Things to Avoid During Pregnancy

Dr.Madhulika Sinha, 4 mins read

Pregnancy is a joyful moment for a mother and her family too. But some stress and tensions also come along with it, which needs to be managed properly. You can share this with your doctor. She will guide you through the pregnancy and delivery time. 

Most pregnant women don’t need to make major changes in their lifestyle and can continue to do their regular activities. But there are a few things which you should limit or avoid during pregnancy.

• Caffeine

It is a natural stimulant that is found in a variety of foods and beverages, such as coffee, chocolate, tea, etc. We regularly take some amount of caffeine in some form. But taking this too much during pregnancy is not good.

Experts believe that taking caffeine in extra amounts can be harmful to the foetus and may raise the risk of low birth weight and pregnancy loss. However, there is still more need to study this to reach a conclusion. But taking precautions from your side is always a wise decision. Still, if you have caffeine cravings, don’t take more than 300 milligrams of it per day.

• Alcohol

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to many problems. Alcohol can cross the placenta and affect the foetus. This can increase the risk of premature birth, miscarriage and low birth weight. Also, this can lead to foetal alcohol syndrome that can impact the baby after birth, leading to growth problems and brain damage. So, pregnant women should avert alcohol.

• Sports

Playing contact sports like football or boxing during pregnancy increases the risk of placenta abruption, meaning separation of the placenta from the uterine wall. Placenta abruption is a very serious condition that can lead to preterm birth, stillbirth or pregnancy loss. Moreover, there is also a risk of falls in these sports. So, it’s better to avoid contact sports and other activities which may affect your pregnancy. You can ask your doctor about what physical activities you can do.

• Heavy Weight Lifting

During pregnancy, the body undergoes many changes. At this moment, healthy exercises can power you to manage aches and pain. But you should be very careful while deciding on an exercise regimen. You should avoid heavy weight lifting as it can increase the risk of preterm birth, low-birth weight, hernias and pulled muscles.

• Smoking

Cigarettes are full of harmful chemicals that can affect both the mother and foetus. Smoking can restrict the oxygen supply to your baby and cause other problems too, such as:

• Problems in placenta
• Premature birth
• Sudden infant death syndrome
• Congenital abnormalities
• Increased risk of developing blood clots

So, the day you get to know about your pregnancy, avoid smoking and even secondhand smoke. If you are struggling to quit smoking, talk to a healthcare provider.

• Drugs

The use of drugs is always dangerous. They are even more harmful during pregnancy. They can cause a baby to go through neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Babies with NAS require substance withdrawal at birth. a

• Some foods

It’s common for pregnant women to avoid some food due to changes in taste. But there are some foods which every pregnant woman should avoid. These include unpasteurized dairy products, unwashed produce, deli meats, raw eggs and fish, etc.

• Hot tubs

Relaxing in hot tubs may seem an effective way to ease pregnancy discomfort. But experts say hot tubs and saunas can cause hyperthermia (abnormally high body temperature). Hyperthermia can lead to congenital abnormalities. In addition, a few other activities can also raise the body temperature, like exposure to extreme heat, dehydration, strenuous exercises, sunbathing for a long time, etc.

• Certain medications

You should avoid taking any medicine without your doctor’s prescription. That’s because some medications can affect the foetus. These include ACE inhibitors, some acne medications, herbal remedies, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc.

Also, Read: Prenatal Nutrition: What You Should Include in Your Diet