From the moment you announce your pregnancy, you will be bombarded with a long list of dos and don’ts. The neverending advice may force you to restrict your daily activities. Well, being pregnant doesn’t mean that you should leave your normal life. The fact is that while you continue normal activities, you need to be careful about the health and safety of your baby. Sometimes, things that you do every day may not be good for your health. It is important for you to be aware of certain things that are not safe for your pregnancy. Here are a few of them.
Standing For Long Hours
Do you stand at work for a long time? It’s time for you to rethink about it. Standing in the same position for too long may not be good during pregnancy. You may end up with swollen ankles and other vein problems. It is also found that maternal standing hours per day at work is significantly associated with reduced birth weight. If you cannot avoid standing, keep one of your feet up on a footrest. Or try to take short breaks frequently to move around.
Drinking Too Much Of Coffee
If you are a person who starts your day with a cup of coffee, you don’t have to change it during pregnancy. But, that does not mean that you can rely on coffee every time you need a break from work. The dietary consumption of caffeine should not cross 300 mg/day. Moderate levels of caffeine should be fine for your body. But, too many coffees may not be a good thing.
Breathing Secondhand Smoke
All pregnant women are advised to quit smoking while pregnant. Well, not just smoking, even secondhand smoke is dangerous for your baby’s health. Tobacco smoke contains various chemicals such as carbon monoxide that can harm unborn babies. If you are exposed to secondhand smoke while pregnant, you are more likely to have low birth weight baby. Moreover, second-hand smoke is associated with miscarriage, early birth, learning or behavioral deficiencies in your child, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Hanging Out In The Hot Tub
Nothing is more relaxing than sitting in a hot tub when muscle aches trouble you during pregnancy. However, you need to use caution when you go for hot tubs for pain relief. Spending a long time in a hot tub can raise your body temperature, causing hyperthermia. This is highly dangerous because an increased body temperature during the first trimester of pregnancy raises the risk of birth defects in babies.
Sleeping On Your Back
This might be your favorite sleeping position prepregnancy. But it is best to avoid during pregnancy. This position may cause problems with breathing, the digestive system, hemorrhoids, and low blood pressure. Apart from triggering backaches, it will also impact the circulation to your heart and body.
Eating Every Other Food Item
Nutritious food is of great importance when you are pregnant. However, you need to stay away from a few foods to ensure your safety. For instance, refrigerated smoked seafood like whitefish, salmon, and mackerel is not recommended for pregnant women. Stop eating fish with high levels of mercury. Unpasteurized milk or juices, deli meat, or unpasteurized soft cheeses should be avoided.
Changing The Cat’s Litter
Cat lovers, it’s time for you to take some precautionary measures. Because, cats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis, which is a parasitic disease. Cats can shed millions of parasites in their feces. Refrain from changing cat litter when you are pregnant. If no one else is there to take up the work for you, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap afterward.
Painting The Nursery
We understand that you are excited about painting the nursery. But, it will be great if you could evade it. There are no studies about the effects of household painting on pregnancy. However, considering the chances of toxicity, you can stay away from it. The likelihood of paint toxicity is based on the chemicals and solvents found in the paint. And of course, it also depends on the amount of exposure. If you still insist on painting the nursery, make sure you have taken all the precautions.
