Nsaid Pain Relievers: High Risk
The effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen have been well-studied and these drugs pose a risk to your baby in the form of birth defects and damage to internal organsbut the risk is highest in the first trimester.
“After that, it may be okay to take NSAIDs for a short period of time, up to 32 weeks,” says Dr. Johnson. “However, you should consult with your doctor.”
Instead of NSAIDs, acetaminophen is the recommended painkiller for pregnant women, since its associated with fewer negative outcomes.
Keeping Things In Perspective
Although some things are unsafe during pregnancy, try not to spend too much time wondering and worrying. When in doubt, just use common sense if it seems like a bad idea, doesn’t need to be done right now, or might be risky, hold off at least until you’ve talked with your doctor about it. He or she can likely help ease your mind and may even say it’s fine to do something you never expected to be able to do until after your special delivery.
Above all, make sure to follow the most important healthy pregnancy habits eat right get plenty of rest steer clear of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and you’ll be well on your way to keeping both you and your baby healthy.
Undercooked Meat: Medium Risk
You can still chow down on burgers and chicken wings while pregnant, but they should be well-cooked to kill any bacteria that might be living on the raw meat. It wouldnt make your baby sick, but a salmonella infection during pregnancy could be really nasty for you.
Pork and poultry should be cooked to 165 degrees and you should order those steaks and burgers done medium well, at least.
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How Can I Stay Healthy After My Baby Is Born
After you deliver your baby, your health may be better if you try to return to a healthy weight slowly. Not losing your baby weight may lead to overweight or obesity later in life. Slowly returning to a healthy weight may lower your chances of diabetes, heart disease, and other weight-related problems.
Healthy eating, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and other healthy habits after your baby is born may help you return to a healthy weight and give you energy.
After your baby is born
- Consume foods and beverages to meet your calorie needs.
- Regular physical activity will continue to benefit your overall health. Moderate-intensity physical activity will increase your fitness and can improve your mood.
Also, physical activity does not appear to have bad effects on how much breast milk is produced, what the breast milk contains, or how much the baby grows.
Dieting For Weight Loss
Pregnant moms should under ZERO CIRCUMSTANCES intentionally diet to lose weight, unless specifically instructed to by their healthcare provider. Not gaining enough weight can cause miscarriage, premature birth, or seriously stunted development.
Healthy alternative: can maintain a healthy weight gain by eating fresh fruits and vegetables and avoiding processed foods, which will also help the post-delivery weight loss.
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Foods To Avoid In Pregnancy
When youre pregnant, everything that goes into your mouth gets shared with your growing baby. Even though some types of foods and even some types of food poisoning may not hurt you, they may harm your little one.
To avoid food poisoning, be careful not to eat any food left out of the refrigerator for more than two hours .
Be sure to limit caffeine to 200 mg a day . And, as you probably know, forget alcohol while your baby is growing inside you.
To stay safe, also avoid these foods during your pregnancy.
Meats
- Cold cuts, deli meats, hot dogs, and other ready-to-eat meats.
- Pre-stuffed, fresh, turkey or chicken
- Steak tartare or any raw meat
- Rare cuts of meat and undercooked meats
- Refrigerated pates or meat spreads.
Fish
- Locally caught bluefish, pike, salmon, striped bass, trout, and walleye
- King mackerel, shark, swordfish, and tilefish, which have high levels of mercury
- Smoked cod, smoked salmon or lox, smoked mackerel, smoked trout, smoked tuna, and smoked whitefish, or other smoked fish
- Sushi or any raw fish or raw shellfish
Eggs
- Raw cookie dough.
- Caesar salad dressing, bearnaise sauce, hollandaise sauce, mayonnaise, and any homemade dressings and sauces made with raw eggs
- Mousse, meringue, tiramisu, and any homemade desserts made with raw eggs
Milk and Cheese
- Any cheese made from unpasteurized milk.
Fruits and Veggies
Fish High In Mercury Or Pollutants
Cooked fish is OK during pregnancy, and fish high in omega-3s actually has a lot of benefits, but be picky about which types of fish you eat.
Fish from polluted waters can impact your health. Remember when the Gulf had that giant oil spill? Yeah, you wouldnt have wanted your seafood dinner coming from that ocean in 2004, and you may still not today.
To be safe, stick to wild-caught, sustainably sourced fish without added colors or hormones.
Youll also want to nix fish that can be high in mercury. Mercury can lead to brain damage and developmental delays, and when a pregnant woman consumes fish with mercury, she passes these effects on to her unborn baby.
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Eat Deli Meats Hot Dogs And Soft Cheeses
Pregnant women are 20 times more likely than other adults to get Listeriosis, a bacterial infection that causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and muscle aches, says Griffin. During pregnancy, an infection with Listeria can cause preterm labor or even stillbirth. Common foods that could be contaminated with Listeria and should be avoided include deli meats, hot dogs, soft cheeses like brie and feta, refrigerated smoked seafood, meat spreads, and raw sprouts.
