5 Things You Must Avoid For A Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time when you take absolute good care of yourself. If you’ve been a bit negligent about your health in the past, you’ll need to shape up and be more intentional about your well-being now that you are nurturing a life inside you. 

There are a lot of beliefs about pregnancy that have turned out to be mere myths. The best person to ask about your health during pregnancy is none other than your ob-gynecologist. Here are some things that doctors recommend a pregnant woman to avoid for a healthy pregnancy.

1. Excessive caffeine intake.

Bad news for coffee lovers: you will have to cut down on your cuppa joe if you’re expecting, because high levels of caffeine may affect your baby’s weight at birth, among others, according to NHS.uk. Up to 200 mg of coffee, tea, or chocolate drink per day (about one 12 oz cup) is allowable.

2. Taking ibuprofen and aspirin.

Sometimes a headache or body pain can be hard to sit through, but if you absolutely must take medication for it, consult with your doctor beforehand. Paracetamol is generally approved for pregnant women as long as directions for use and dosage are strictly followed. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin, recommends Parents, because they may trigger birth defects and increase risks for miscarriage. 

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3. Long baths are allowed, but hot tubs aren’t.

A woman’s body temperature increases when she is pregnant, so a long and refreshing bath is such a relief! As long as you don’t indulge in a hot bath and sit in it for a long period of time, you can take baths as much as you want. Hot tubs, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy, are discouraged because they could cause birth defects in babies, according to the American Pregnancy Association.

4. Picking up the cat litter.

Aside from its repulsive smell that could aggravate your nausea, cat poo contains parasites that may cause toxoplasmosis, an infection characterized by fever, muscle aches and pains, and sore throat. In rare cases, it may cause miscarriage or stillbirths, says the NHS.

5. Not exercising.

Many women assume they will automatically know how to push when delivery time comes, and it may be true. Exercising the main muscles involved in pushing your baby out will be beneficial, but many women tend to neglect this. Do Kegel exercises twice a day to not only prepare you for childbirth, but also to avoid having a leaky bladder after giving birth.    

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