Pregnancy is one of the most wonderful periods of a woman’s life but it teaches you a lot of things and sometimes also requires you to sacrifice a lot of things. This joyous process needs you to change some of your lifestyle habits or things and you may also commit some mistakes in the journey which can be avoided by being properly aware.
Therefore, here we are stating some of the common mistakes you should avoid during pregnancy.
1. Self-medication
Did you know that you should not be taking antacids, paracetamols, or even acne creams once you are pregnant? And you were thinking about self-medicating during that time? Well, self-medication is something you should surely refrain from once you are pregnant as no matter how smart you think you are this is not the time to test that and all you should opt for is your doctor-prescribed drugs. Your small step towards self-medication during pregnancy can really affect the life of the bother as well as the baby.
2. Not wearing your seatbelt
A lot of pregnant women out there refrain from wearing seatbelts but this is quite unsafe for the baby if your car suffers a blow. Wearing a seat belt the wrong way can also be harmful to the baby therefore you just need to learn how and where to wear your seatbelt if you want your baby to be safe and sound.
3. Eating raw meat and uncooked eggs
Eating raw meat or uncooked eggs can invite miscarriage. It can lead to life-threatening illnesses and birth defects too. Therefore it is always advised to stay away from this type of food when you are pregnant.
4. Being sleep-deprived
You might have been a superwoman while you were not pregnant but pregnancy certainly brings out some physical and hormonal changes in you that need a lot of rest. If you sleep less than 5 to 6 hours a day, you just have to fit in those extra hours of sleep into your routine no matter what you have to do for it to make a healthy lifestyle for both you and the baby.
5. Exercising too hard or not at all
Exercising tends to combat stress, prepare the body for labor and delivery, and help in fetal growth and development. Therefore, even if you are a non-exerciser you need to grab your yoga mat and start exercising a bit even when you are pregnant. What you need to take care of is that you don’t put your body under a lot of pressure by practicing some hard and rigorous workouts, as this is something that can be harmful to the baby inside you.
6. Smoking and drinking
Smoking and alcohol are among the must-avoid items to consume while you are pregnant. Alcohol is harmful as it crosses the placenta and reaches the baby directly causing problems for the baby. Smoking can cause your baby to be born prematurely, with birth defects like a cleft lip or cleft palate, or even with some respiratory problems. Both of these things can also lead to major problems like miscarriage, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as well as the baby being born with low body weight.
7. Wearing heels
This might be a controversial point but you cannot deny the discomfort heels bring in even when you are not pregnant so why wear them when you are already carrying a weight of two? Other than this, during pregnancy, your body releases a hormone called relaxin which loosens the joints so why risk spilling or falling and causing harm to your baby because you not being able to maintain your balance on high heels?
Remember, every body is different and so is every pregnancy. What is not working for somebody else might work for you and vice versa. Hence, it is always advisable to consult your doctor for anything and everything.
Disclaimer: This article is solely meant for informative purposes only and it should not be used as an alternative to professional medical advice.