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From the moment you have a positive pregnancy test, you will have so many people telling you what you should do and what you should avoid during pregnancy. Of course, you should always listen to your OB, but it can be hard to determine what is true and what is not when it comes to advice you receive from friends, family, and even the internet!
So here is the down and dirty… a simple and quick list of things you should avoid during pregnancy… and why!
You should avoid all types of smoking during pregnancy. This means avoiding cigarettes, cigars, vaping, marijuana and any other smoked substances (but we will discuss that later!).
Even though you are the one inhaling smoke during pregnancy, smoking of any kind can have harmful effects on the baby. Smoking can change the way blood flows through the placenta to the baby and can not only damage your growing baby’s lungs and brain, but it can also cause an increased risk of certain birth defects like cleft lip and cleft palate.
Smoking has also been linked to premature delivery. This means a baby is at risk of being born too early, before they are fully developed and ready to face the world. Smoking can slow your baby’s growth during your pregnancy and has also been linked to low-birth-weight babies, which can make it harder for a baby to grow and thrive in his or her early days of life.
Smoking can affect the baby, but it can also make it so you are more at risk for abnormal bleeding during pregnancy and even during your delivery.
Let’s start with the hard truth… no amount of drugs or alcohol are safe during pregnancy!
Marijuana is the most used substance during pregnancy. Even though marijuana is legal at the state level in some areas, it does not mean it comes without risks during pregnancy. Smoking, ingesting (this includes edibles), vaping and even inhaling secondhand marijuana smoke during pregnancy can cause low birth weight babies, stillbirth and premature birth.
Exposure during pregnancy also changes the way the baby’s brain grows and develops which can lead to developmental delays and learning disabilities later in life.
Although legal for those who are over 21, no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. Alcohol passes through the placenta and reaches the baby in the same concentration as mom experiences.
Even small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy have been linked to miscarriage, preterm delivery, and stillbirth deliveries. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy has also been shown to cause SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in newborns.
Your baby’s brain is developing all through the pregnancy, and according to the CDC, “Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause a range of lifelong behavioral, intellectual, and physical disabilities known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).”
If you feel you have a problem stopping the use of drugs or alcohol, it is best to speak with your OB.
It is important to avoid all illicit and recreational substances during pregnancy. Babies exposed to drugs like cocaine, methamphetamines, Ecstasy, Heroine, and prescription drugs often have neonatal withdrawal symptoms and can have issues with growth and development as well as difficulty with emotional regulation and memory.
These types of substances can have effects on mom during pregnancy too, causing placental abruption and organ damage.
Remember, no amount of substance or alcohol use is OK during pregnancy, and it should be avoided during pregnancy.
Okay, okay… you don’t really need to avoid cats during pregnancy, but you do need to avoid scooping cat litter during pregnancy. Although it is rare, some women can develop Toxoplasmosis from handling cat feces (feces is a fancy work for poop!).
Toxoplasmosis can lead to congenital birth defects, miscarriage, fetal death, and brain damage in the developing baby. It is recommended that you avoid changing cat litter throughout your pregnancy.
That is a long list, and I am sure you must be asking yourself, “What can I eat?” The items listed above can carry different bacteria including Listeria, Toxoplasmosis, Salmonella, E. Coli and more. These bacteria can have serious consequences during pregnancy and can have harmful effects on your growing baby.
What does this mean? You must make sure you cook or reheat all meat to the proper temperature. Check out this link to find a list of proper temperatures.
You must avoid all sushi during pregnancy… because sushi generally means raw fish. It is ok to eat rolls that contain no raw meat like cucumber rolls or other vegetable rolls. And it is ok to consume rolls that contain cooked fish… but minimize fish containing high mercury levels.
When it comes to cheese and dairy, you should make sure they are pasteurized (this kills the harmful bacteria); check out this link to see what is allowed during pregnancy.
Most of us really love our coffee, so this one can be tough. Of course, you should defer to your OB regarding how much caffeine they recommend, but most doctors will tell you a little bit of caffeine is ok.
How much is a little bit? Most doctors recommend keeping your caffeine levels under 200 mg/day. Studies show that women who consume excessive amounts of caffeine are more than twice as likely to have a miscarriage. Caffeine passes through the placenta to the baby and can increase heartrate, blood pressure, and can impact circulation.
Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it makes you pee more… which can lead to dehydration. Dehydration has been linked to pre-term delivery. So, if you are going to drink caffeine, make sure you check with your OB, keep it under 200mg/day, and stay hydrated with plenty of water, juice, or other non-caffeine containing liquid.
It is important to remember that caffeine isn’t just found in coffee. It can be found in other drinks like soda and energy drinks, in foods like chocolate, and in some medications (like Excedrin). Make sure you check the labels to avoid excessive caffeine!
If you are pregnant, we are here to help! Check out our other blogs related to pregnancy.
If you just found out you’re pregnant and you’re not sure about your next step, call or click the button below to schedule an appointment with us here at Alcove Health Women’s Clinic, where our free and confidential services include:
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