• Drinking more milk than is necessary could increase the risk of your child being born with an allergy to cow’s milk.
• Steam rooms lead to a mother’s body becoming dehydrated and losing essential minerals through perspiration. This leads to thickening of the blood, which causes a constriction of blood vessels and subsequently reduces the amount of blood transferred to the fetus thus increasing the possibility of a miscarriage.
• Cat feces can carry parasitic infections that if they come into contact with pregnant mothers could potentially cause their child to be born with abnormalities and, in serious cases, even lead to a loss of pregnancy.
   

Pregnancy is the stage at which various vital organs are developing in the unborn child so it is a time for mothers to be extra vigilant as to how they lead their daily lives. This is especially for new mothers who may not be aware of the things to avoid during a pregnancy as they could have adverse effects on the development on their unborn child. The aspect which pregnant women should be especially aware of is their own personal safety at all times. This includes how they take care of their health, and what they eat as this could have a negative effect on the little one in the womb, without the mother even being aware of it.

All pregnant mothers should strictly adhere to giving up smoking and drinking alcohol. This  means any beverage that contains alcohol as well as all forms of cigarettes and illegal drugs. This is because all of the aforementioned substances can potentially affect the development of the unborn child, either in terms of slowing that development, increasing the chances of a premature birth or increasing the chances of a miscarriage. Additionally, partaking in any of these substances while pregnant could lead to your child being born with untreatable physical or mental disabilities.

Did you know that stress can cause the fetus to develop at a slower rate than normal and that it could also increase the risk of a miscarriage? This is down to the body producing more chemicals and cortisol hormones (the stress hormone) when stressed and these substances cause blood vessels to tighten and contract, meaning the unborn child may receive less oxygen than is necessary for good health. Additionally, babies born when their mother is experiencing stress are more likely to be born prematurely, weigh less than normal and be at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. A mother’s stress could also have a negative effect on the child’s ability to learn, lead to a concentration deficiency or even cause autism, meaning that the child’s mental health and ability to adapt on a social level can also potentially be affected.

Especially during pregnancy, mothers should be eating a healthy, balanced diet which will give the little one inside the womb the best nutrients necessary for development. If mothers are eating a diet consisting of unhealthy food, such as particularly spicy, salty, sweet, oily, or/and raw or overcooked foods, this could give the mother a stomach ache alongside a general feeling of discomfort. Pregnant women should also try to avoid all marinated foods, pickled goods, processed foods, foods that are high in monosodium glutamate, as well as caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee and carbonated drinks as these all contain substances which could have adverse effects on the health of your unborn child.

Many mothers falsely believe that drinking plenty of milk during pregnancy will aid their child by providing them with the calcium they need but the truth is that just 1 glass of either cow’s milk or soy milk per day is enough. When too much milk is drunk, it could potentially increase the chances of the child being born with an allergy, such as an allergy to the protein found in cow’s milk, for example. However, if mothers are worried about their calcium intake, it is recommended that they get their calcium from other sources instead, such as from small fish, green vegetables, black sesame seeds and almonds.

The first trimester of a pregnancy is of huge importance as it is the time when the unborn child’s vital organs and central nervous system are developing. Therefore, if mothers take any dangerous medication during this period, it will have an adverse effect on the health of the unborn child and could lead to them being born with a disability, such as a cleft palate or limb abnormalities. This is especially the case for acne-relief medication and some types of household remedies which can all have an effect on the health of the unborn child. There are only a few forms of medication that mothers can take which are considered as safe and not having any effects on the fetus at all. These include paracetamol used for pain and fever relief; chlorpheniramine medication used as a decongestant, anti-allergy treatment, and for the relief of itching; and mineral salt powders. Even so, professional medical advice should be sought each time prior to taking any medication. 

Actually, exercise is recommended for pregnant women but such exercise should not be too heavy or strenuous, and should not last for more than 30 minutes at a stretch. Light exercise such as yoga, swimming or brisk walking, which includes regular rehydration breaks every 10–15 minutes to allow the body to cool down and prevent against overheating, is recommended. Ensuring that mothers do not exercise to a level where they are struggling to breathe comfortably is of utmost importance as this could lead to the unborn child lacking oxygen which could potentially affect their development. 

Mothers who are over 20 weeks pregnant should not walk or stand for extended periods of time because this could lead to further swelling of the feet and legs, which could subsequently cause varicose veins in the legs, back ache, and even increased risk of knee joint degeneration.

Laying down for long periods of time should also be avoided as the weight of the fetus could constrict the stomach and intestines and lead to feeling bloated and symptoms of colic. Also, the weight of the fetus could cause constriction in veins, which can stop blood flowing freely, and lead to swelling occurring in various parts of the body, as well as aches, pains and fainting. As a result, mothers should change their lying position every 1–2 hours and try to adjust the way they sit or stretch frequently to assist blood flow.
 

Although mothers will gain weight during pregnancy, and this could potentially leave them feeling low on self-esteem or wishing they were slimmer, please try not to become so worried about this weight gain that you try to lose some of it. If a mother does lose weight or stops eating properly while carrying the fetus, it could lead to that fetus lacking the necessary nutrients gained through food, meaning they will not be able to develop fully. It could also increase the chances of a premature birth. The best way to take good care of yourself is by eating a healthy, balanced diet consisting of all the 5 main food groups in moderation, as well as ensuring you get enough of the various vitamins that aid the development of the child’s vital organs. Although you may gain a few kilograms in weight during the pregnancy, once you have given birth, breastfeeding your child is one of the best ways of losing that weight again.

While it is true that using steam rooms and saunas can help people feel relaxed and refreshed, it is also something to be avoided while pregnant. Using steam rooms can potentially lead to miscarriages because the extreme heat can lead to dehydration and a loss of essential minerals. This then leads to a thickening of the blood, causing blood vessels to constrict and a reduction in the amount of blood transferred to the fetus which can potentially affect the unborn child’s development and even lead to a miscarriage in severe cases.

For any pregnant women out there who have cats pets, please stop cleaning up after your cat during your pregnancy. This is because cat feces contain Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection of which felines are carriers. Such parasites can infect the fetus, and adversely affect a pregnancy to the extent that the child is born with abnormalities, with extreme cases even leading to a loss of life. As a result, if pregnant women are living with cats, be sure to avoid any contact with their excrement, and ask that someone else be responsible for tidying up after them instead.

All mothers-to-be should be aware of these important issues to be avoided while pregnant. Be sure to follow the advice to ensure the health of both mother and baby so that the baby develops in the best way possible, and that you grow together in complete harmony.