Most pregnant women can keep on doing their everyday activities and only have minor lifestyle adjustments. The main priority during pregnancy is the health and well-being of you and the developing and inside you, therefore, it’s highly advised there are some dangerous things to avoid for your baby.
We will review the 13 dangerous things to avoid for your baby and explain why they are risky, so read on:
Smoking
Smoking during pregnancy is among the most dangerous things to avoid for your baby because it can cause heart disease and lung cancer. Also, it can provoke the following health problems during and after motherhood:
- premature birth
- problems with the placenta
- sudden newborn death syndrome
- congenital malformations, like cleft palate or cleft lip
Drugs
While illegal substances are always harmful, they are even more dangerous during pregnancy. Abusing or taking illegal drugs or prescription drugs can trigger neonatal abstinence syndrome. An infant with NAS undergoes substance withdrawal during childbirth.
Also, drug use can incite the danger of miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and congenital malformations.
Eating some foods
There are certain foods to avoid during early pregnancy because it either affects their sense of smell or makes them vomit. The following are foods to avoid in the first month of pregnancy:
- Raw eggs
- Deli salads and lunch meat
- Soft cheeses
- Dairy and unpasteurized juice
- Fish high in mercury
- Fish and raw meat
Alcohol
Alcohol is a big NO for pregnant women because once it crosses the placenta it can affect the fetus and it can cause fetal alcohol syndrome.
A baby fetus baby inside the womb may develop many different disorders and these can cause some health problems such as:
- poor growth
- physical defects
- child-development delays
- mental disabilities
- reduced dexterity and fine motor skills
- behavioral issues
- seizures
Too much caffeine
Like alcohol, caffeine can enter the placenta and impact the baby fetus.
While much of the information about pregnancy caffeine intake is still ongoing, the study shows that it’s best to limit or even stop consuming caffeine to 300mg daily. Experts think that amount over this ratio is detrimental to the baby and this one of the things to avoid during pregnancy that cause miscarriage and decreases birth weight.
Contact sports
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, contact sports like boxing or football are some of the movements you shouldn’t do while pregnant.
This can induce the danger of placental abruption which is the early split of the placenta from the uterine wall. This is a serious problem that can result in pregnancy loss, preterm birth or stillbirth.
Saunas, hot tubs and overheating
While sauna or hot tubs may sound a relaxing and comforting way to alleviate the pregnancy discomfort, but experts are one of the dangerous things to avoid for your baby.
Activities with fall risk
Precautions during pregnancy are very important to avoid unfortunate events from happening. Rock climbing, ice-skating and skiing are some of the activities that bear the threat of falling and therefore, they should not be done.
Amusement rides
Park rides like roller coasters or any rides that start and suddenly stop are not allowed for pregnant women. The jolting motion of these amusement rides can trigger the abruption of the placenta.
Changing a litter box
Household activities to avoid during pregnancy are changing a litter box because it can result in toxoplasmosis.
Heavy lifting
The American Pregnancy Association said that movements you shouldn’t do while pregnant is heavy lifting. Carrying heavy objects can induce the danger of:
- preterm labor
- hernias
- pulled muscles
- low birth weight
Using some prescriptions
Pregnant women should avoid some over the counter (OTC) and prescription medications while pregnant, as these can harm the fetus.
Health doctors advise these dangerous things to avoid for your baby:
- most herbal medicines
- ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory treatments
- ACE inhibitors
- acne treatments
- cold and flu medicines that have unique ingredients
- some cold prescriptions in the first trimester
Some exercises
While doctors suggest that pregnant women must exercise, there are activities to avoid during pregnancy such as:
- jumping, leaping and bouncing
- jerky or jarring activities
- sudden changes in movements
- abdominal drills like sit-ups, after the first trimester
Conclusion
If pregnant women take some careful precautions, they can continue doing their normal activities. But if you’re hesitant, it’s important to go see a doctor about the dangerous things to avoid for your baby.
Some pregnant women have a higher risk of preterm labor and other complications; therefore, there are other extra movements you shouldn’t do while pregnant that this article doesn’t include.
Read also:
- Ambien: Is it Safe to be Taken During Pregnancy?
- Housework Types That a Pregnant Woman Should Avoid
- 3 Tips on How to Recover Physically and Emotionally from Childbirth