Dont Clean The Litter Box
Theres no reason to fear or avoid your pet cat during pregnancy, but leave the litter box to your partner or a friend. There are millions of parasites in feline waste, and one toxoplasma gondii is especially dangerous to pregnant people.
Exposure to this parasite can increase your risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. Babies born with this parasite could develop serious health problems, including seizures and mental disabilities. It also can lead to vision problems.
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Explore Your Body And Improve Your Mood And Health
In short, masturbating during pregnancy can help you improve your mood, your health, and your life as a couple. Therefore, its time to banish the myths and stigmas surrounding this natural activity so that you can allow yourself to fully enjoy this stage. If you still have certain hesitations in this regard, consult a sexologist or a perinatal psychologist for appropriate guidance.
Stay Active During Pregnancy: Quick Tips
Physical activity is important for everyone, including people who are pregnant. Staying active during pregnancy can help you feel better right away and it can even make your labor shorter and recovery faster.
Getting active during pregnancy may also make it less likely youll have complications like:
- Gestational diabetes
- Postpartum depression
If you were already physically active before your pregnancy, its healthy to keep it up. Even if you were doing more vigorous activities like running its safe to keep doing them while youre pregnant.
And if you werent active before your pregnancy, its not too late to start!
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Dont Eat Unpasteurized Milk Products
Calcium is very important for growing babies, but moms have to be careful how they get their calcium from dairy.
Raw milk isnt recommended for expecting mothers since its unpasteurized. This means it hasnt been heated to kill bacteria that could make you ill.
Specifically, raw milk may contain the bacteria Listeria. It can lead to illness, miscarriage, or even life-threatening consequences.
Bicycling Spinning And Pregnancy
Cycling or riding a stationary bike is a good source of exercise that increases your heart rate without pounding the pavement. Cycling may become more uncomfortable during the last trimester when your belly has grown and it is a challenge to reach the handlebars. Avoid riding off the road or when the pavement is wet, both of which increase your chance of having an accident.
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Sushi And Undercooked Seafood
Like undercooked beef, raw or undercooked seafood is a big nope because of bacteria and parasites. Undercooked fish and shellfish including oysters, clams, and mussels also put you at risk of illness that could hurt your baby.
Smoked seafood is also on the Do Not Eat list. Make sure to order your salmon well done.
Taking Care Of You And Your Baby While Youre Pregnant
Last Updated July 2022 | This article was created by familydoctor.org editorial staff and reviewed by Robert “Chuck” Rich, Jr., MD, FAAFP
Its important to take care of your baby, even before he or she is born. You can do this by living a healthy lifestyle and keeping doctors appointments while youre pregnant. This is called prenatal care. Youre more likely to have a healthy birth if you maintain a healthy pregnancy.
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Factors That May Affect Your Pregnancy Diet
A balanced diet is composed of fruits, vegetables, healthy protein and dairies, plus grains. Its recommended for everyone. However, expecting moms have special dietary needs and may be given food restrictions during pregnancy. Your nutritionist may strongly advise you against eating specific foods depending on your symptoms, lifestyle, health condition, allergies and several physiological changes.
For example, consuming fruits is healthy but if it aggravates your nausea, your nutritionist may suggest an alternative or a different serving size. Aside from symptoms, other factors may contribute to your dietary plan.
Hot Tubs Saunas And Overheating
While relaxing in hot water may sound like an effective way to ease pregnancy discomfort, experts recommend avoiding hot tubs and saunas.
ACOG explains that hot tubs can cause hyperthermia, or abnormally high body temperature, which may lead to congenital abnormalities. This is predominantly a risk in the first trimester but may cause problems later in pregnancy as well.
Additional activities that may cause the body temperature to rise too high include:
- hot yoga or pilates
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What Types Of Exercises Should You Be Cautious With
Pregnancy guidelines are clear about the exercises to avoid and those with a green light. But what about the ones in the middle?
Exercises with the proceed with caution label are a bit more challenging to identify. Often, theyre unique to each pregnant person and may be influenced by what you were doing for exercise prior to that positive pregnancy test. That said, there are some general rules to follow.
First, if you exercised little before becoming pregnant, Shirazian recommends starting slowly and increasing by 5 minutes each time. Pregnancy is not the time to go full speed ahead.
If youre new to a workout routine, consider a prenatal class that will address specific needs and keep you safe.
She also cautions against exercising in high temperatures, such as doing hot yoga, since it can cause you to feel overheated. Most importantly, says Shirazian, make sure you feel comfortable while exercising and avoid shortness of breath and chest pain.
Peace Nwegbo-Banks, MD, a board certified OB-GYN, says to avoid exercises in which you lie in a supine position for a long time, as this decreases blood supply to your uterus.
Be careful when doing activities that require floor time, such as yoga, Pilates, and stretching.
Summary
Proceed with caution when it comes to exercises that require lying on your back for too long or may present a risk of falling. Also, remember to take it slow, especially if youre new to working out.
