JustMommies / Pregnancy / Do's and Don'ts

Warning: 10 Things Pregnant Women Should Avoid

By Jennifer Polimino, C.P.T

Nothing is more important to an expectant mom than the health and safety of her unborn child. Fortunately, you can protect your baby by avoiding risks that can complicate a pregnancy or cause harm to your baby.

This list of 10 things pregnant women should avoid will answer questions and put your mind at ease, which in turn helps with the first item on our list...

1) Avoid stress

Stress and tension attacks your physical body in surprising ways. For example, in pregnant women, stress can cause constipation, back pain, insomnia, and even lead to preterm or low birth weight.

2) Avoid tobacco smoke

Smoking is extremely harmful to your unborn baby (as well as to yourself) and must be completely avoided. In fact, it’s so harmful, that pregnant women should even avoid other people’s smoke.

When you smoke, your baby gets less oxygen, which can cause your baby to grow more slowly and gain less weight. Tobacco smoke has also been linked to preterm labor and other pregnancy complications.

3) Avoid OTC Medication, including Aspirin

Over the Counter (OTC) medication should be avoided, unless specifically approved by your doctor, because everything you take passes through your placenta to your unborn baby also.

4) Avoid the Cat's Litter Box

On the rare chance that your cat carries toxoplasmosis, you should get someone else to change the cat’s litter box while you’re pregnant. If you have no one else, wear plastic gloves and wash your hands afterward. Toxoplasmosis is a disease that can cause birth defects in children. Outdoor cats may get it if they eat prey that carried toxoplasmosis, and the cat will not necessarily show any symptoms. However, this does not mean you have to get rid of your cat while you’re pregnant.

5) Avoid Caffeine

During pregnancy, it’s wise to avoid coffee, tea, or sodas that contain caffeine, because when you drink caffeine, you’re also feeding this stimulant to your unborn baby. Caffeine stimulates the heart and brain, and is an addictive substance with drug-like qualities.

6) Avoid Vitamin A Supplements

Vitamin A is abundant in so many foods, it’s extremely rare to find a person who lacks vitamin A. And if you get too much of it during pregnancy, it can be toxic to the baby and may cause birth defects or miscarriage.

During pregnancy, you need 770 micrograms of vitamin A. While breastfeeding, you need 1,300 micrograms. If you’re looking at a label that measures in IU (International Unit), then you can have up to 10,000 IUs of vitamin A.

7) Avoid Pesticides, including Paint

During the first trimester, the baby's nervous system is growing rapidly, so it's especially important to avoid pesticides and toxic fumes during that time. Read the labels of household cleaners for toxic substances and consider using natural cleaners such as baking soda and vinegar.

Pregnant women should avoid stripping paint, because if the house was built before 1978, there is a good chance some of the layers contain lead. Lead has been shown to harm the baby's developing brain and nervous system.

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By greengramma on 01/24/12 at 3:22 pm

Toxoplasmosis is one of the common diseases in dogs. It is a parasitic disease which is caused by parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The severity of thi ...

By queenoonagh on 09/24/11 at 6:31 am

I switched to Dattero, it still have caffeine but 14 time less the amount of regular coffee.
I love it cause when I sit with friends I don't feel ...