There is so much information out there that about pregnancy and keeping your unborn child safe during the crucial development in the womb. In fact, there is so much information that it can get a bit overwhelming. While out to a restaurant with girlfriends the other day, I expressed that I was really wanting a cup of tea but that I wasn’t supposed to drink tea while pregnant. One of my friends stated that her doctor never said anything about tea and she drank it all the time. This got me thinking….why are we all getting different information and is there a place where you can go to get ONE LIST of do’s and don’ts? The answer is….NOPE! Oh believe me, there are lists and lists, but none that compile everything into one document. By no means am I a doctor nor do I specialize in prenatal care, but I am a pregnant momma who is seeking the answers for her own benefit to share with all of you and I think that the research I have done is sufficient for any pregnant woman out there.
1. Do Take a Multivitamin
I truly believe that eating a balanced diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals…which is the best way to provide your body with all of the healthy nutrients it needs to support a growing baby. A healthy diet alone, however, may NOT be enough for pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins contain higher levels of certain nutrients that expectant mothers require at higher doses, such as folic acid, calcium, and iron. These vitamins assist with proper development of the fetus and help to prevent birth defects. Your doctor can help you find a multivitamin or a series of vitamins that are best for you. It will usually include DHA and/or EPA, which are omega-3 fats that are important for your baby’s proper brain development.
2. Don’t Smoke
Babies born to women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a lower birth weight and are at a greater risk for learning disabilities than children born to non-smoking mothers. Additionally, children born to women who smoke are more likely to try smoking at an earlier age and become regular smokers earlier, due to physiologic nicotine addiction.
3. Do Get Lots of Sleep
Although getting lots of sleep is tricky, changing hormone levels, anticipation, and anxiety can make sleep elusive during your nine months of pregnancy. Pregnancy is demanding, especially in the final trimester, and you will need your sleep. Take a quick snooze if you feel tired and schedule naps whenever you can. Set bedtimes and stick to them. Aim for seven to nine hours of shuteye each night. Fatigue is a sign that your body needs more rest, so give yourself all the Zzz’s you can.
4. Don’t Drink Alcohol
Alcohol may greatly impact your baby’s development. Women who drink alcohol while pregnant could deliver a baby with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Symptoms of FAS include low birth weight, learning disabilities, behavior problems, and lagging patterns in terms of growth and development milestones. If you need help to quit drinking while you’re pregnant, talk with your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you get help, the healthier your baby is likely to be.
5. Do Work Out
Gone are the days of pregnant women avoiding lifting a finger during their pregnancies. We now know that exercise is good for mama and baby! In fact, regular exercise may help you combat many of the issues that arise during pregnancy, including insomnia, muscle pain, excessive weight gain, and mood problems.
If you were a regular exerciser before you became pregnant, keep it up. Talk with your doctor about any adjustments you should make to your routine, especially as you move into your second and third trimesters. If you did not exercise regularly before you found out you were expecting, ask your doctor about incorporating a fitness routine into your day. They can guide you into a program that is safe and comfortable for you and your growing baby.
6. Don’t Eat Raw Meat
Raw and undercooked meat and eggs carry the risk of food-borne illness, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis. Food poisoning is also a possibility. These conditions can cause serious, life-threatening illnesses that could lead to severe birth defects and even miscarriage. Make sure all eggs and meat that you eat while pregnant are well-cooked.
7. Do Eat Seafood
This topic was one in our household as my hubby wasn’t so sure I should be eating any seafood for these 9 months. I did the research and found that seafood is loaded with vitamins and minerals, such as heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and iron, which are important for both mom and baby. Unfortunately, undercooked or raw seafood can also cause some problems. Seafood may carry harmful bacteria and viruses, which are eliminated when thoroughly cooked. Also, pregnant women should avoid raw fish and fish that may contain high levels of mercury, such as shark, swordfish, tilefish, and king mackerel. Eat a variety of seafood so you don’t have a concentration of minerals from one type of fish, and eat no more than 12 ounces of fish per week.
8. Don’t Eat Deli Meat
Deli meats, including hot dogs, sausages, smoked salmon, and other cured meats, can cause food-borne illness, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmoisis. Thoroughly cooking these processed proteins well reduces your risk. It’s also important to eat pasteurized (not raw) milk and cheese, and always wash produce to help eliminate harmful bacteria.
9. Do Have Sex
Sex during pregnancy is fine, as long as you don’t have a complicating factor such as placenta previa or another type of high-risk pregnancy. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about the safety of intercourse during your pregnancy.
10. Don’t Eat Unpasteurized Milk Products
Calcium is very important for growing babies, but us moms have to be careful how we get our calcium from dairy. Raw milk is not recommended for expecting mothers. Raw milk is unpasteurized. That means it has not been heated to kill bacteria that could make you ill. Specifically, raw milk may contain Listeria. This bacterial illness can lead to illness, miscarriage, or even life-threatening consequences.
11. Do Practice Yoga
You should avoid Bikram or hot yoga, but other yoga modalities are fine when you’re expecting. Seek out prenatal or gentle yoga classes that are designed for mothers-to-be. Instructors in these classes will know which poses are best and which you should avoid. If you were not doing yoga before you became pregnant, talk with your doctor before signing up for a class. While it’s possible you can start, it’s best to go over the risks and concerns with your doctor.
12. Don’t Sit in a Hot Tub or Sauna
Though relaxing, the high-heat environment of hot tubs, jacuzzis, and saunas may be too dangerous for us expecting mommas. In fact, research suggests that using one of these during your first trimester may double your risk of miscarriage.
13. Do Get a Flu Shot
Pregnant women can and should get a flu vaccine as long as you don’t have a contraindication as noted by the manufacturer. If you were to contract influenza during your pregnancy, the risk of severe side effects is greater than in women of the same age who are not pregnant. The vaccine will protect you as well as your developing fetus.
14. Don’t Drink a Lot of Caffeine
Caffeine can travel through the placenta and increase your baby’s heart rate. Current research suggests that women can safely consume a cup or two of coffee each day, but forego downing a triple shot latte while you’ve got a bun in the oven.
15. Do Gain Weight Smartly
The “eat for two” advice to expecting mothers isn’t a license to eat whatever you’d like. Instead, women need to be strategic about what they eat and how much. Gaining a lot of weight during pregnancy may do more harm to your baby than good. During your first trimester, you only need about 100 extra calories a day to support your growing fetus. By your third trimester, that additional calorie number is closer to 300 per day.
16. Don’t Clean the Cat’s Litter Box
Pet your furry friend all you like, though wash your hands afterwards — but don’t clean a cat’s litter box. Feline waste is filled with millions of parasites. One in particular, Toxoplasma gondii, is particularly dangerous to expecting mothers. If you are infected, you may never know it until you begin having complications with your pregnancy. A miscarriage or stillbirth is possible. Babies who are infected with this parasite may face serious health problems, including seizures and mental disabilities.
17. Do Visit Your Dentist
Trips to the dentist’s office were avoided for decades for fear that an oral cleaning might cause bacteria to spread and lead to an infection. Now we know that’s just not the case. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynocoilogists recommends that expectant mothers have a routine oral health assessment while pregnant, along with regular dental cleanings.
So there you have it! This, I feel, is a SOLID list of do’s and don’ts. Yes there are some other things out there to possibly do and/or avoid, but this list sums it all up!
Have a suggestion, feel free to leave a comment below!
0 Comments