Eleven Habits You Should Avoid During Pregnancy

In this article you can find out what habits. you need to avoid during your pregnancy to keep you and your baby healthy.

If you are expecting a baby, you need to change some habits to take care of your health as well as your baby’s. In this article, we present some of the habits that you should avoid during pregnancy. Do not miss it!

Habits you should avoid during pregnancy

In everyday life we often have different habits that in some cases are neither good nor healthy. However, when you are pregnant, it is important to be aware of these habits to avoid problems.

Of course, your doctor has already given you these instructions. However, you can read this article to refresh your memory.

1. Smoking is something you should avoid during pregnancy

One of the first tips that pregnant women hear is “quit smoking”. According to many studies , smoking during pregnancy can affect the baby’s development.

Among the biggest problems that tobacco can cause are:

Low birth weight
Increased risk of premature birth
Increased risk of deformities of the face, extremities, kidney or heart
Impaired lung function
Increased risk of sudden death.

2. Alcohol intake

Pregnant woman with wine shows habits that should be avoided during pregnancy

Another habit to avoid during pregnancy is to drink alcohol. If you used to go out and drink with your friends, remember that you should now drink water or other non-alcoholic beverages.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. This is because alcohol goes directly into the baby’s bloodstream. This is very toxic to babies.

Babies who are repeatedly exposed to alcohol may suffer from:

Fetal alcohol syndrome that includes a range of physical, cognitive and mental developmental problems
Obstructed growth and / or developmental delays
Brain dysfunction
Malformations of the face.

3. Eating raw fish during pregnancy

Eating sushi or other fish dishes that contain raw fish during pregnancy can put your unborn baby at risk. Did you know that you can get food poisoning or infections caused by the parasites in raw fish?

Consult your doctor and follow their instructions regarding the intake of raw fish. Getting seriously ill due to anisakiasis , for example, can endanger your pregnancy and your health.

4. Not drinking enough water

Although doctors recommend drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water a day, we often do not meet these daily requirements. Dehydration during pregnancy can cause fatigue, cramps, constipation and heartburn.

However, the consequences for your baby can be more serious:

Problems with amniotic fluid
Increased risk of premature birth
Problems with the placenta as it mostly consists of water.

5. Prolonged stress

Woman hiding face behind hands pointing fingers at office

Modern life makes people do a thousand things a day. Since persistent stress can harm your baby, avoid stress during pregnancy. If you are stressed, try to relax by doing physical activities such as swimming or yoga for pregnant women.

One study concluded that pregnant women who suffer from prolonged periods of stress have an increased risk of their baby developing physical or mental illnesses, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

6. Eating raw meat and sausages

The bacteria that cause toxoplasmosis and salmonellosis can be transmitted through the consumption of raw or meat that has not been cooked long enough (not only carpaccio, but also ham).

Although this disease may not be serious for you, it can cause birth defects in your baby.

7. Eat raw eggs

If the eggs you eat are not fully cooked, you could get salmonellosis , an infection that can even cause miscarriage.

You should also be careful with mayonnaise and other preparations made with raw eggs.

Intake of unpasteurized dairy products should be avoided during pregnancy

Another habit to avoid during pregnancy is the use of unpasteurized dairy products. This is because unpasteurized milk and dairy products can contain bacteria and, among other things, cause listeriosis, a disease that can cause miscarriage or problems in your baby.

9. Eat an unbalanced diet

A diet based on fat and sugar is not nutritious. In fact, it would not be good for you even if you were not pregnant! During pregnancy, you should also avoid foods high in saturated fat and empty calories to avoid gaining too much weight.

This recommendation is about more than just looking good. Excessive weight gain is associated with problems such as high blood pressure (and the risk of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes among other conditions).

10. Drinking too much coffee

While the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that no association has been found between moderate coffee intake (less than 200 mg daily) and premature birth and miscarriage, other studies concluded that more than 200 mg may increase the risk.

11. Air travel can be something to avoid during pregnancy

Although flying is not advised in risk-free pregnancies, always consult your doctor before going on an adventure! During the first three and last two months of pregnancy, experts often recommend avoiding flying.

If your pregnancy is risky, you will not be allowed to fly during pregnancy to protect your baby. Consult your doctor before buying your plane ticket!

Aside from this list, ask your doctor what other habits you should avoid during pregnancy to keep you and your baby healthy. If at any given time it becomes difficult for you to avoid these habits or others, remember that you will get your baby in your arms within a few months.