There is a lot of advice that will be coming your way about what to do and what not to do while pregnant. It can be a little overwhelming and even unsettling at times. That being said, there are certain things and activities that need to be avoided for the sake of your own and your child’s health. What Not to Do While Pregnant 1.Don’t Eat These Foods The primary reason to avoid certain kind of food is to reduce any possible risk of contracting an infection. This list of food includes sushi, clams, mussels or any other kind of uncooked seafood. Even other kinds of meat that are eaten raw or rare should be avoided during this time. Meat that is uncooked or undercooked carries the risk of harboring toxoplasmosis or salmonella infection. Similarly, deli meat should be avoided because it can contain listeria, a bacteria that can life-threatening to the fetus. Raw eggs, unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses or refrigerated seafood should also be avoided during pregnancy because of similar risks of infection. 2.Don’t Overdo It on the Caffeine Caffeine is a stimulant that crosses the placenta and so even if you need it to function properly, remember to keep a tight check on the amount you are ingesting to avoid causing your baby harm. Coffee can increase the blood pressure and increase your trips to the bathroom as well. Doctors allow around 150-300 mg of caffeine per day from all sources combined but advise against anything more. Having too much of caffeine is high on the list of what not to do while pregnant. 3.Don’t Take Certain Medications One of the first things that your doctor will tell you during your pregnancy is not to self-medicate or listen to any advice from friends or family. The intentions of such actions may be well-intentioned but can cause real and permanent damage to your baby. No over the counter medication unless cleared by your physician or explicitly prescribed by your doctor should be taken during pregnancy. Even seemingly harmless medicines such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen or Aspirin should not be taken without your doctor’s consent. 4.Don’t Wear Stilettos Those lovely stilettos that you love wearing on night’s out should be wrapped up and kept in storage until you have delivered your child. It may not seem obvious but the center of balance changes as your belly grows and you put on weight all over. This can make you unsteady especially if you add swollen ankles into the mix as well. Wear heels less than 3 inches if you must or not at all. There is also a good chance that your feet don’t really fit into the slinky footwear like they once did and so the decision might be taken out of your hand completely. 5.Don’t Hang out in the Hot Tub or Sauna This is one of the lesser known things about what not to do while pregnant. Being pregnant is tiring and a relaxing time in the hot tub can sound ideal. Unfortunately, though, this prolonged period of time in the hot tub has been found to be very damaging for the developing fetus. Doctors recommend taking a warm shower instead of a hot tub to help you wash away those aches and pains. Keep the temperature of the shower to warm as well rather than too hot. 6.Don’t Change the Kitty Litter This is important for all the cat owners out there because they may have to change up something that has been routine for them all throughout. Have someone else change out the kitty litter once you are pregnant or wear gloves while doing it yourselves. Pregnant women run the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis from cat feces and even though the chances are slim, doctors recommend they avoid doing so. 7.Don’t Breathe Secondhand Smoke The harmful effects of smoking while pregnant and otherwise are pretty well documented. Most people are aware of the risks that it carries but not all of them are aware that second-hand smoke is almost as dangerous to them as smoking itself. There are an estimated 4000 chemicals that are released in second-hand smoke, including some that are linked to the occurrence of cancer. Smoking around a pregnant woman is an absolute no-no and breathing in second-hand smoke is non-negotiable what not to do while pregnant rule. 8.Don’t Drink Drinking during pregnancy is one of the things that can sometimes be looked upon with a little leeway by some people. It is important to understand that there is no amount of alcohol that can be safely ingested during pregnancy. The alcohol passes through the placenta and umbilical cord to the baby and can cause long lasting damage even in seemingly small amounts. Drinking during pregnancy has been associated with the occurrence of premature births, brain damage, stillbirths, miscarriages as well certain birth defects. Think long and hard about the effects that drink can have before deciding if it's actually worth it. 9.Don’t Sit or Stand for Too Long Sitting in position or standing for a prolonged period of time is to be avoided during pregnancy unless specifically advised by the doctor. There are well known adverse effects of continuous pressure on one part of the body as that can affect the circulation, cause swollen ankles, legs and exacerbate deep vein problems. Take short breaks and continue moving about during your pregnancy. 10. Don’t Do Extreme Exercises A moderate amount of exercise is encouraged during pregnancy but anything that requires extreme exertion or contorting in difficult positions comes in the what not do while pregnant list. Try and ensure that your heart rate does not go above 160 beats per minute since it can have an adverse effect on the amount of oxygen being transported to the fetus and possible cause brain damage. 11. Avoid X-Rays X-ray radiation can cause a lot of damage to the developing fetus, especially in the first trimester when the process of organogenesis is going on. If exposure to X-rays is a must and has been advised by your doctor then the belly should be protected by a lead apron so that the least amount of exposure occurs. X ray exposure can cause malignancies, birth defects and mortality in the fetus of care is not taken. Source