What Should You Keep In Mind Regarding Masturbation During Pregnancy
As you can see, the benefits of masturbation during gestation are multiple. But if youre still wondering whether it can be dangerous, rest assured: In a normal pregnancy, it doesnt entail any risk, quite the contrary. There may be specific cases in which masturbation is contraindicated and the doctor advises against it because its a high-risk pregnancy or because theres a threat of miscarriage. Otherwise, allow yourself to explore and enjoy.
Theres no position or practice especially indicated or discouraged for masturbation during pregnancy. You can perform this practice alone or with your partner and in the position thats most comfortable for you. Oral sex can also provide you with many of the benefits mentioned above. Finally, if youre wondering how this can influence your baby, you should know that its also positive for them.
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Consume Too Much Caffeine
Caffeine can cross the placenta and affect the fetus, just like alcohol, so its important not to consume too much caffeine while youre expecting.
Its recommended to limit caffeine intake to less than 300 milligrams per day, as many researchers believe that higher amounts can negatively affect the fetus and contribute to pregnancy health problems such as miscarriage and low birth weight. A typical 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains around 130 mg of caffeine.
If you find it difficult to give up coffee while pregnant, just be sure to monitor how much you ingest.
Low-to-moderate caffeine intake in pregnancy does not appear to be associated with any adverse effects, so if you find it difficult to give up coffee while pregnant, just be sure to monitor how much you ingest.
Exercise Guidelines During Pregnancy
Staying active during pregnancy is good for your mind and body. Unless youre considered high-risk or have a health condition that prevents you from exercising, your doctor will likely encourage you to remain active throughout your pregnancy.
If youre generally healthy and experiencing a typical pregnancy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends participating in regular exercise with the following guidelines :
- Aim for a minimum of 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week. This is equal to 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week. Add resistance exercises with weights, bands, or kettlebells at least 2 days a week.
- Include activities like brisk walking, light jogging, swimming, water aerobics, prenatal Pilates, prenatal yoga, resistance training with weights and bands, and cardio machines like elliptical trainers and recumbent bikes.
- Skip high-intensity activities or contact sports that carry an increased risk of falling or injury, such as horseback riding, rock climbing, boxing, skiing, competitive soccer, rugby, basketball, and ice hockey.
- Avoid activities that can cause you to overheat. This includes running, cycling, or doing other exercise in extreme heat or participating in a hot yoga class.
- Avoid exercise routines that require lying flat on your back for too long, especially during the last 34 months of pregnancy.
- Stay hydrated and eat before exercise. Always have water with you when working out.
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Take Care With Raw Foods
Raw fish known to harbor parasites are typically frozen before theyre sold for consumption as sushi in the United States. Freezing can also halt the growth of bacteria like salmonella, which may be present.
But freezing is not foolproof against foodborne illness, explained Dr. Christina A. Mireles DeWitt, Ph.D., an associate professor of food science and technology at Oregon State University. And it doesnt prevent cross contamination. Most peoples immune systems can handle the temporary G.I. distress resulting from eating a contaminated food, said Dr. DeWitt, but pregnant women and their babies are at higher risk for complications , so its best to avoid uncooked fish, such as sushi and raw oysters, when youre pregnant.
Its also best to avoid raw or undercooked meat. While most pregnant women are advised to avoid cleaning their cats litter boxes due to the increased risk of infection from Toxoplasma gondii a parasite that thrives in cat feces about half of the yearly toxoplasmosis infections in the United States result from eating food. Common sources include undercooked pork, lamb and wild game meat as well as raw fruits and vegetables .
Consult the F.D.A.s heat chart for instructions on how to ensure your meat is fully cooked. And wash your hands with soap and warm water after touching soil, sand, raw meat, cat litter or unwashed vegetables. The F.D.A. also recommends thoroughly washing and, if possible, peeling, fruits and veggies before eating.
Household Activities Pregnant People Should Avoid
- Do not lift or move furniture.
- Do not climb up on footstools or chairs to grab items that are out of reach. This can result in a serious fall.
- Be mindful of how long youre on your feet and remember to take a seat occasionally. In the kitchen, its easy to forget youve been standing for hours, especially when cooking a big meal or washing dishes.
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Take Care Of Yourself
This list of dos and donts in the first trimester of pregnancy may seem a bit intimidating. But dont let it scare you.
Most of these guidelines can be easily summed up: Take care of yourself. Be sure to eat healthy foods, drink lots of water and get enough sleep.
Before you know it, your little one will finally be here. When you hold and snuggle with your newborn, remember to thank yourself for following this list of dos and donts months ago in your first trimester. A healthy, happy baby makes it all worthwhile.
Running Jogging And Pregnancy
Runners who continue exercising during pregnancy tend to gain less weight, have leaner babies and shorter labors. If you are experiencing any pregnancy complications, you will probably be advised to stop jogging. Check with your health care provider for specific recommendations related to running and jogging.
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