What are the Precautions followed during Pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body goes through several changes and adjustments. Staying healthy during this tumultuous period depends on how well you take care of yourself. To be healthy during pregnancy, there are certain precautions that you must take.

Quit Harmful Habits

To prevent pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes, risk of miscarriage and premature delivery, quit smoking and drinking in the first few weeks of pregnancy. Alcohol consumption can lead to fontal alcohol syndrome in which the baby develops unusual facial features and doesn’t have a normal brain development. Apart from this, drug intake and smoking during pregnancy can result in the following complications:

• Sudden infant death syndrome.
• Stillbirth.
• Premature childbirth.
• Low birth weight.
• Risk of asthma in later life.

Foods to Avoid

Eating healthy and wisely is a prerequisite to risk-free pregnancy. Here is a list of certain food items that are best avoided during pregnancy.

• Certain kinds of fish, such as tuna, king mackerel and tilefish are high on mercury and can result in baby’s mental retardation.
• Avoid consuming unpasteurized cheese and items containing raw eggs, such as salad dressing and mousse. Raw fish, processed meats and packaged items should be avoided as they include bacteria that may cause birth defects and in severe cases, lead to miscarriage.
• Fruits, such as papaya, grapes and pineapple are considered unhealthy during pregnancy. Unripe and semi-ripe papayas are known to trigger uterine contractions resulting in early delivery. Pineapples are also known to induce labour before the due date. Also, don’t eat unwashed raw fruits and vegetables during pregnancy.
• Limit your coffee intake and stay away from green and black tea, cold drinks and sodas.

Avoid Strong Smells 

During pregnancy, the sense of smell increases and can possibly worsen conditions, such as morning sickness, queasiness, vomiting and nausea. Stay away from strong odours and stop using perfumes with a strong smell.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration during the first trimester of pregnancy is potent to cause miscarriage, says the American Pregnancy Association. This is true because in the early stages, the body needs to make various adjustments to nurture the foetus and meet its requirements. Drink plenty of water, take fresh fruit juices and eat watery fruits, such as watermelon, muskmelon and cucumber.

Stay away from Animals

Limit your contact with animals or you may come in contact with toxoplasma Gondi, a harmful parasite that if come in contact with can attack the fetus and cause lifelong damage to the fetus. This parasite may cause:

• severe eye defects in the baby
• poor physical growth and
• Premature birth.