Pregnancy No-Nos

Hurray, you’re expecting a child! The good news is, you can continue with your daily activities while pregnant with a few adjustments. Bear in mind that the health and safety of mother and foetus are of paramount importance, so it’s good to know what potentially risky food and activities you’ll need to avoid when expecting.

Here are 10 things you should not do while pregnant as they could be problematic during that time:

  1. Drinking Alcohol

If you like your daily glass of wine before sleeping, you’ll have to put that habit in check until your baby is safely delivered. No researcher is completely sure of how much alcohol is safe for pregnant women to consume, so it’s best to avoid it completely as it can cause a multitude of foetal health issues. This includes physical deformities, intellectual disabilities, behavioural problems, developmental delays, seizures, poor coordination and fine motor skills.

  1. Smoking

Smoking cigarettes can cause health problems to both mother and foetus during pregnancy. In addition to the risk of cardiovascular disease and lung cancer, other health risks include premature birth, cleft lip, sudden infant death syndrome and placenta issues. Pregnant women should also avoid exposure to second-hand smoke where possible. The government’s effort in prohibiting smoking at all eateries is great news for pregnant women in the nation!

  1. Taking Drugs

Illegal drugs or drug abuse of any kind are harmful regardless if one is pregnant or not. However, in the case of pregnant women using drugs illegally, the risk of miscarriages, stillbirth and congenital deformities are increased. Their new-borns can also go through neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), which is a substance withdrawal at birth.

It is also recommended to avoid taking most herbal remedies as well as certain over-the-counter (OTC) medication such as ibuprofen, certain flu, cold and acne medications during pregnancy as they may be harmful to the foetus. Do check with your doctor or pharmacist on which medication and supplements that are safe to consume when you are pregnant.

  1. Risky Food

Sushi and raw food lovers, we have some bad news for you. Raw food may contain salmonella and toxoplasmosis as well as pose a risk for foodborne illnesses. Even pre-made salad, Caesar salad dressing (which contains raw eggs), deli meats, unpasteurized dairy protects and certain soft cheeses may contain listeria and other bacteria that can trigger food poisoning. Such bacteria may be fatal to the foetus.

Fish that are high in mercury such as mackerel, swordfish and shark should also be avoided as it may cause brain damage as well as hearing and vision problems to the foetus.

  1. Too Much Caffeine

Caffeine can affect the foetus and quantities that are higher than 300 mg per day may be harmful to the foetus. It can increase the risk of miscarriages and cause low birth weight. Researchers recommend that women consume no more than 1.5 cups of coffee a day, which is equivalent to 200 mg of caffeine.

  1. Stress

Stress can trigger hormones to be released into your body, harming your baby and potentially inducing nausea. Try as much as possible to take things easy at work and home, practice deep cleansing breaths and meditate daily.

While relaxing in a hot tub or sauna may sound like a good de-stressing method, experts strongly recommend that you avoid this while you’re pregnant. Hot baths can cause hyperthermia (unnaturally high body temperature), which may cause congenital deformities. So avoid activities that may lead to hyperthermia such as hot yoga, sunbathing and vigorous exercises.

  1. Strong Scents

If you are suffering from morning sickness, know that crazy hormonal imbalance makes you very sensitive to smells, nice or otherwise. Avoid any strong scents, leave the windows open and let the fresh air into your home. Don’t be shy to tell your spouse and family members if they are using perfumes or strong smelling deodorants that irritate your senses. Your loved ones will surely want to consider your feelings and do what they can to ease your morning sickness.

  1. Contact Sports

Pregnant women will experience hormonal changes in the body that causes the ligaments to become looser making them prone to injury. As such it is best to avoid contact sports like muay thai, netball or boxing, which can also increase the risk of placental abruption, i.e., the separation of the placenta from the uterine wall. Contact sports can lead to premature births, miscarriages or stillbirth.

  1. Heavy Lifting

It is also best for pregnant women to avoid heavy lifting at home or the gym as it can increase the risk of pre-term labour, low birth weight, pulled muscles and hernia.

  1. Changing The Litter Box

If you are a pregnant cat owner, you need to stop changing the litter box pronto. Get someone else to the job. Cleaning the dirty litter box exposes you to the risk of toxoplasmosis. If a pregnant woman passes toxoplasmosis to her foetus, the baby may develop severe symptoms including blindness, brain damage, eye damage and intellectual disabilities.

Knowledge Is Power!

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times of your life. The moment you see the wonderful result indicated by pregnancy tests such as the 99% accurate Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator, you can take the steps necessary to ensure a smooth journey ahead. This includes avoiding all the no-nos mentioned above.

The kit is equipped with a Conception Indicator for double confirmation of pregnancy results and a Smart Dual Sensor™, which not only tells you in words if you’re pregnant or not but also indicates how far along you are.